Microsoft KB Archive/57532

CD-ROM Disc Drive Lifetime and MTBF

PSS ID Number: Q57532 Article last modified on 10-31-1994

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MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

This article discusses the mean time between failure (MTBF) for CD-ROM products?

= MORE INFORMATION =

Optical media do not break down with use and can be accessed millions of times; however, a CD-ROM drive typically has an MTBF of 10,000 hours.

Unlike hard disks, CD-ROM drives should be turned off when not in use to prolong the life of the drive. The spindle motor in a CD-ROM drive is always spinning when it is powered on, even when it is not accessing information from the disc. Therefore, if you leave your drive on 24 hours a day, you will use up the 10,000 hours in 416 days. If you keep your drive on for 4 hours per day (when in use), it should last about 7 years. The life of the drive depends on the number of hours that the motor on the drive is spinning, not the number of accesses.

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================================================================ Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.