I know my Pinnacle Micro Sierra 1.3GB is 1024 bytes/sector but it will also work with the 512 bytes/sector media that DOS wants.
The interesting thing about records/LP/etc is that it really doesn't take much to play them back. Just look at the acoustic era with the RCA Victrola and Edison Amberola machines. Wax and plastic cylinders and shellac disks played back with little more than a needle of various types vibrating a diaphragm and amplified by a large horn. Nothing electrical and the most complex part of the machine was the spring wound motor. I'd think it'd be fairly easy to any advanced civilization to figure out how to read them.
The more I read, the more I seem to recall about our old drive. I believe it was compatible with 512, 1024, and 2048 sectored media, although read-only for either the 1024 or both 1024 and 512.
True, but my point is not that it is impossible to read the data back, but that because the formats of removable media change, the ability to quickly read them back can vary greatly.
Oh, I don't know about that. 1/2" magnetic tape on open reels has proved to be a very durable medium. Lately, I've been working with tapes that are more than 50 years old quite successfully.
Got anything else that's more than 50 years old for data storage? Paper, maybe?
Do you really expect data stashed in the cloud to be around in 50 years? I have trouble finding stuff on the net written 5 years ago.
For example
I think the problem with cloud data is that it is being
deleted. And this is a greater problem than actual data loss as the information could have existed from a technological standpoint. I agree that I can't find things online from 10 years ago, and this seems to be a growing problem as the history of mankind turns to digital and online media as a repository. Imagine if mankind only remembers the last 20 years or only what it wants to remember?
Look at the date on that tape. Know any other data storage medium that lasts 50 years and isn't paper?
Samir claims that "tape never made it as a long term archive medium".
That tape was already 10 years old when Voyager 1 was launched--and it's quite readable today.
I didn't claim that tape never made it as a long term archive medium
in the past, just that it isn't as viable today and hence why retrieval of data on tapes does require specialized equipment (that was once probably pretty standard).
Really amazing to see an old reel of computer tape--especially with 'Memorex' on it. Memorex CDRs have a 1:10 failure rate in our application, lol.
Clay. Stone. Sumerian missives can still be located and translated which is a longevity not even paper can match.
Some of the modern storage methods should last for centuries barring fire or explosion. But a tricky format that only works on a single model of drive is a bad idea for storage. I know companies that preferred the manufacturer suggested special format and now have no easy way to read the data back. Getting 10% more data on disc or tape is not worth the aggravation of vendor lock-in.
And this was kinda more my point in that while the media is obviously lasting, the lack of drives effectively makes the media (and the overall format) less valuable.
I was going to add "stone" to the list, but thought better of it.
The problem there is extremely low information density. The other problem is that we can get the gist of ancient missives, but rarely understand the subtleties of them. After all, we don't think with the ancient brains or live in their culture.
But consider the announcement of Mitsui/MAM-A CD-R media, projecting a 300 year retention. Does anyone really believe that a CD-R will endure for 300 years today?
That's an interesting question. I have several Mitsui media that are now over 10 years old and read back as well as the day they were written. I also have some of the original Sony and other branded CDR media (that cost $11-12/ea at the time), and wonder if they will read back (haven't tried yet). I think the media will definitely survive as long as the tape that Chuck(G) shared, and probably a bit longer. The question is if a drive that works will be around to read the media.
