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[shAf]

Apologies ... I know this has been previously discussed, but I did try a search and found nothing ?

I figure backing up 111Gb is best done to DVD, and Nero's BackItUp seemed to be the most suitable ... so I bought it, and if Nero's support is any judge of bad software, I'm regretting the price I paid.

In any case ... I tried BIU with a single genre, and it worked perfectly.  So the next step was to archive the entire library.  The result was a backup failed error message after inserting the 24th DVD ...argh!!!...

The good news was that most of the library had been archived properly, but the bad news is that a definition of archive wasn't saved, and as far as I can tell the archive bits weren't changed.  And, the strange thing is ... for the genre directory that did archive properly, I cannot see that the archive bits were changed there either ?

A couple of questions:  (1) where do people find good support (even if it's peer support) for Nero software??  (2)  What are other people using for software for archiving to DVD??

tia ... shAf  

[LonWar]

I am not sure what your budget is, but the absolute best you to back up or archive is by using another HD, (you can also back up your c drive while your at it.)

I have found that the Maxtor external HD are amazing, they also come with retrospect which is a amazing piece of software...

If you use DVD's then what happens when you want to back up your music again (because you added/changed it) you have to scrap the dvd's and do it again... Kinda gets expensive...

[IanG]

If you use DVD's then what happens when you want to back up your music again (because you added/changed it) you have to scrap the dvd's and do it again... Kinda gets expensive...

You can do incremental backups - just copy the files that have changed.  AISBAckup, http://www.aiscl.co.uk/Prod01.htm, works well.  You can continue writing to partialy used media, which helps keep the cost down.

Ian G.

[GHammer]

The good news was that most of the library had been archived properly, but the bad news is that a definition of archive wasn't saved, and as far as I can tell the archive bits weren't changed.  And, the strange thing is ... for the genre directory that did archive properly, I cannot see that the archive bits were changed there either ?

You have a list of what was backed up I suppose.

Then I'd open a command prompt, change to the root of your music directory and use attrib -a /S

Now open MC and add all the selections not backed up to playing now.
Do an Update tags from library

All those files will have the archive attribute set again.

Sorry, messy way, but if your backup software relies on this and does not flip it when it writes to the backup medium, there are no simple ways.

I'm curious. What error did you receive when the backup failed?

As for going forward, I know this company and they have great products. I have not asked a tech question that was not answered quickly and accurately.

http://www.ntius.com/default.asp?p=backupnow/bun_main

[shAf]

You can do incremental backups - just copy the files that have changed.  AISBAckup, works well.  You can continue writing to partialy used media, which helps keep the cost down.

AISBackup looks ok, but but employs installed packet writing and writes to RW media only ... a bit expensive.

Regarding GHammer comments:

You have a list of what was backed up I suppose.

The files were not compressed as archived, nor were the directory structures changed, so I can do simple file exporing of the DVDs.  The BIU software did however split some files.

Then I'd open a command prompt, change to the root of your music directory and use attrib -a /S

Now open MC and add all the selections not backed up to playing now.
Do an Update tags from library

All those files will have the archive attribute set again.

Sorry, messy way, but if your backup software relies on this and does not flip it when it writes to the backup medium, there are no simple ways.

So, MC may be responsible for flipping the archive bits ??

I'm curious. What error did you receive when the backup failed?

"backup failed" is all the message said ... and clikking on 'ok' exited the archive job.

As for going forward, I know this company and they have great products. I have not asked a tech question that was not answered quickly and accurately.

... and it appears they'll write to DVD+R ... but how do I manage backup jobs and incremental backups with the MC library??

  Nero's software would still be a good solution, if I can get them to respond with how to recover this job (... and if I can know how to use it with MC ...)

tia

[jplumey]

I have a similarly large collection and here's my setup:

I have LVM installed on my Linux server with a two virtual volumes (MP3 and MP3Clone). I set up the first one with an assortment of hard drives totalling 280 GB. The second one has the same amount of space. Since LVM lets me assign one moint point for the virtual volumes, I can see Samba shares from my windows pc for both of them (\\gimli\mp3 and \\gimli\mp3clone). All my drives are IDE drives inside firewire enclosures.

I set up a cron job that runs every few minutes that runs the rsync command to synchronize the two volumes. If I happen to make a change to the master, the clone is updated (and vice versa).

This pretty much leaves me with an active copy of the files.

I have also set up another Linux server that has an NFS share where I store daily incremental changes. Each night I copy these files to a 12GB tape drive (HP). The daily incremental backup also gets a backup of the library database, the pictures, etc.

[GHammer]

So, MC may be responsible for flipping the archive bits ??

No, the a flag gets set when a change is made to the file. If you rated it, audio analyze, etc then the flag would be set. But it is not MC that does the flag, it is the OS.

... and it appears they'll write to DVD+R ... but how do I manage backup jobs and incremental backups with the MC library??

I don't understand using a backup app from within MC. I have my backup app set to do a backup of my music directories every 4 hours. If there are changes, they are caught then. But I do not launch the backup app from MC or other programs. It is scheduled to run on it's own and runs as a service.

[shAf]

I don't understand using a backup app from within MC. I have my backup app set to do a backup of my music directories every 4 hours. If there are changes, they are caught then. But I do not launch the backup app from MC or other programs. It is scheduled to run on it's own and runs as a service.

I didn't mean from within MC, ... ie, I misunderstood how MC affects files and the archive bit.  I understand the "analyze" thing with writing an internal tag, but the 'rating"?? ... that should be within the library file.  Like the 'rating', which changes the actual music file, there might be many other aspects of MC which change the file and affect the archive bit, when it really shouldn't, nor be important to the archive.

