In my experience, we are much more likely to find that we no longer have the
proper hardware (drives mainly) to read a piece of media than anything
else.  This is followed by not having correct application (software) to read
the data.  Only then do we tend to run into corrupted data on the media.  Of
course, if we can't find a drive or application, we can't know if the data
is corrupt or not, so hardware and software problems may be masking media
failure.

Christopher Ferry, CRM

On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 11:21 AM, Gordy Hoke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> My dear colleagues:
>
> In your opinion and experience, which lasts longer: storage media for
> electronic records or the systems (hardware, operating systems, and
> application software) that create, preserve, and retrieve the records?
>
> Most of the discussion I've seen asks questions about how long laser disks,
> digital linear tape, and other media will retain their functional integrity.
>
> Aren't the threats just as great or greater from putrified application
> software, extinct output drivers, broken jukeboxes with no spare parts, etc?
>
> Specifically, I am thinking of records that need to stored in the
> 30-50-year range.  Where is the greater threat?
>
> Of course, "it depends", but what is your opinion
>
> Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience.
>
> Gordy
> Gordon E.J. Hoke, CRM
> http://PositivelyRIM.blogspot.com <http://positivelyrim.blogspot.com/>
>
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