Smudge

I have several thousand photos that I would like to backup onto DVD's. I am somewhat unfamiliar with the different types of formats for DVD's (DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW). I currently have an internal DVD+/-RW drive on my laptop. I save all of my photos according to year. I have almost 4GB worth of photos in each year 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. I will not have to modify, rewrite or add any more pics to years 2003 - 2007. Here are the questions that I am hoping that someone can help me with:

1. What is the best way to backup years 2003 to 2007 via a DVD? Also, would I use the same format if I wanted to burn some pics onto a DVD to view?

2. How would I restore these photos in the event that my HD crashed

3. Year 2008, which I add photos to continually --- which format would I use so that I can keep adding photos?

4. Will using one media over another for my purposes limit me if I want to play the DVD in someone else's drive?

5. I like the fact that I can burn all of my photos and keep the disks at work so that if there is a fire, ect at my house I know that my DVD's will be safe. However, is a Ext. HD better for my useage - I mostly use my computer for photos, Word Docs and music?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!

Yeti

1. It's just burning files so whatever way you want to organize them - one folder for each year per DVD would work. Viewing would be the same as a hard drive on the computer; for TVs, it depends on the photo viewer.

2. Just copy the files from the DVD back to the hard drive.

3. Personally, I would just wait to transfer, but you could probably leave the session open or make a multisession DVD.

4. For computers no. For TVs, if they have photo-viewing capabilities, probably no as well.

5. It's really a toss up and more a matter of personal preference. DVDs are convenient in that they are cheap and conveniently sized if you can fit one year on each. Hard drives are always getting cheaper per GB and you can have an automatic incremental back up.

Smudge

So, I can use DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R or DVD+RW and it would make no difference? I believe that DVD-R and DVD+R are cheaper than the RW version, and being that I will not need to rewrite to years 2003 to 2007 should I get DVD-R or DVD-RW? I just thought that one format would be better suited for me than the other. Thanks

Yeti

Yeah, unless you need to rewrite them just get either DVD-R or DVD+R. There shouldn't be a problem with either.

Smudge

So with DVD-R or DVD+R do I have to add all of my data (pics) to the disk at once or can I add some pics onto the DVD+R then remove the disk and come back to that disk at a later date to add more data? Thanks again

StrangleHold

With a - or + R you can add files if you burn it in Multisession. But most regular DVD players cant read it till its finalized.

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Smudge

By 'multisession' do you mean that I can burn some pics onto the DVD+R, remove that DVD+R and take it out of the drive then come back at a later time and insert that DVD+R back into the drive and continue burning more pics? And, how do I know when the DVD is finalized? Thank you!

StrangleHold

Yes you can add at a later date. Most burning software, when you start a New Compilation theres should be a place that you can check or uncheck Multisession. You have to Finalize it yourself with your burning software, if you put a multisession in you just uncheck multi or there might be a finalize tab.

__________________
NZXT Apollo
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3
G Skill DDR2 800 4gb
PNY XLR8 8800GT
Spinpoint F1 500gb.