djn Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 A couple people have mentioned packet written software is not a good idea for saving important files. I ran into that problem with Easy CD Creator 4 after upgrading to XP. In the future, how can I tell if the software is packet written? Most people tend to trust that the software installed on their computer is what they are supposed to use and are none the wiser. Thanks for any input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 A couple people have mentioned packet written software is not a good idea for saving important files. I ran into that problem with Easy CD Creator 4 after upgrading to XP. In the future, how can I tell if the software is packet written? Most people tend to trust that the software installed on their computer is what they are supposed to use and are none the wiser. Thanks for any input. WindowsXP has built in CD writing. You can learn how to use it with the Windows Help. That should write CDs that will save your important files. I'm personally a big believer in 'online storage' and external or second internal hard drives. If you have important files, you should use at least two different methods to back up your data...... and keep a second set of CDs in another physical location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 You've obviously read the oft repeated post about packet writing, so I won't go into that again. These are packet writers: Roxio Direct CD and Drag to Disc Sonic DLA (Drive Letter Access) Nero InCD Pinnacle Instant Write NTI File CD CE Quadrat Just!Burn Sony abCD Mt Rainier MRW (supported by only some burners) B's CLiP BHA Not all are listed, because there are so many flavors out there. Regards, Brendon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djn Posted June 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Thank you. This fall, I plan to teach a few adult ed classes in basic computers. Many students may not have XP, in fact I'm finding several people still run 98 at home. One thing I will be addressing is the importance of backups but I'm a little concerned many will have the same problems I did if they aren't careful. I'm afraid I'll open a whole new can of worms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 You could write a book about backups - and several have been written. Here are several things I think are important about backups: -make them often, they're good insurance to prevent disasters. Disasters usually happen when you haven't got backups. -ensure that they are written in a common or standard format so you will be able to read them in the future without having to install exotic software to decode them or extinct types of drives to read them on. -make sure you can read the backups before you delete the originals. (lots of people don't) -the more important the data, the more copies you should make. Store them in different places, cool dry and dark. -use good permanent media for your valuable files - they're worth much more than the cost of a good disc. Your classes may have a lot to learn, but it should be worth their effort. Regards, Brendon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Never format the disc - that means you are using Packet-Writing. It is NOT a "great-big floppy-disc" - in fact, the different Packet-Writing programs are not compatible with each other (can't read each other's formatting), and may be incompatable from one Verson to another of the same program. RW media will fade to blank over time - especially newer (since 2002) RW media - they found a less-expensive material to make the recording layer, which is much less stable. Using Packet-Writing with RW media will greatly speed the disappearance of the data. For backup, besides making CD-Rs with a Sessions-based program, you can back up the entire system to either optical media or an External Hard Drive with a program like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image. I've seen more compliments for Acronis True-Image in the Forums, altho I still am using an older Version of Ghost. (Newer Versions are not necessarily better.) Another error I've seen from time to time in the Forums - once you make the layout of files you want to burn to disc, you use it to burn the files. People who save the layout and burn the layout to the CD later are frantic when they can't open the files - this is what Brendon is referring to by saying make sure you can read the backups before you delete the originals. Here are a few more comments on the subject - one time I collected a bunch of things I had been saying in part in different threads - http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=12382 Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 . . .and you got the oft-repeated post again anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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