WindowsXP Backup Question

[Stuart Burns]

I have just recently upgraded to Windows XP Home. I have an HP Colorado
Tape Backup tape drive installed in my machine. The Colorado Backup Utility
is not supported under Windows XP, and does not run. The native WindowsXP
backup Utility does not compress the backup file. I used to be able to
backup 6 Gb of data on my hard drive onto a single 4 Gb backup tape. Now,
that 6 Gb takes 2 of those tapes. It means that I can't run a full system
backup when I am not around to switch tapes in mid process. Annoying!

Can anyone recommend a good 3rd party backup utility that will compress the
backup file onto the tape?

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

I have a better idea: Get a DVD burner.

Rocky

 

[Stuart Burns]

That would be a nice thing to do. But all of the DVD burners I have seen at
the store require more system resource than I have. So to get a DVD burner
becomes a $1,500 upgrade to the computer. I certainly plan on it sooner or
later. But a "band-aid" solution will be preferable in the mean time.

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

A band-aid is fine for the short term. This could work: Write the backup
file to your hard disk, then use a file compression utility to compress the
backup file. XP has a native compression function, but there is also third
party software that will do the job. My personal favorite is the well known
Winzip program. (Get it from www.winzip.com)

$1,500 to upgrade your computer? You could buy a brand new one - with a DVD
burner - for a lot less.

Rocky