Zip Back up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LisaB
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LisaB

Hi,

I ran a back up today; it's 9.47GB. I tried to zip it and it says it's too
large.
I want to save it to a CD (or what is best?)

Can you advise how to do this?

Thanks
LisaB
 
LisaB said:
Hi,

I ran a back up today; it's 9.47GB. I tried to zip it and it says it's too
large.
I want to save it to a CD (or what is best?)

Can you advise how to do this?

Thanks
LisaB
Click to expand...

What did you back up with? Most backup software will compress as it
stores, and trying to zip/compress again is counter productive, the
file actually gets larger.
But I put a 4.2 gig backup on a DVD once and the DVD had to be burned in
a different mode other than the standard mode to allow large files to be
put onto a DVD (over x gigs, not sure the limit). But Nero walked me
through the changes needed.
 
LisaB said:
Hi,

I ran a back up today; it's 9.47GB. I tried to zip it and it says it's too
large.
I want to save it to a CD (or what is best?)

Can you advise how to do this?

Thanks
LisaB
Click to expand...

I have used this with good results.

http://www.dekabyte.com/filesplitter/

It will take quite a few cd's so DVD's would be better

otherwise you may want to just get an external drive...
then you won't have to worry about splitting up large files
 
I used the Windows Backup Restore Wizard. First time I've used it.
Not sure what to do with the 9GB. What can it fit on?

Also; can I delete it off my hardd rive? if I want to do another backup
perhaps with less items to make it a smaller file?

Thanks
LisaB
 
zipping backups is risky
because you can waste
a lot of time deflating them
only to find that your
backups won't inflate.

instead, you might try
"drive image xml" and
use the option for cd
sizing.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
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- Accountancy
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LisaB said:
I used the Windows Backup Restore Wizard. First time I've used it.
Not sure what to do with the 9GB. What can it fit on?

Also; can I delete it off my hardd rive? if I want to do another backup
perhaps with less items to make it a smaller file?

Thanks
LisaB
Click to expand...
The backup file can be deleted.
But large files are going to be hard to put on a DVD / CD for the
average user. Some backup programs will do it for you. I can't
advise, I don't backup to CD. I use an external USB drive. They are
getting way to cheap now. Small ones in the 120gig size are way too
fast and inexpensive. And they plug and play and the external data,
when disconnected or off, is a good protection.
 
Part of the problem is the file format on the media your saving it to, if
it's not NTFS then you have a file size limit of 4 Gig. this and other
reasons are why I choose to use external Sata drive to make an clone of my hd
and data. Using Acronis True Image
 
Thanks everyone.

Gee there is so much more to backing up then I thought ha. Well I'll look
into all the suggestions posted.

Thanks
LisaB
 
LisaB said:
Thanks everyone.

Gee there is so much more to backing up then I thought ha. Well I'll look
into all the suggestions posted.

Thanks
LisaB
Click to expand...
I'll even toss out CDBackupXP as a free version of software. Not sure
if it does CD's. But its free and decent.

Remember also though, money should not be the driving force. If you
can't restore, or its unreliable, then its useless. And you should be
able to restore a single file too (or it would be nice).
 
If you want to create decent backups to any media then invest in decent
software. I use Acronis TrueImage which is superior in every way to XP's
built in backup crapware.
 
LisaB said:
Ok so can I use a USB Pen Drive?

VGI 16GB USB 2.0 Pen Drive
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10112713&catid=20244

Thanks again folks
LisaB
Click to expand...



That will work

Just note though, that they can fail (like anything else)

So they may not be good for long term backups...
(I'm not an expert of Pen Drive reliability)

more reading here

http://ask-leo.com/can_a_usb_thumbdrive_wear_out.html

So I'd actually have several different backup schemes.

If you only have a little bit of data I'd also burn CD's or DVD's.

But personally, I don't feel comfortable until I copy my data to at least
two completely different harddrives.


 
philo said:
That will work

Just note though, that they can fail (like anything else)

So they may not be good for long term backups...
(I'm not an expert of Pen Drive reliability)

more reading here

http://ask-leo.com/can_a_usb_thumbdrive_wear_out.html

So I'd actually have several different backup schemes.

If you only have a little bit of data I'd also burn CD's or DVD's.

