Is digital storage forever?

I've tried googling this with no luck. Does anyone know if files, photos, etc. stored on a CD or USB flashstick last a lifetime? (If properly stored and taken care of, of course).

Years ago with the video and cassettes, consumers were warned that over the years a stored VCR tape and cassette tape would possibly lose it's video quality, or songs would no longer play. The old thermal faxes stored in file cabinets have faded. Has anyone heard the same for digital?

 

http://www.osta.org/technology/dvdqa/dvdqa11.htm

 

Good information from the Library of Congress on personal information preservation.

http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/you/digitalmemories.html

 

Wow!

Great info. Thanks Grinder and Hught, I appreciate the links.

Grinder, if I weren't skeered you'd send me a bill, I'd pm you directly. You always seem to help answer my questions! :jester:

Thanks again.

 

PM anytime.

Except when i am asleep.

Which is never.

So....pm anytime.

 

Long term data storage .... ahhhh ..... the next technology to boom!!!! I can see it on TV 100 years from now ...... "Ten Million Yottabytes of data found in warehouse" .... more "digital toxic waste" ..... film at 11.

PS: One Yottabyte = 1 septillion