Backing Up problems

Using WIN XP Backup, I backed up My Documents and Settings to my hard drive. Now, according to an article in July 2007 Smart Computing, I should be able to burn that backup to RW disks, but when I try with Roxio Creator Classic, the Read Only box is checked. That means I won't be able to rewrite, right?

If I decide to go through the backup process again, this time directly to my RW disks in my E drive, I get this error message: "The backup file name could not be used (E:\Desktop Backup.bkf). Please ensure it is a valid path and that you have sufficient access. "

I hope someone can help me. Thank you.

 

Backing up with Roxio's Creator Classic 7

Using Roxio's Creator Classic 7, I'm trying to backup My Documents and Settings to RW disks in my E drive, I get this error message: "The backup file name could not be used (E:\Desktop Backup.bkf). Please ensure it is a valid path and that you have sufficient access. "
I can't figure out what that means. Can someone help, please?

 

Backups made with MS Backups are always "read only" so you have no problem there. It is that way so you cannot change them and render them inaccurate.

As for sending the MS Backup directly to a CD burner, that isn't possible with MS Backup. You have to send it first to a drive folder and then burn it from there.

If the backup exceeds the capacity of a single CD, you will have to create smaller increments to work around that issue.

 

More clarification, please

Thank you both for replying.
Steve, no, I cannot uncheck the Read Only box; it's grayed out.
SurferDude2, I'm not sure what you mean by this: "You have to send it first to a drive folder and then burn it from there." What is a drive folder? I'm trying to use Roxio's Creator Classic 7 to burn.

 

By drive folder, I meant that you will need to create a folder for your convenience for storing the backup file that you will be making. You could send it to any folder on your Hard Drive but it's preferable to create a new folder for the purpose. That way you will know where to direct the burner software so it can find and copy the backup to a CD, if that be your wish.

Creating new folders is easily done by right clicking in the area you want to place one and selecting "New" > "Folder." Voila!

 

Dude, I did save the Windows backup to a folder called Backup directly under Local Disk (C). But I guess you answered the question regarding burning that to a RW disk. Can't be done, but only to a Read Only disk. Ok, I got that part, so I guess if I want my backup to be on disks, I need to go through the backup process again, this time not to my hard drive but to disks, right? Fine. Now, I'm trying to backup to disks with Roxio Creator Classic 7, and it still says Read Only.

Please see if I have this right. I should burn to Read Only disks. And continue to use Read Only disks when I make Incremental backups. Is that right?

 

No, you still don't have it clear.

You cannot send any backup file directly to a CD from the Windows backup utility.

You must send it to a folder on your Hard Drive. Then if you prefer to have it on a CD, start your CD burning software and direct it to that folder and select the backup file for burning to your CD.

You cannot update an incremantal backup that is contained on a CD. Once written to a CD, all files become Read Only. That is the inherent nature of CD's.

 

Ok, I think I've got all you've said, but . . .

"You cannot send any backup file directly to a CD from the Windows backup utility." Ok, I do understand that.

"You must send it to a folder on your Hard Drive." I've done that.

"Then . . . start your CD burning software and direct it to that folder and select the backup file for burning to your CD." My problem with doing this was that it said Read Only --- BUT now I do understand that that's just the way it is and for good reason. Ok.

Now, one more question, and I do thank you for all this help, Dude. Since I made the backup to my hard drive, I've condensed My Documents (lots of video and photos), so I'd like to make another backup to my hard drive (and then delete the first one) before burning it to CDs. However, the Windows Backup utility only gives me drives A, E, F, and G options now.

Yes, I know I can just go to Creator Classic and start all over again --- and I will do that --- but do you know why I can't backup to my hard drive now, using the Windows program?

 

I don't have Windows Backup installed so I can't direct you there as to how to select the target drive. I would say that since you did it before, you should be able to do it again.

It's probably some little step in the selection menu so give it another round and see if you can roll back to My Computer and reopen it to reveal all drives.


Good luck. Maybe someone that is using it can chime in also.

 

" . . . does not match source file. "

Dude, I'm backing up with Creator Classic. It's been on Disc 1 of 20 for 15 minutes with umpteen errors that read " . . . does not match source file. "

Do you know what kind of problem that is indicating?

 

I don't use Roxio burner software. From what you're describing you are burning a VERY large file and the software is offering to span it over 20 disks!

I would never gamble on any burner creating that many consecutive disks with an error. If just isn't likely.

I would suggest that you create several smaller backup files that will fit on a single disk. That way if/when one fails, you don't have to throw all the others in the sequence away.

Actually, I prefer to use a disk imaging system that will automatically do that for me. I use Acronis True Image. It splits the backup image into multilpe 650 meg files. Windows Backup would be my last choice even though it's free.

Perhaps someone will chime in that uses Windows Backup and Roxio together that can assist you with specific instructions. I'm at a loss since I use neither.

 

Hello aks,

I have Creator 7 basic and "backup" projects are not available so can't advise you on that directly. You can simply create a backup folder > copy the files to be backed up > and burn that. That's the way I do it as a secondary backup to external backup HD's.

The symptom sounds very much like the response that XP's backup app gives you - XP's backup can't use a CD directly - has to be done the way I described.

Regards - Charles

 

Hello aks,

I've merged your threads since the one from the Other Software Section is on the same problem.

I didn't see this before I answered you.

Get a USB connected external HD for backups. In the meantime break the files into managable pieces.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks

Thank you, Charles. I have backed up with the Windows program (finally! I've been at this all day) and burned the file to 18 disks with Creator Classic. It worked! No errors. Yay!