But personally, I don't feel comfortable until I copy my data to at least
two completely different harddrives.
Click to expand...
For the price of 16gigs, I'd almost think of doing 120 gigs like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144464
I can't say its good, so don't go running after it, but what 20$ more
and I'll bet you get more than one backup on the drive. Yes, its a bit
bigger and maybe a bit more money might suit you but!.
 
LisaB said:
Hi,

I ran a back up today; it's 9.47GB. I tried to zip it and it says it's too
large.
I want to save it to a CD (or what is best?)

Can you advise how to do this?

Thanks
LisaB
Click to expand...

There are at least two basic problems here.

First, it's too big for any optical media other than Blu-Ray, unless you are
using backup software that will split files at a specific size. And at 9.5
gig, you're going to need - 14 to 16 CDs or three DVDs.

Another problem is that many non-NTFS file systems, and may *zip utilities*
cannot create files larger than about 4 gig. You would have to split it,
and that means you run into the problem above of an unreasonable number of
disks.

It also creates a problem that you simply can't verify that the backup is
valid, and that basically means it is useless. You can not know that you
can rely on it if you can not test it.

Yet another problem is that ntbackup can't write to optical media.

In this case, you should back up to an external hard disk. These are not
expensive now - you can buy a decent case for about $30, and a 500 gig hard
disk for around $70. It takes about five minutes to assemble and requires
only a small phillips screwdriver. Format as NTFS, and you're ready to go.

HTH
-pk
 
LisaB said:
Ok so can I use a USB Pen Drive?
Click to expand...

No.

USB pen drives have a tendency to suddenly permanently and irretriveably
fail. They are not suitable for backups, only for temporary file transfer
when a valid copy is known to exist elsewhere.

You need a reliable and long-lasting media that you can do data recovery
from, and you need to make more than one copy.

HTH
-pk
 
philo said:
That will work

Just note though, that they can fail (like anything else)

So they may not be good for long term backups...
(I'm not an expert of Pen Drive reliability)
Click to expand...

They aren't. I have, let's see - five failed units in my desk drawer.
They can and do fail suddenly and irretrievably with no signs of
degradation.

And that's completly disregarding the problems with the number of write
cycles that flash memory allows.

Better to use a notebook hard disk in a small case. Those cases are around
$15, 40 gig notebook hard disks around $50.

HTH
-pk
 
Thanks everyone. I just went and picked up a 500 GB external hard drive on
sale for $100Cnd from Best Buys (SimpleTech). (The cheapest pendrive was $40
for 16GB; so ya it makes sens to pay the differance and get this).

Thanks again,
LisaB
 
Thanks everyone. I just went and picked up a 500 GB external hard drive on
sale for $100Cnd from Best Buys (SimpleTech).
Click to expand...


That sound like a very good price, but I just want to clarify what an
external drive is. It's essentially just a regular internal drive mounted in
an external USB enclosure.

You can buy it already mounted in the enclosure, as you did, or you can buy
an internal drive and the enclosure and mount it yourselves. Almost always
you should compare the available prices of those two choices, since mounting
it yourself is extremely easy, and takes under five minutes, even if you are
all thumbs.
 
LisaB said:
That sound like a very good price, but I just want to clarify what an
external drive is. It's essentially just a regular internal drive
mounted in an external USB enclosure.

You can buy it already mounted in the enclosure, as you did, or you
can buy an internal drive and the enclosure and mount it yourselves.
Almost always you should compare the available prices of those two
choices, since mounting it yourself is extremely easy, and takes
under five minutes, even if you are all thumbs.
Click to expand...

But if it's an external drive it does not have to be turned on all the
time and can be switched on for only when you use it. That adds a lot
of protection for everything from viruses to internal PC problems. I
have the same drive, an E-Book 500 and I like it - the faster spindle
speed really helps it a lot, too. Another thing I like about it is, I
can move it around from machine to machine without hassles since it's
USB connected.

Cheers,

Twayne
 
Twayne.......does that mean I can take it to my parents house and do a back
up of their computer with it?

Also; each time it does a back up; does it remove the old one?

In the instructions it says to format the drive? I'm confused on that.

I'm new at this back up stuff ha.

Thanks
LisaB
 
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