Backup to CD with Windows XP Home? (1 Viewer)

[amelia1730]

I understand that to backup to a CD using XP Home I should do he following:

Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Backup then I should select File from the "Backup destination" dropdown menu to save the backup to my hard drive then burn it to CD or DVD. All straight forward but I can't select File from the list of places to save my backup - it only lists Removeable disks F-I.

Any ideas folks?

Many thanks

Amelia

PS I have installed the Backup utility and the Wizard works

 

[teamgs]

Hi Amelia,
Unfortunately, this is a known limitation of the backup utility in XP. You cannot bckup files directly to a CDRW drive.

My suggestion, if you want to back up to a CD, would be to first run the backup routine, and save the file in a specific folder you created for that purpose. Then manually copy that file over to the CDRW.

A better options might be to get another backup program that does allow backups to a CDRW, or get an external USB drive and back up to that.

Regards,

Gary

 

[amelia1730]

Hi Gary

Thanks for your reply. In the book "Windows XP in a nutshell" it states that I can save the backup to my hard drive if I select the backup destination as 'File' but it only lists removeable disks to select when I try to do this. The book is clear in it's explanation of the limitations of XP's backup utility, as you say. I am wondering why it suggests this method if it is not possible and/or whether I am doing something wrong when trying to complete the instructions. This book is specifically for Windows XP.

Once again many thanks.

Merry Christmas

Amelia

 

[teamgs]

Hi Amelia,
I gave my information based on my experiences, as well as a just found document from Microsoft. Here is the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/backup.mspx

Under "Choose where to store your backup" , there is a quote:

"A Zip drive or other removable media. At 100—250MB per disk, this is an option if you don't have multiple gigabytes to back up. Unfortunately, the Windows Backup utility can't save files directly to a CD-RW drive.
"

I believe it has to do with the limitations of the XP CD writing utility.

Since my backups have gotten so large, I can't fit them on a CD anymore anyway, and it is just easier for me to backup to either a network attached storage device, or a usb external drive, than to use my DVDRW.

Regards,

Gary

 

[amelia1730]

Thanks Gary. I wasn't doubting you. I just wondered why a book written specifically for Windows XP stated that I could burn to CD after saving to the hard drive. Thought I was being a bit dim!!

Merry Christmas!

Amelia

 

[Geoff Brown]

Amelia external hard drives are very cheap compared to a lot of CDs and it is much easier to add a new hard drive and back up (copy) your work to on of these

 

[amelia1730]

Thanks Geoff - have just ordered one from Ama......!

Amelia