Quick backup help needed

LenaGardner

New member
i haven't been around because I'm frantically trying to backup my entire computer before 10 pm tonight when I have an appt with HP tech support to reload Vista. my scrolling function is completely haywire still and they say it's most likely a vista issue.

I've got all of my stuff finally organized so that I should only need 2 dvd's to backup my photos, 2 to backup my purchases and 1 to back up my CT stuff.

Problem is I've never backed up to DVD before. how long will each DVD take and do i need a software to do this? Is there a freeware I can dl to help me? I've ony ever backed up to CD before. I'm trying to anticipate how long each DVD will take to burn...30 minutes? an hour? so if I have to put off my vista reload for one more day I can contact them and let them know.

I'm so scared my lappy won't work after this! It's new and under warranty but having to mail it in for repair would stink royally.

TIA!
 
If you have a laptop with a DVD burner, the software to burn DVDs should be pre-installed. Try doing everything the same way you do it for a CD. For me it's the same software and the computer takes care of knowing whether it's a CD or DVD, so I don't have to do anything different. Good luck with the reload!

As for time, it depends on your DVD burner's speed. Mine could probably do a full DVD in about 30 minutes, but I so rarely burn a full DVD that I may be remembering that wrong.
 
WHAT?!?! How are you fitting everything on just a few DVDs? lol

I have no clue how long it will take, but I just found out that my computer lets me burn w/o fancy schmancy software and I have Vista.
 
I want to know that too.....I actually zipped all my stuff for each CT I am on so it will fit but I really don't want to do that. I imagine it would take like 12 DVD's to just do my CT kits!!!!!

WHAT?!?! How are you fitting everything on just a few DVDs? lol

I have no clue how long it will take, but I just found out that my computer lets me burn w/o fancy schmancy software and I have Vista.
 
I want to know that too.....I actually zipped all my stuff for each CT I am on so it will fit but I really don't want to do that. I imagine it would take like 12 DVD's to just do my CT kits!!!!!

Ooooh, I recommend not burning zipped files b/c they can go corrupt.
 
Well, when I get a kit, I go through and delete all TOU and other graphics (I don't do any kind of S4O/4H so I'm not really interested in keeping the TOU)...and I delete all papers that I wouldn't use, mostly diagonal striped papers or anything with a large pattern...I just don't like and in that sense I know my tastes won't change. I also delete any items that are multiple recolors *if* I am certain I can recolor them myself at a later time. I also delete folders within folders type thing and everything goes in one folder. I hate having to click and click and click to get to my stuff. The only thing that stays in its own folder is the alpha.

Anyway I keep my kit sizes down that way. I have 9 gigs of purchases right now and 9 gigs of photos and finished layouts. My finished layouts are jpegs, I don't keep a layered version. I delete kits entirely if I'm certain I'll never use them again. That's rare but I've done it. mostlly I'll just delete MOST of the kit and keep what I think I may use again, like the alpha.

I'm on the 5,000 string of photos so that's how many I've taken since owning the camera but I go through and delete the blurry and majorly underexposed, bad outtakes. The scrapable outtakes I keep.

I deleted about 10 gigs of stuff yesterday in total whilst organizing to prepare for this backup. No sense in backing up stuff I don't need!
 
Oh, I also purged about 20 gigs of old stuff (like 18 mos old and older) a few months ago. Just nms anymore.

And, I delete full sheet alphas when both are included. Saves a ton of space. I also delete elements I don't use like brads and bottlecaps. :)
 
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