Long before I got my first CD-RW drive, I had friends make CD�s for me and stayed up late in the school�s computer lab to transfer my files by ftp and back up my stuff on the ancient 2X burners. Because CDR�s store data digitally and CDROM drives do not touch the surface when reading them, I always assumed that my CD�s would last forever � just like the manufacturer promised. You can imagine my shock when I read that many CDR discs become unreadable after just two years! A little research confirms that CD�s are not nearly as long-lasting as their manufacturers claim. This makes me very concerned about the dozens of CDR�s I�ve accumulated over the years. While I usually use name-brands like Memorex and Imation, I�ll be testing my old cd�s to see how they held up. When I scanned my family�s old black and white photographs to preserve them, I was sure the cd�s would outlast the photos!