How Do I Regain Control Of My Back-up CD?

[Danno]

Hi Folks! I seem to have the worst luck in trying to backup my stuff. So
much bad luck that I don't make back-ups regularly like I should. And of
course, if my computer has a problem, I'm screwed.

I have backed up some Excel work onto a re-writable CD. I seem to be able to
open this CD, and can manipulate the files there. So far, so good. But if
I right click on a file to see the attributes, it shows that the file is
'read only'. When I try to clear that checkbox to undo the 'read only', I
get a pop-up message that says "an error occurred applying attributes to the
file...access is denied". So I don't really have control over this CD.
Would this actually be something wrong with the computer, or can I regain
control?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Danno

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

All CDs are "read only". In order to make changes to a
file you copied to a CD, copy the file back to your hard
drive, make your desired changes, then copy the file back
to the CD.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi Folks! I seem to have the worst luck in trying to backup my stuff. So
| much bad luck that I don't make back-ups regularly like I should. And of
| course, if my computer has a problem, I'm screwed.
|
| I have backed up some Excel work onto a re-writable CD. I seem to be able to
| open this CD, and can manipulate the files there. So far, so good. But if
| I right click on a file to see the attributes, it shows that the file is
| 'read only'. When I try to clear that checkbox to undo the 'read only', I
| get a pop-up message that says "an error occurred applying attributes to the
| file...access is denied". So I don't really have control over this CD.
| Would this actually be something wrong with the computer, or can I regain
| control?
|
| Thanks for any help you can give me.
|
| Danno

 

[Danno]

An update! I've also discovered that I can not copy any more files to this
CD. If I want to back-up something else to this same CD I get a message
"Cannot copy file "n". Files on this CD-ROM Drive are read only. You cannot
copy or move files over to this CD-ROM Drive". There is plenty of space on
the CD. So I'm very uneasy about the fact that I don't have control here.
I've run into this problem in the past, sought help here, but still wasn't
able to solve the issue. I'm hoping someone can help me get it done this
time.

Thanks again!

Danno

 

[Danno]

Thanks Carey, I didn't know that. Maybe I don't have a problem after all.
But as my second message says, I can not copy any more data to this CD. Is
this a problem? Should I be able to do that?

Thanks,

Danno

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The CD Recording utility in Windows XP is quite basic.
I would suggest using a third-party program, such as Nero.

Description of CD-R and CD-RW recording in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279157

How to copy information to a CD in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306524

Cannot Delete Individual Files from a CD-RW Disc in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294883

Nero 6 Ultra Edition
http://nero.com/us/index.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| An update! I've also discovered that I can not copy any more files to this
| CD. If I want to back-up something else to this same CD I get a message
| "Cannot copy file "n". Files on this CD-ROM Drive are read only. You cannot
| copy or move files over to this CD-ROM Drive". There is plenty of space on
| the CD. So I'm very uneasy about the fact that I don't have control here.
| I've run into this problem in the past, sought help here, but still wasn't
| able to solve the issue. I'm hoping someone can help me get it done this
| time.
|
| Thanks again!
|
| Danno
|

 

[Danno]

Carey, I tried an experiment just now. I opened the CD and copied one of
the files to my desktop. I opened the file on the desktop, made one change
and tried to "save as" back onto the CD. I got the message "Cannot save
'D:Excel Spreadsheets\Copy of 'n'.xls". The folder is marked as 'Read
Only'".

So it still seems to me that the CD is not really doing me much good. I
can't update changes to the saved data this way.

Danno

 

[Kerry Brown]

So it still seems to me that the CD is not really doing me much good. I

can't update changes to the saved data this way.

Danno

For some reason Windows has decided this is not a writable CD. Do other CDRW
disks work OK or is the problem just with this one? If this is the only one
then something has gone wrong with the CD. If all CDRW's are not working
then something has gone wrong with the drive or more likely Windows. In any
case if using CDRW for backup you should always have multiple copies of
files, one on your hard drive, and at least two seperate CDRW discs. CDRW
discs are prone to failure for many reasons, exposure to sunlight,
scratches, fingerprints, etc.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems

 

[Danno]

Thanks for your input Kerry. The problem occurs with all disks. I've had
absolute disasters trying to back-up my data, so much so that I'm very
reluctant to do it at all. But I have to find a way. I think I'll have to
try Carey Frisk's advice and get a third party software. I see one called
Simply Safe Backup that is freeware. Do you think I should try it or do I
need to purchase one?

Thanks again.

Danno

 

[Tom]

Have you tried deleting the CD drive from the device manager, then rebooting and letting Windows detect the hardware again and install the drivers? Open Dervice Manager, and delete the device in question, then download, extract, open, and run this script:

http://www.aumha.org/downloads/cdgone.zip

Reboot, and allow Windows to do its thing finding the drive again. Also, since XP can erase disk, why not copy the contents of your data to your hard drive, make the changes, erase the disk, then burn the data back. I am not too sure, but maybe retaining the same name on the file may be an issue; I am not sure since i haven't use XPs native burning feature for a long time.