The other thing and regarding Nero, is that the directory which did archive completely and without error was my Christmas music, so none of it should have been touched by MC or anything else ... and all the archive bits indicate "ready to be archived".  So, Nero BIU must not respect the archive bit, which makes it even more difficult to recover, or continue the archive job.

[btw ... it's been 2 weeks since writing Nero for advice, which is why I asked for peer support ... e.g., a forum other than CD freaks ...)

cheerios  

[jleerigby]

I agree that backing up to another hard drive is by far the simplest, quickest, cheapest and most efficient way of backing up your data.  But aren't external hard drives more expensive?  I just use another standard internal IDE drive and pop it into a slide in  / slide out hard drive caddy.  The Caddy was only £10 here in the UK so now I can insert any IDE drive and then remove it whenever I like.  I can't see how you can get a system easier or cheaper than this.

I use XP's backup utility to schedule the back up as a daily job at 3am.  If the backup drive is not there the job doesn't run.  So whenever I want to back up I simply insert the drive and leave my PC switched on overnight.

I stopped bothering with incremental backups - what's the point?  Just put the drive in and let XP overwrite the old back up with the new one.  I'm asleep while it's running so what do I care how long it takes.  The problem with incremental back ups is that they are exactly that - the size of your back up data increments and gets bigger and bigger until you scrap it all and get a fresh full back up.

[hit_ny]

But aren't external hard drives more expensive?  I just use another standard internal IDE drive and pop it into a slide in  / slide out hard drive caddy.  The Caddy was only £10 here in the UK so now I can insert any IDE drive and then remove it whenever I like.  I can't see how you can get a system easier or cheaper than this.

could post a link of what caddy u use JLee. Also what size HDs can the caddy support ?

[kaiynne]

IMO the best way to backup is to use a mirrored raid setup.  A couple of 160 gig drives and a raid card will not set you back too much, and there is no effort at all, no remembering to back up, the data is just there.

[jleerigby]

But aren't external hard drives more expensive?  I just use another standard internal IDE drive and pop it into a slide in  / slide out hard drive caddy.  The Caddy was only £10 here in the UK so now I can insert any IDE drive and then remove it whenever I like.  I can't see how you can get a system easier or cheaper than this.

could post a link of what caddy u use JLee. Also what size HDs can the caddy support ?

Removable IDE Hard Drive Bay.

Unfortunately there is no picture or write up.  It's even cheaper now too!

It will support any standard sized IDE hard drive (5.5 inch).  What's more it supports up to ATA133.  I have a 250 GB Maxtor in mine.

[jleerigby]

IMO the best way to backup is to use a mirrored raid setup.  A couple of 160 gig drives and a raid card will not set you back too much, and there is no effort at all, no remembering to back up, the data is just there.

The data is just there until your house is burgled you mean!

[hit_ny]

Removable IDE Hard Drive Bay.

Unfortunately there is no picture or write up.  It's even cheaper now too!

It will support any standard sized IDE hard drive (5.5 inch).  What's more it supports up to ATA133.  I have a 250 GB Maxtor in mine.

Something like below i presume.



i dont have space on my box atm, need to get bigger HDs. so i just pop the lid, disconnect the cd-writer, hook up the spare HD, let it all dangle till ghost does its work (which for a 120GB is approx an hour)

Caddy is defnitely an easier idea.

[IanG]

I stopped bothering with incremental backups - what's the point?  

For backing up media files, probably none.  But if you're backing up the library files, you reduce the risk of creeping corruption.  

Ian G.

[jleerigby]

Removable IDE Hard Drive Bay.

Unfortunately there is no picture or write up.  It's even cheaper now too!

It will support any standard sized IDE hard drive (5.5 inch).  What's more it supports up to ATA133.  I have a 250 GB Maxtor in mine.

Something like below i presume.

...
i dont have space on my box atm, need to get bigger HDs. so i just pop the lid, disconnect the cd-writer, hook up the spare HD, let it all dangle till ghost does its work (which for a 120GB is approx an hour)

Caddy is defnitely an easier idea.

Exactly like that!  Yes caddy is easier and at £6 it's not going to break the bank.

[shAf]

... I just use another standard internal IDE drive and pop it into a slide in  / slide out hard drive caddy.  ...

What do these drive caddies plug into?  

[gbdesai]

I learned the hard way, I went out of town last week and got back to find that a lightning strike took out half of my equipment including my external 250GB drive that I just finished ripping a 700 disc collection to.  Anyway I just ordered this and have to start over:

     http://www.raidexpert.com/RAID/FireFly4800.htm

Configured as RAID-5.

[jleerigby]

... I just use another standard internal IDE drive and pop it into a slide in  / slide out hard drive caddy.  ...

What do these drive caddies plug into?  

There are 2 parts to it.  The main bit fits into your PC exactly like a CD-ROM drive would.  The other bit opens up and you fit your HDD inside attaching the power cable and IDE cable.  Then close the lid and simply slide the it in the PC whenever you want to use it (with the PC switched off followed by a reboot to detect the drive.)

[modelmaker]

These trays are great! I have one in each of my two computers. I have 6 backup HDs/trays, 2 with documents and business data, 1 with photos, 2 200gig library file backups and 1 for video stuff.

It's a great way to put older/smaller HDs back to use and share them amoungst friends that  also have the trays.

BTW they're  around $20 and $10 per extra tray retail here in upstate NY.