Compact discs are notorious for leaving us in the lurch at a critical moment. We often find that a CD that plays well in one CD player refuses to play in another. What we all get is an unhelpful ‘no disc’ error. A slight damage or even a scratch can result in the error. There is nothing much we can do than hope it works in another player.

The same applies for executives who carry a CD with their powerpoint presentations to avoid lugging along a laptop. What the people fail to do in both the situations is to carry a back-up. The back-up should preferably be in a different mode – like in a USB. If the CD player or the CD drive in the computer or laptop stops working, at least you can carry on with your presentation with the USB drive.

The CD malfunction is especially notorious in programmes where songs for a live performance are recorded or for video shows. Videos are more risky as it may be in a DVD, when the player can just play CDs.

Even those who organise programmes should preferably have a DVD player that also has a USB drive. They should also insist that those bringing the content must bring them in both a CD and USB.

Again, the media must preferably be in different formats so that if the player does not accept one format, it may play another. For example, if there is a video to be played, it must be in at least two formats that the CD players can understand.

Though all this preparation may sound like much ado about nothing, being prepared well is better than getting tense when the media does not play.

dinakaran@thehindu.co.in

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