What are some ways to prevent bit rot?

[Ziggy]

How would you go about re-programming it?

Like it's already been said, the chips inside SNES (and most other video game carts) that contain the game data are not rewritable. You could replace them with E(E)PROMs if ever needed though.

The repro stuff on EPROMs will probably last you 5-10 years. The nice thing is you can reprogram them, as mentioned.

Well it hasn't been 5 years yet, but most EPROMs are guaranteed to hold the data for at least 10 years if I remember correctly. I just looked through the data sheet for the 27c801 (what I've commonly used in SNES repros) but couldn't find a life span. Though I was looking quick, I have to leave for work in a bit. I looked through the data sheet for the flash memory I use way more often in SNES repros, and it lists its data retention as 20 years.

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datashe ... hk0h7y.pdf

Just use Ctrl+F and type in "data retention" to find it easily.

But yes, even after bit rot starts to occur, this memory can usually be reprogrammed. But the thing is, if they're saying 20 years, they're probably low balling it. Even for EPROM's expected 10 year life span. How many NES prototypes are floating around with EPROMs in them that still work fine? These things are something like 25 year old EPROMs that are still working fine.

[Hobie-wan]

the show's narrator said that different batches of cds can be made with different material, depending on what is available at the time of production. this means that different batches will vary in durability; some will stand up to the harshest conditions while others will be ruined right away when put in unfavorable conditions. unfortunately, there is no way to identify what "strength" of cd you have.

If someone screws up the mixing for the plastic and the protective varnish, disc based media can be susceptible to gas, which leads to bit rot. One of the most well known offenders is the UK disc manufacturer PDO in the late 80s and early 90s. Unfortunately I have a number of discs made by them that are in various stated of going bad. Even worse is that I purchased them as imports, so they were expensive.