OK, guys, probably a real simple problem, but it has me stimied - how can I back up my hard drive to multiple DVDs?

The Windows XP Pro back up utility works fine as long as the backup does not exceed the capacity of one DVD (4.7Gb), but my hard drive now contains approximately 12Gb. Is there a way to do a backup that spans muliple DVDs as used to be the case when using 31/2" diskettes for backups

I even tried to back up the hard drive to an additional secondary hard drive, then parse the file to DVD... didn't work. Any more ideas

Regards

BubbaZ

Windows XP Pro back up utility will not span disks... I found this out the
hard way. The good news is that there are options...

Use the manual option and break the backup into multiple backup files. This
will not work if you want to use ASR (complete backup with automated system
recovery).

Another option is to just use your other drive or get an external drive.
There is not really a problem with USB 2.0 and Firewire with respect to
speed. The method I use is to have a complete backup on the drive and a
copy on the external. If the drive goes bad, I can reinstall Windows and
then restore the backup off the external drive.

The third option is one that I have been researching. You can use software
like Ghost 2003, Drive Image 7 or True Image. These are able to span
disks, backup to any device, work like a backup, and if the whole hard drive
goes bad, you can restore the backup image in minutes.

Hope some of these thoughts help you.


"BubbaZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:516ACACF-E66F-475C-8EF2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> OK, guys, probably a real simple problem, but it has me stimied - how can
I back up my hard drive to multiple DVDs?
>
> The Windows XP Pro back up utility works fine as long as the backup does
not exceed the capacity of one DVD (4.7Gb), but my hard drive now contains
approximately 12Gb. Is there a way to do a backup that spans muliple DVDs
as used to be the case when using 31/2" diskettes for backups?
>
> I even tried to back up the hard drive to an additional secondary hard
drive, then parse the file to DVD... didn't work. Any more ideas?
>
> Regards,
>
> BubbaZ

The basic Windows XP back-up application can not span drives.
You could break up the data into 3 or more separate components or get
a full featured 3rd party back-up application.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"BubbaZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:516ACACF-E66F-475C-8EF2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> OK, guys, probably a real simple problem, but it has me stimied -
how can I back up my hard drive to multiple DVDs?
>
> The Windows XP Pro back up utility works fine as long as the backup
does not exceed the capacity of one DVD (4.7Gb), but my hard drive now
contains approximately 12Gb. Is there a way to do a backup that spans
muliple DVDs as used to be the case when using 31/2" diskettes for
backups?
>
> I even tried to back up the hard drive to an additional secondary
hard drive, then parse the file to DVD... didn't work. Any more
ideas?
>
> Regards,
>
> BubbaZ