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Removable Storage Media Trail


About this trail | FAQs about Removable Storage Media | Beginners Trail | Other trails


About this trail

This trail is designed to help the beginner understand the various types of digital storage media. Digital information requires storage on physical media of one form or another, all of which are ultimately impermanent. The trail concentrates on optical and magnetic storage media. It features resources that illustrate the strategies that have been developed to help slow down the deterioration of optical and magnetic media, thus contributing to their long-term preservation. The trail is not intended to make recommendations as to the best types of storage media. This trail is a subset of the full PADI database.


FAQs about Removable Storage Media


What are physical format storage media?

Physical format media are also called offline, tangible or removable media. It includes optical media such as CDs and DVDs and magnetic media such as floppy disks. The following two resources will give you a good introduction to the topic.

Digital Recordkeeping Guidelines -Storing Digital Records
This resource from the National Archives of Australia contains a definition of offline media and special requirements for offline digital storage devices.

Digital Preservation Guidance note 3 - Care, Handling and Storage of Removable Media
Produced by the National Archives (U.K.) this is an easy to read introduction to the types of physical format media and their handling and care.


How stable are different storage media?

Physical format material can be affected by storage, handling and technological obsolescence. Have a look at the Chamber of Horrors and see how many types of media are no longer used either because the hardware or software is no longer compatible or available. Environmental factors such as heat or magnetic fields can also affect this type of media.

Chamber of Horrors - Obsolete and Endangered Media
This is part of the Cornell University's digital preservation tutorial. It illustrates and discusses media including magnetic media, optical disks and solid state media.

National Archives. Digital Preservation Guidance note 2. Selecting Storage Media For Long Term Preservation
Produced by the National Archives (U.K.), this Guidance Note features the main criteria for selecting appropriate storage media.


What are optical storage media?

Optical disks, such as CD-Rs, CD-ROMs and DVDs, all store digital information which, like other digital materials, are threatened by media deterioration and technological obsolescence. These resources are guides to ensuring the longevity of optical storage media.

Digital Data Preservation Program: CD and DVD Archiving: Quick Reference Guide for Care and Handling
Brief dos and don't in care and handling.

National Archives of Australia
Protecting and Handling Optical Discs Archives Advice no. 6

A useful ready reference page explaining optical disk composition and types, and covering deterioration and handling issues.


What are magnetic storage media?

Magnetic media includes magnetic tapes, such as audio cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes, videotapes and magnetic floppy disks. Magnetic media is prone to deterioration in several ways.

National Archives of Australia
How do I protect and handle magnetic media?

A handy reference page detailing good practice in the handling, care, storage and maintenance of magnetic media.


What is magneto optical (MO) storage?

Magneto-optical disks have been used for data backup for two decades. The technology combines magnetic disk and optical technologies to record data. Unlike regular optical disks magneto optical disks are read/write.

Magneto Optical Technology
Although somewhat technical this resource provides some background information on this technology.


Where can I find more information?

For more information on storage media, see the PADI storage topic page, physical format digital material page, or, search the PADI database using 'physical format digital material', 'magnetic media' or 'optical disks' as search terms.


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