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[cricketlover]

A newbie's query on backing up music collection (not library only).

I have 27k WMA/MP3 files across 250 GB on 3 hard disks (2 local 1 network), with most tagged in MC9 library.  What is the best solution for me to back these up (options - DVD or RAID), considering the following:
- incremental music additions to the library
- ensuring tagging information (incl. location) can be reproduced.

Any help on this appreciated.

[kwake]

HI Cricketlover,

I purchased a DVD-RAM burner (Panasonic) with the express intention of backing up my MP3 library.

DVD-RAM disks come in sizes up to 9.4GB each, and are rewritable up to 100,000 times.

This means that if I've backed up an mp3 file (or several) whose ID3v2 tags have changed on my hard drive since burning (added lyrics, or whatever), I can simply overwrite them on my next backup run (to the same disk).

Regards,
Kwake

[Bryan]

Get an external hard drive and run a replicator tool such as Karen's  Power Tools replicator (It's free) to copy your files to the drive.  You can select only files that have changed.. When you're done, unplug the drive and store it in a safe place until the next time you want to back up.

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

Bryan

[Bendra]

What's the advantage of using a replicator tool over a Windows copy tool?

[Bryan]

What "windows copy" tool are you referring to ??

[kwake]

Hey Thanks Bryan - a replicator program is exactly what I'll need to quickly update my DVD-RAM mp3 backups.

The only thing I'll need to figure out is how to divide my mp3 collection into 9.4gb chunks...

Cheers,
Kwake

[Bryan]

Yeah, that's the problem with backing up data that changes frequently to a physical media like CD, DVD.   The replicator/sync apps make it much easier to backup only what's changed without needing to backup the whole enchilada again..  Then again, depending on how often you change your files, one of those 9GB DVD's could possibly last awhile doing incremental backups...

Bryan

[Nolonemo]

I second the replicator suggestion (the program mirrors the directory containing all the subdirectories containing my mp3s).  I use Folder Match, but Karen's Replicator should work fine.  I mirror to a drive on another networked pc every time I add music (you could also mirror the folders containing the MC9 databases.  One of these days I'll burn all 60-70gb to DVDs and store outside the house as well.

[cricketlover]

Thank you all for the suggestions - it will probably be DVD+RW and Karen for me.