5 replies to this topic

[JohnD]

I just installed EMC 7.5 on a new, XP Professional computer, and tried to use Backup MyPC6 Deluxe to save some files. The only choice the software offers for saving the backup is to my DVD drive--although I have attached a Maxtor USB 3200 drive, and a 2GB Flashdrive. Both of those drives are recognized by Windows Explorer and by Windows Backup. Can anyone suggest why Backup MyPC seems blind to anything but that one DVD drive, and what to do about it? I'm about to buy Norton's backup software, but would rather get what I already have working properly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. John

[ml]

I just installed EMC 7.5 on a new, XP Professional computer, and tried to use Backup MyPC6 Deluxe to save some files. The only choice the software offers for saving the backup is to my DVD drive--although I have attached a Maxtor USB 3200 drive, and a 2GB Flashdrive. Both of those drives are recognized by Windows Explorer and by Windows Backup. Can anyone suggest why Backup MyPC seems blind to anything but that one DVD drive, and what to do about it? I'm about to buy Norton's backup software, but would rather get what I already have working properly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. John

I'm not sure I can help, but how are you attempting to backup those files?

When you're backing up to a hard drive ( the Maxtor USB 3200 ), it's not going to write to it like a DVD RW drive.
You have to pick File, then in the drop down menu below that, you have to navigate to the device in the pop up box.

Are you saying that the drive doesn't show up in My Computer in the pop up box?

[JohnD]

That's correct, ml. I select a file or files to back up, from the top left window (in which any attached external drive, like the Maxtor, does appear, by the way), and then go to the "where to back up" window at the bottom, intending to back up from the C:\ drive to the Maxtor (or Western Digital, or whatever else I might be using).

But the only two choices ever offered in the "where to back up" drop-down window are my DVD-RW drive, and "file." If I choose "file," a second window opens which does in fact reveal the external drive or drives as choices for the single backup file. Perhaps this is the way it must be done? I was hoping for an uncompressed, unaltered, file-for-file transfer so any files could be later restored with a simple "copy" command. No compressing into a proprietary file that only Roxio can properly restore.

Perhaps everything's working as it should, just not the way I'd like it to?

Thanks for your time on this. I realize it's a small and finicky matter regarding old software, but Norton Backup costs $49.95 at my local Staples so before plunking down the money . . . . . .

Thanks.

John

[tbrewst]

If you want to be able to use a simple copy command to restore the files why not use a simple copy command to put them on the external drive in the first place.
No matter what backup software you use,Norton True Image,whatever,if you make a backup then you'll probably have to use the software to do the restore.

[ml]

I was hoping for an uncompressed, unaltered, file-for-file transfer so any files could be later restored with a simple "copy" command. No compressing into a proprietary file that only Roxio can properly restore.
Thanks.
John

I agree with Terry.  You need a simple copy.

What I do is open two copies of Windows Explorer.   One copy shows the files that I want to back up and the other shows the external drive and the folders where I want to put another copy of the files.  

Then I drag and drop from the original location to the external drive.   If the files are big, that might take some time, but you'll have an uncompressed copy of the original file.

If you're using Backup MyPC, you're going to get a compressed file.   It will do what Windows won't, but what you want to do, you can do in Windows.

[JohnD]

Thank you, and thank you. You've both spared me some head-scratching, and wondering if the NTFS on the new desktop, and the FAT32 on all my backup media used with the old desktop, were getting in the way. They weren't. I was.

I think I've come up with a cake-and-eat-it, third way--a way that will allow me to save the backup and repeat it without re-selecting the files each time, but also end up with "real," uncompressed files. I'll 1. back up to the external hard drive (saving the backup command for future use as Backup MyPC makes so easy to do), then 2. Restore the backup to a folder on the same external hard drive. Presto! ( I think). Backup files directly usable by Windows if the need arises, and also a backup process that is easily repeated.

Again, thanks for everyone's time and interest. It always impresses me how giving some computer folks can be with their hours and their expertise.