Backups Too Big for CD
Your Spector Backup System won't back up more data than will fit on a single CD. What can I do?
John Phillips, Colorado Springs
That is definitely a flaw in my backup system--caused by WinZip's inability to see a CD-RW as a removable disc. Sorry about not making that clearer.
However, the more data you have to safeguard (and the more disc swapping required to protect it), the less likely you are to back up. If a data folder grows too large to back up conveniently, separate your current data (which you regularly change and should back up daily) from your archival data, which doesn't change.
First, create an archive folder: Open Windows Explorer or any folder window and select your C: drive (listed under My Computer in the folder tree). If you get a message about hidden files, click Show the contents of this folder. Right-click in the pane to the right, and select New, Folder. Name your new folder Archive.
Every month or so, move the files you no longer use from My Documents and your other data folders into your Archive folder. Don't archive your digital photos until you've decided to keep them and after you've finished touching them up.
Once you've moved files to the archive, protect them so that you won't accidentally edit or delete them. Right-click your desktop and select New, Shortcut. In the 'Type the location...' field, enter the command line attrib.exe +r "c:\archive\*.*" /s (be sure to get the spacing and punctuation right). Finish the rest of the wizard, and when you launch the shortcut, all of the files stored in C:\Archive will become read-only.
Burn the just-moved files to a CD with whatever software you use for that purpose (if you don't have a CD-RW drive, use your backup media). Use a CD-R disc rather than a CD-RW--you want these backups to be permanent. And be sure to make two copies on separate CDs for safety's sake.
Ad Choices