Cannot backup in XP

J

John Callaway

I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try to back it up
on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following error:
"The backup file could not be used. [filename] Please ensure it is a
valid path and that you have sufficient access."
Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC
 
T

thanatoid

I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try to
back it up on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following error:
"The backup file could not be used. [filename] Please
ensure it is a valid path and that you have sufficient
access." Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC

Get a proper DVD burning program instead of using that Windows
crap and your problems will be over.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Instead of using the [X:] drive (X: being your cd/dvd drive letter) use the folder
that Windows uses to store "files ready to be burnt to disk".

You see, Windows [obviously] cannot burn files to your [X:] drive as and when you
"paste" them to it, or in the case of M$ Backup, as the backup (.bkf ) file is being
written.

No, Windows first "stores" the files to a special "holding" folder, specified in the
reg-value "CD Burning" under the reg-key :

"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"

If you use the M$ utility TweakUI.exe you can easily change the destination of this
folder using the "My Computer" > "Special Folders" facility.

However, M$ Backup *will* be able to accept a folder on the same drive as the drive
that the backup is being made from.

So specify the same folder, as shown in the reg-value above, as the destination
instead of [X:] drive.

I think it's usually "%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD
Burning"

After the backup is complete, Windows will automatically recognise that "files are
ready to be burnt to disk" and a system balloon to that effect will show up.

Click on your [X:] drive and choose "File" > "Burn these files to disk" to complete
your backup.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
O

Olórin

thanatoid said:
I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try to
back it up on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following error:
"The backup file could not be used. [filename] Please
ensure it is a valid path and that you have sufficient
access." Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC

Get a proper DVD burning program instead of using that Windows
crap and your problems will be over.

OP will still need to use a Windows program though, won't he?! Unless, by
"Windows crap", you meant a native XP program - but then, what would that
be, that burns to DVD?
 
T

thanatoid

thanatoid said:
I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try
to back it up on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following
error: "The backup file could not be used. [filename]
Please ensure it is a valid path and that you have
sufficient access." Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC

Get a proper DVD burning program instead of using that
Windows crap and your problems will be over.

OP will still need to use a Windows program though, won't
he?! Unless, by "Windows crap", you meant a native XP
program - but then, what would that be, that burns to DVD?

Correct, the built-in packet-writing stuff. Packet writing is
the worst way of burning discs.
You can research why. http://www.cdrfaq.org is one place that
has info EVERYONE who wants to have well-burned discs should
read at least PARTS of.

I use the program from www.goldenhawk.com and it is excellent, I
paid $40 for it so I don't feel like trying anything else, but
apparently the free one from www.imgburn.com is excellent and I
have seen many people recommend it.

[OGJ, qvq lbh xabj Bybeía (lrf, npprag ba qvss. yrggre) zrnaf
"yvggyr pybhq bs sneg fzryy" va Fcnavfu? Whfg SLV. Vg'f n avpr
jbeq, naq V nz njner bs gur bgure bevtva, juvpu vf jul V pnyyrq
lbh Ze. Jvmneq n srj qnlf ntb.]


--
There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
and those that will break later.
- Chuck Armstrong (This one I think, http://www.cleanreg.com/,
not the ball player. But who knows. I can't remember where I got
the quote. But it's true.)
 
J

John John - MVP

thanatoid said:
thanatoid said:
I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try
to back it up on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following
error: "The backup file could not be used. [filename]
Please ensure it is a valid path and that you have
sufficient access." Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC
Get a proper DVD burning program instead of using that
Windows crap and your problems will be over.
OP will still need to use a Windows program though, won't
he?! Unless, by "Windows crap", you meant a native XP
program - but then, what would that be, that burns to DVD?

Correct, the built-in packet-writing stuff. Packet writing is
the worst way of burning discs.

Windows XP doesn't have any "built-in packet-writing stuff", it doesn't
have any native support whatsoever for packet writing.

John
 
O

Olórin

Correct, the built-in packet-writing stuff. Packet writing is
the worst way of burning discs.

<snip>

Okay, to make it even simpler:

1) XP doesn't *natively* support DVD-writing. Unless you know that I'm
wrong, which was the point of my second question to you above - I wasn't
after recommendations of third-party apps.

2) Any program OP obtains to burn DVDs will still need to be a Windows
program.
 
T

thanatoid

<snip>

Okay, to make it even simpler:

1) XP doesn't *natively* support DVD-writing. Unless you
know that I'm wrong, which was the point of my second
question to you above - I wasn't after recommendations of
third-party apps.

When what you use is shit, recommending an alternative is the
only decent thing to do. (Speaking of shit, apparently you do
not recognize ROT-13 when you see it - or are you just keeping a
dignified silence?)

"Windows XP Home and Professional can only write directly to
FAT32 formatted DVD-RAM discs. For UDF formatted discs, which
are considered faster, a 3rd party UDF file system driver
capable of writing or software such as InCD or DLA are required.
Windows Vista and later can natively access and write to both
FAT32 and UDF formatted DVD-RAM discs using mastered burning
method or packet writing. Even though it is possible to use any
file system one likes, only very few perform well on DVD-RAM.
This is because some file systems frequently overwrite data on
the disc and the table of contents is contained at the start of
the disc."
(Wikipedia)
2) Any program OP obtains to burn DVDs will still need to
be a Windows program.

I can't remember what the OP said and I'm not going to bother
looking for it. You are more persnickety than most good anal-
retentives like me. When I said "don't use that Windows crap" I
OF COURSE meant "comes with Windows", not ANY program written
for that venerable OS.

I would have said "anyone who uses Windows is asking for it,
BeOS is THE way to go" or something like that.


--
There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
and those that will break later.
- Chuck Armstrong (This one I think, http://www.cleanreg.com/,
not the ball player. But who knows. I can't remember where I got
the quote. But it's true.)
 
J

John Callaway

What backup program are you using?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

John said:
I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try to back it up
on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following error:
"The backup file could not be used. [filename] Please ensure it is a
valid path and that you have sufficient access."
Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC

I am using the backup feature in XP SP2.
I do have NERO.

JPC
 
L

Leonard Grey

"Windows Backup does not back up to CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R devices"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315255
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

John said:
What backup program are you using?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

John said:
I cannot backup my computer files in XP SP2. When I try to back it up
on my DVD drive (E:), I get the following error:
"The backup file could not be used. [filename] Please ensure it is a
valid path and that you have sufficient access."
Any ideas what is the problem?

JPC

I am using the backup feature in XP SP2.
I do have NERO.

JPC
 

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