Ahh,
This thread throws more light on the subject I you were talkign about
earlier. I was right in
my thinking that you were in fact understanding what I mean and in fact you
do!
Donald McDaniel said:
..
This is not a problem with back-up software: It is a problem with the
way the Windows XP addresses CD-RW disks. It is possible to do random
access of CD-RW disks (as you appear to want to be able to do)
Yes, this is exactly what I do want to do, and you seem to have got the
point exactly thanks!
f you have packet-writing software installed on your CD-RW drive, and the
drive allows for packet-writing. Windows XP itself does not supply a
packet-writing driver on the Installation disk. Nor does Microsoft
even write packet-writing software.
Ok so I understand XP does not have this software.
You want a back-up procedure which does iterative backups.
"Iterative backups" I'll research that word.
That is, it would only back up the files which have not been backed up
yet.
Exactly (No need to research any more).
As far as I know, this is not possible with Microsoft-supplied software.
To do it, you must purchase third-party software. And again, to do
random reads and writes of a CD-RW disk, you must have packet-writing
software installed in your system.
Ahh!! This is the key that I just did not yet realise, "packet writting",
again although I have used CD burning software I have
not really understood the difference between packet writing and other forms
of copying. I just assumed it was not possible.
A simple (and cheap: it's provided on the OS installation CD), method
of backing up your documents and applications is to use XP's Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard. However, this does necessitate knowledge of
your applications' folder usage. This method really should only be
used for "quick-n-dirty" backups. For example, I use XP's F&STW to
back-up my settings, accounts, email, and newsgroups/messages in
Outlook Explorer.
Oh ok! I think I have enough "general knowledge" to do that. I'm interested
in saving settings, saving emails, saving and backing up my main folders
etc.
Your best solution would be:
1) Make sure you have a CD-RW drive which allows packet-writing.
2) Make sure you have packet-writing software installed in your
system.
3) Purchase a third-party back-up utility which will do iterative
back-ups, and which will use packet-writing software to save the
back-ups to CD-RW discs.
Many thanks!! Your help is most appreciated in these forums. Many people
will read these and benefit! Not just one person.
