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Post by soothsayer on Nov 6, 2011 19:28:01 GMT -5
So I've been trying to backup my computer to DVD. It always fails.
You'd think my question is why does it always fail, but that's not my first question:
1) Are these DVDs unuseable now? Sure seems like they are. I see no way to erase the stuff written to them and I can't add files to them.
2) WTF am I doing wrong?
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Post by Thrill of the 'ville on Nov 6, 2011 19:42:56 GMT -5
If it is a DVD+RW it would be rewritable, if it is a DVD-R than it wouldn't be rewritable.
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Post by soothsayer on Nov 6, 2011 20:21:55 GMT -5
DVD+RDL
So I just have to toss these DVDs? Man, that sucks. Especially since I don't know why the backup failed (and Windows doesn't tell me why).
I may have to go back to Mozy and pay the $$.
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 7, 2011 2:41:52 GMT -5
DVD+ and DVD- are not the same thing. Most drives will read both, but won't write to both. If your drive doesn't write to the ones you bought, try buying the other kind.
DVD+R is write-once. DVD+RW is write/rewrite.
DVD-R is write-once. DVD-RW is write/rewrite.
The "DL" part stands for "dual layer." This is unusable unless the drive is specifically designed for it.
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Post by soothsayer on Nov 7, 2011 8:06:14 GMT -5
Can I assume, since something has been written to the DVD during this backup process that my drive does write to it?
Like I said, it would be nice to know why this fails, but I am not getting any info from Windows other than it has. The last attempt failed on the 3rd DVD.
But if I'm not going to be able to overwrite these backups, then I'm probably working with the wrong media ...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 19:55:23 GMT -5
How are you backing them up to the Discs? Do you have a program that you are using like Nero, or Roxio? or are you letting your OS perform the operation? You can find out what kind of media to use by going to the properties of the drive or using about this Mac on and apple. PM if you want some help.
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Post by soothsayer on Nov 7, 2011 22:26:10 GMT -5
I was just using the Windows Backup with Windows 7. But no luck with that. Just wasted a bunch of DVDs.
I'm thinking I'll try a flash drive instead of DVDs.
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Post by BearClause on Nov 8, 2011 0:38:39 GMT -5
DVD+ and DVD- are not the same thing. Most drives will read both, but won't write to both. If your drive doesn't write to the ones you bought, try buying the other kind. DVD+R is write-once. DVD+RW is write/rewrite. DVD-R is write-once. DVD-RW is write/rewrite. The "DL" part stands for "dual layer." This is unusable unless the drive is specifically designed for it. I think most DVD writers in the last four or so years can write dual layer. Dual layer was part of the original DVD-Video and DVD-ROM spec and there shouldn't be any DVD drive that shouldn't at least be able to read a DL DVD of some kind. The hard part was to get something that could write to both layers. Dual layer DVD pressed in a factory (like movies or software titles) are made by recording the layers separately, then bonding them together. Reading is supposed to be the easy part, but writing to the inside layer when there's an outside layer to contend with is the tricky part. As for reading and writing, some DVD burning software allows data to be written to a recordable DVD more than once. The software will prompt the user each time data is added to the DVD if they want to "close" the disc or keep it "open" and available for more data. I think there are reasons to "close" a session, as it makes for better compatibility. One of the strangest things I remember was when Adaptec had something called EZ-Disc - or something like that, before they spun off that group as Roxio. You could use a CD-RW like a small hard drive, but it would only work if a computer had that specific software. It would write incrementally to the CD-RW, in which case it would generally add to the empty space that had never been used, but of course this was limited. You could erase files, although that typically meant that just the directory was modified. Eventually it would have to start really erasing data when there was no "virgin" space, and that's when it started to slow down big time when new files were written. I tried a few CDs using that tool, and after a while they became next to unreadable when errors just kept on creeping in. My first generation DVD-Video machines could read the video title dual-layer movies just fine. The tricky part was watching for the layer switchover. For some titles it was obvious. I remember paying $1099 for a LaserDisc/DVD combo player, then $599 for a Sony DVD player back in 1997. I guess that's the price for being an early adopter. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 8, 2011 12:17:02 GMT -5
You only need to back up enough data that it will fit on one dvd?
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Post by soothsayer on Nov 8, 2011 16:22:49 GMT -5
Are you asking BearClause or me? Last backup filled 3 DVDs (@ 8 GB each) before it failed.
Honestly, though, all I really want to backup is my documents and (some of my) photos. I can live without everything else if the hard drive implodes.
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Post by TheSantaBarbarian on Nov 8, 2011 22:15:47 GMT -5
I was just using the Windows Backup with Windows 7. But no luck with that. Just wasted a bunch of DVDs. I'm thinking I'll try a flash drive instead of DVDs. I would suggest an external USB hard drive. So much easier, and while it may seem a more expensive option, think about the time etc. that you have invested to this point in the DVD option. |
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Post by BearClause on Nov 8, 2011 22:32:13 GMT -5
I was just using the Windows Backup with Windows 7. But no luck with that. Just wasted a bunch of DVDs. I'm thinking I'll try a flash drive instead of DVDs. I would suggest an external USB hard drive. So much easier, and while it may seem a more expensive option, think about the time etc. that you have invested to this point in the DVD option. It's a lot faster and probably more reliable in the long run than DVD. It's also practical to do backups on a frequent basis since you don't need new discs all the time. CD-R actually has a certain problem with data retention, especially if exposed to UV. I've heard of unreadable CD-Rs in as short as 5 years, even with good storage conditions. DVD should be more stable, but it's not as if it can be guaranteed to last a lifetime. Hard drives are very good archival media provided they don't crash. If you're backing up regularly, then the bearings are going to slowly wear. Also - storage conditions can be an issue. Bad storage can mean the electronics corrode. The one thing about digital information is that it's always possible to make a "perfect" copy, or even several. Just keep on backing up and you'll be fine even if the storage medium won't last forever. I actually prefer to back up several ways - to external hard drives and to DVD-Rs. |
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 9, 2011 8:03:12 GMT -5
The one thing about digital information is that it's always possible to make a "perfect" copy, or even several. Just keep on backing up and you'll be fine even if the storage medium won't last forever. I actually prefer to back up several ways - to external hard drives and to DVD-Rs. It's not *always* possible to make a perfect copy. Data transcription errors can slip in. As an example, random cosmic ray hits can flip bits in the storage media. |
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