I have looked and when I think I understand, I just confuse myself more.
That's actually a "good thing" and it's a very apt description of the
learning process.
When do I need the above (Acronis says I need to be able to do an image
backup) but it seems there are more than one flavor? Am I understanding
this correctly? UDF by Sonic is not the same as UDF by Nero. If I
de-select DLA, I don't get an option to format my CD/DVD (R or RW).
UDF is the file system used with CD-RW disks and packet writing. Packet
writing is done on the fly: Drag and drop a file to the CD and it is
written immediately. Very similar to writing files to a floppy disk.
There are slight variations in UDF.
At one time, a CDRW written with one brand of burning software could only
be read on systems that had that same program installed. Recognizing users'
need to have CDRWs portable, many companies released "UDF Readers." These
could be added to the CD when finalizing. Often the readers could be
downloaded separately to be used on systems that did not have burners or
burning software but would need to read a UDF CD now and then.
As time went on some companies made an effort to "standardize" UDF. For
example, Roxio and Ahead (InCD) have closed the UDF gap. If you have Roxio
installed, chances are excellent that you will easily be able to work with
files on a CDRW burned by InCd without any extra steps. And the same in
reverse, if you have InCD.
I have never used Sonic's software but if I did, I would go by whatever
their help file or online support documents said. If there are any
stipulations in regards to their use of UDF, they will have detailed those
exceptions in the product's documentation.
I don't know why you are not getting the option to format the CDRW with
DLA, it is possible that this is done on the fly as well. I have seen the
option for "background format" in other burning programs. Perhaps that's
what DLA uses but it is not as apparent?
Sorry, I am so confused I don't even know what questions to ask.
I just want to image backup my new Dell. I really shouldn't think this
would be rocket surgery (a la eggo).
Because of UDF variations, most folks use CDR and Joliet file system for
data - including image sets. While these are write once disks, their cost
is considered reasonable in exchange for the security of data.
Some of the backup and imaging programs offer several choices that you have
to wade through as well. The one that I use will chop the image into
smaller segments - a size of my choosing. I have those written to the hard
drive. Then I use my burning software to transfer them to CDR. Depending on
how bad the disaster is, I have two sources to restore from: hard drive and
CDRs.
I spent time with the help files of both the imaging program and burning
program, reviewed various tutorials and online discussions before I could
make the decisions that were right for my data and my work habits. It
sounds like you're on the right track for getting the right sequence worked
out for your system too.
