make disk writable (drag to disk)

[prk-hfa]

I just created a dvd data disk using Drag to Disk. I ejected it a couple of days ago, and now want to add new files. When I try to create a new folder, drag anything to the disk, or otherwise change anything, I get a dialog that says "Unable to..." because "The media is write protected."

 

When I got to disk properties, it shows 464 MB used, and 3.94 GB free space. How can I change the disk properties so I can add addtional files to the disk? Is there something I did wrong when I ejected the disk?

 

-- Peter

[prk-hfa]

It cannot be changed. If it is RW you can re-format and start again.

 

Understand that all packet writers, like D2D, are the least reliable form of burning ever devised. They are OK for moving files to another PC but cannot be trusted with anything you value!

 

If you want to continue to use D2D, I suggest the settings indicated. This will keep the media open.

what do you suggest I use for daily backups to DVD -- I want to add new versions of my files each day?

 

I want to use non-RW, so they can be read on other machines, that may or may not have DVD-write drives...

 

These are for short-term use, in case of disaster, like drive or PC failure. I want to be able to recover on another machine my data files...

 

 

-- Peter

[james_hardin]

It cannot be changed. If it is RW you can re-format and start again.

 

Understand that all packet writers, like D2D, are the least reliable form of burning ever devised. They are OK for moving files to another PC but cannot be trusted with anything you value!

 

If you want to continue to use D2D, I suggest the settings indicated. This will keep the media open.

[lynn98109]

what do you suggest I use for daily backups to DVD -- I want to add new versions of my files each day?

 

I want to use non-RW, so they can be read on other machines, that may or may not have DVD-write drives...

 

These are for short-term use, in case of disaster, like drive or PC failure. I want to be able to recover on another machine my data files...

-- Peter

There seems to me to be a lot of confusion together of unrelated issues.

• you want to make daily backups
  
• you have decided you want to make these backups to DVD
  
• you want to have your backups compatible with other machines
  
• you are confused about the difference between RW and R media
  
• you have assumed that CD and DVD are your only possible choices
  
• you want to save your data in case of disaster
  

Let's start with the difference between R and RW. There are three kinds of optical media

• commercially pressed discs, which have the pits and lands physically pressed into the metal
  
• R media, which has the pits and lands created by a laser "cooking" the dye
  
• RW media, which has the pits and lands created by a laser melting and re-crystalizing an aluminum alloy - which promptly starts to de-crystalize, taking all the data with it
  

You can use either R or RW media for making Sessions-based discs using Creator Classic (or WinXP's built-in burning, if applicable). You can use either R or RW media for Packet-Writing - if the Packet-Writing fails, the liklihood of retrieving the data with a recovery program is FAR GREATER with R media.

 

RW does NOT mean "like a floppy". It simply means you can erase the entire disc and start over. It does NOT mean you can selectively delete files and get the space back unless you have formatted the disc for Packet-Writing - in which case you can do the same with R media. However, RW will fade out completely over a relatively short time - generally months but can be days or weeks or years - doesn't matter how well or poorly it is stored. R media is MUCH more stable - not as good as a commercially pressed disc, but close.

 

There have been posters who claim to have a set of 3 or so pairs of RW discs, and make two copies of everything regularly, and rotate the sets - and haven't lost anything. After I lost the 80% of the data on the formatted CD-RW that wasn't also on the Hard Drive, I rather gave up on RW media - as well as learning it is NOT a "great-big floppy-disc".

 

I'm not clear why you have decided to use DVD rather than CD for these backups. Perhaps it has to do with the greater storage size. On the other hand, the posts I've seen from people who trusted that RW media is a "great-big floppy-disc" seem to be more frantic after losing several gig of information than after losing around 750MB of information.

 

For short-term backup, the technology of the Flash drive is a lot more reliable. It works with 0's and 1's, as do magetic media like Hard Drives and floppies, rather than the physiscal pits and lands of optical media. Flash drives (aka Jump / Pen / Thumb / Keychain drives) have gotten increasingly large and inexpensive. (They now come in sizes up to 4GB.) They are compatible with comptuers that have USB ports, and they are recognized by WinXP out of the box - older computers like my Win98 SE need to have drivers downloaded and unstalled, and may not be able to read the larger sizes (1GB & up).

 

For mid-term back-ups, I'd suggest burning everything to optical media - use R media, and a Sessions-based program (see above).

 

For disaster recovery, use a disaster recovery program such as Norton's Ghost or Acronis True Image. Use a separate Hard Drive, or an External Hard Drive, or burn to optical media.

 

Have I missed anything?

 

Lynn

[james_hardin]

My personal preference would be an external drive and or a network.

 

With a network you can backup to multiple drives, which reduces your probability of data loss to only the most catastrophic case.

 

An external drive is much faster and provided you remove it after backup, it is a very safe method.