Which CD's to buy to use for backup.

[Dannie]

I have a Samsung CDRW/DVD unit (SM-308B) that came with my PC. I have been
using CD-R and CD-RW disks for backing up my data. I see many sales for
CD-R's but hardly any for CD-RW's. Now most disks seems to have a DVD as
part of the nomenclature. I know I can read DVD's (have done it with my
unit), and also know I can not record DVD's but can I use a blank DVD in
which I can record backup data like I do on a CD_RW over and over and please
give me a brand name and what the CD is called etc.. I backup my Quicken
data weekly as well as several folders and use BackupMyPc program.
Thanks for your advice.
Dannie

 

[Richard Urban]

If you don't have a DVD recorder you can't record DVD's - period!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Chuck]

No

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

Duh - you answered your own question - if the drive can record DVD's
then what makes you think it can put data on a blank DVD?

 

[Don MI]

I have a Samsung CDRW/DVD unit (SM-308B) that came with my PC. I have been
using CD-R and CD-RW disks for backing up my data. I see many sales for
CD-R's but hardly any for CD-RW's. Now most disks seems to have a DVD as
part of the nomenclature. I know I can read DVD's (have done it with my
unit), and also know I can not record DVD's but can I use a blank DVD in
which I can record backup data like I do on a CD_RW over and over and please
give me a brand name and what the CD is called etc.. I backup my Quicken
data weekly as well as several folders and use BackupMyPc program.
Thanks for your advice.
Dannie

IMO
As to the first part of your question, you should use CD-R. CD-R are less
costly than CD-RW and with most backup programs easier to use. In most
cases you should buy the cheapest CD-R stacks {25, 50, 100 etc disks } that
you can find. From the information in your post, I would ignore the band
name. When you no longer need the backup CD, again based on your post, I
would take a utility knife and cut an X on the label side of disk to make
the disk difficult to read and then dispose of the disk.

If you have data that really must be protected, then invest in a CD shredder
to dispose of the disks.

If you have data that you need to backup for years, then you need to be
concerned with the brand and type of CD-R and how your store the disks. If
this is your concern, suggest to go to www.langa.com and review the recent
newsletters CD life and storage.

Also, suggest that you consider investing an image backup application such
as Drive Image, Ghost, etc.

Don

 

[Tom]

IMO
As to the first part of your question, you should use CD-R. CD-R are less
costly than CD-RW and with most backup programs easier to use. In most
cases you should buy the cheapest CD-R stacks {25, 50, 100 etc disks }
that
you can find. From the information in your post, I would ignore the band
name. When you no longer need the backup CD, again based on your post, I
would take a utility knife and cut an X on the label side of disk to make
the disk difficult to read and then dispose of the disk.

If you have data that really must be protected, then invest in a CD
shredder
to dispose of the disks.

If you have data that you need to backup for years, then you need to be
concerned with the brand and type of CD-R and how your store the disks.
If
this is your concern, suggest to go to www.langa.com and review the recent
newsletters CD life and storage.

Also, suggest that you consider investing an image backup application such
as Drive Image, Ghost, etc.

Don

I disagree with the difference between using CDRs and CDRWs for cost
savings; it is nominal today. And, if the burn goes bad on the CDR, then the
disk is no more than coaster, whereas the CDRW can be overwritten,
formatted, or erased.