 

[Danno]

Hi Tom. Thanks for the ideas. I have two drives I could use, Drive D and
Drive E. Both will work with CD's. But this issue I have occurs with
either drive, so I think the problem is with Windows. Something is refusing
to let me change the attributes of the CD. In other words, when I try to
change the 'read only' attribute, it denies me permission. Also when I
right click the drive that has the CD in it, and check properties, it shows
the CD as being full when in fact I only have about 2 meg of data on it. I
don't know what in hell is going on but its driving me nuts. Always has.
Thanks again for your ideas.

Danno


Have you tried deleting the CD drive from the device manager, then rebooting
and letting Windows detect the hardware again and install the drivers? Open
Dervice Manager, and delete the device in question, then download, extract,
open, and run this script:

http://www.aumha.org/downloads/cdgone.zip

Reboot, and allow Windows to do its thing finding the drive again. Also,
since XP can erase disk, why not copy the contents of your data to your hard
drive, make the changes, erase the disk, then burn the data back. I am not
too sure, but maybe retaining the same name on the file may be an issue; I
am not sure since i haven't use XPs native burning feature for a long time.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thanks for your input Kerry. The problem occurs with all disks. I've had
absolute disasters trying to back-up my data, so much so that I'm very
reluctant to do it at all. But I have to find a way. I think I'll have
to
try Carey Frisk's advice and get a third party software. I see one called
Simply Safe Backup that is freeware. Do you think I should try it or do I
need to purchase one?

Danno

Most of the free programs are for burning CD-R discs. It sounds like you are
using CD-RW discs which need packet writing software. InCD is included with
Nero. DirectCD is included with Roxio Easy CD Writer. I have used both with
success. I have not tried any of the free software.

The other possibility is that you are using CD-R discs and they are full. A
CD-R cannot be erased. When it is full you cannot add anything to it. CD-RW
discs can be erased, files ovewritten, etc. If you are unsure about the
difference between CD-R and CD-RW I recommend doing a search on google for
"CD-R CD-RW difference". Many good links come up explaining the differences
and how to use each kind.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems

 

[Tom]

Hi Danno,

You cannot change those attributes, as it doesn't work that way (like making changes directly to a file on your hard drive). What you (seem to be or) are attempting, is making change to files on the disk, and if that is the case, you need to copy the file back to the hard drive, make the change and the re-burn it to disk for those changes to stick.

Kerry covered this a bit more on (packet writing as) what you would need from what I think you are trying to do, and I don't want to be redundant. (Good job Kerry!)

 

[Danno]

Thanks Tom and Kerry. I really appreciate your assistance!
I am indeed using CD-RW disks. I also have Roxio Easy CD Creator which
includes Direct CD Format Utility. What I did was to use Direct CD to format
a disk so that drag and drop copying would work. That's how I got my data
onto the CD-WR. What I'm trying to accomplish is to find a way to back-up
my work again say in about one week. In other words, I'll want to update
the back-up.

But it appears I may be off track just a little bit. So I assume that in
about a week, I should copy the data back to my hard drive, update it there,
and then re-burn it to the CD? That seems to be where I'm having trouble.
WHOAAA! I just tried that now...and it worked! Eureka! I may be getting
somewhere. But it didn't work earlier today. But it worked now!!

Thanks a million guys.

Kerry, just a couple of questions if you don't mind. Since I have Easy CD
Creator...what is the best way for me to use it to make back-ups? How would
YOU do it?

Thanks again fellas.

Danno

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry, just a couple of questions if you don't mind. Since I have Easy CD

Creator...what is the best way for me to use it to make back-ups? How
would
YOU do it?

I set up scripts to use xcopy to copy the files to a CD-RW.

e.g.

xcopy "c:\data folder\*.xls" d:\

Replace "data folder" with the actual folder where your data is. d:\ is the
drive where your CD-RW disc is. I also usually delete all the files on the
CD first with input redirected from a text file and do some error checking
as well. It is too complicated to post a generic script. If you you have
Direct CD running you shouldn't have to reformat the disc. You should be
able to copy the files with windows explorer or save the file directly from
Excel. If you can't I would be leery of that disc. CD-RW is not the most
reliable backup. That is why I recommended having several copies. That said
I us CD-RW for backup myself. I just make sure I have multiple copies. For
really important stuff I also backup to a portable USB hard drive. For
customers that absolutely can't afford to loose data I use multiple backup
strategies that may include a combination of tape backup, CD-RW, portable
hard drive, and internet backups. It all depends on how important your data
is. I recommend at least two different backup systems and make sure you test
your backups often.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems

 

[Kerry Brown]

One thing I forgot to mention (just got in from a Super Bowl party). The
original should be on your hard drive. Do all edits of the file on your hard
drive. The backups should be just that - backups. Don't edit your backups.
When you have finished your edits backup that file.

Kerry Brown
KDB Systems