Backup to CDR

[korky45]

Anybody tell me - can I backup my files to a CDR using Microsoft Backup. If not is there any freebie backups around that will do this for me.

Thanks:)

[Sylvander]

You can use MS Backup to backup the C: partition to a file on another partition [the partition must be big enough to hold the file].

I don't know of any freebie backup progs.

I use "Simple Backup" to backup to CD-RW disks.
Here's something I composed on the topic of Backups:

MAKING BACKUPS
It all depends what software & hardware you have available to you for making backups.
I use “Simple Backup” and CD-RW disks because I only have a 10 GB & 1.2 GB HDD’s and therefore only need a total of 18 CD-RW’s as follows:
A) 1.4 GB C: partition = two backups [which leap-frog so that the old becomes the new], each 2 CD-RW’s.
B) 1.2 GB [old HDD] D: physical drive = 1 backup of 2 CD-RW.
C) 8 GB E: partition = 1 backup of 12 CD-RW’s.

I can backup [and also restore] each partition or physical drives separately.
If/when I re-format & restore the C: drive, then all the data, like My Documents etc, moved to other partitions remains unaffected.

RECOVER USING BACKUPS
The easy way to recover from all software [including configuration] problems [without even having to discover the cause], is:

1) As you proceed forward in time, make backups of everything on your C: drive.
Do this at regular intervals, particularly before making software changes [un/installing programs or changing configuration] and keep a log of all this.
2) When you hit trouble caused by a bad configuration change and no hardware or software changes have been made, use "scanreg /restore" [in Win98] to restore a previous good configuration.
3) When the trouble involves more than just the configuration, but involves the files [including the configuration perhaps] but no harware has been changed [this is important because the software must match the hardware], then:
----------------------------------------------------------
Re-format the C: drive and restore your latest good backup.
----------------------------------------------------------
The software will "jump back" to the way it was when the PC worked.

It helps if you keep the C: drive "lean & mean".
I move as much as possible off the C: drive.
The "Windows" & "Program Files" folders account for 95% of the used space on my C: drive.
All the data that changes day by day are re-homed on another physical drive [although another partition would do].
When I "jump back" I still have up to date:
a. My Documents.
b. E-mails for all identities.
c. Internet Explorer Favourites.
d. Temporary Internet Files.
e. I have not yet found a way to re-home the Microsoft Address Book so I keep a backup of that with the others. It's normal home [in Win98] is C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book.

[korky45]

Thanks again Sylvander your advice is sound. I was thinking of a HDD failure more than anything. I have suffered from this in the past and had hoped that there was a way to use MSbackup to save onto a CDR.

I could buy a utility like "simple backup" it just seems a shame to have to buy a piece of software when there is already a backup system provided in Win 98.

Thanks for your help.

[Sylvander]

Theoretically you can save the backup file to a CD, but the CD-disk is so small that you couldn't back up much HDD space to a file that would fit on it, and it will not span multiple CD's.

One way to work around this is to save to a file on a partition, then use a disk spanning program to copy the file to CD's.

Not particularly elegant as a solution, but it would work I think.
I've never actually tried it myself.

[Budfred]

If you simply want to back up specific files, you can use your regular CD burner software to do that. I back up a number of folders occasionally, like word processing files, emails, address books and so on. I usually just copy the folder that contains the files directly onto a CD and usually have plenty of room. If you are copying video, music or other extremely large files, you may need more room.

If you need to copy the whole drive or large chunks, then Sylvander's idea of first backing up to a partition and then using disk spanning software to copy to CDs would work...

[sleddog]

Originally posted by korky45
Anybody tell me - can I backup my files to a CDR using Microsoft Backup. If not is there any freebie backups around that will do this for me.

Thanks:)

Play here for a while: http://www.ded.com/nonags/diskbk.html

[PrntRhd]

I learn something every day, thanks Sleddog!

[classicsoftware]

Fox $60.00 you can get stomp software (formerly veritas for Windows) Backupmypc. Supports CD-R and CD-RW works like a charm.....

Worth the money....

[Paleo Pete]

I have not yet found a way to re-home the Microsoft Address Book so I keep a backup of that with the others.

If you mean the OE address book, export it to a CSV file and back that up. It can be imported easily and works great, I keep a fairly current backup at all times on a separate drive and usually on a floppy too. I don't add or change address book entries often, so if I have a backup a year old it's usually still current...

[Sylvander]

I do mean the Outlook Express Address Book.

I find it easier to just copy the address book files [3 in my case] at:
"C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book".

I just copy and paste them to my D: drive [a separate physical drive] at:
"D:\01 Saved\C,Windows,Application Data,Microsoft,AddressBook1stNov2003"

Which reminds me to copy & paste them over....

That done I've re-named the folder so the address is now:
"D:\01 Saved\C,Windows,Application Data,Microsoft,AddressBook,16thJan2004"

[Paul Komski]

One can just back-up the xxx.wab file(s) (leaving the xxx.wa~ alone since it is just a backup anyway) by copying and pasting anywhere you like.

My own is kept on the D partition (as well as on CD) and then the registry can easily be tweaked to point to it there by changing the path at:-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab  File Name]

"D:\AddressBook\PaulKomski.wab"

[korky45]

I could not have asked for a better debate on backups. I've learned more about the practical methods of dealing with backups, from this thread, than anything I have read in mags over the years.

Thanks all

[Sylvander]

Assuming I tweaked the registry setting:

1. Would I need to manually move [or copy] the file to that address?
2. Does it need to be done before changing the Registry?
3. What happens to the “xxx.wa~” and the “~” files?
4. If I move them there manually will they still fulfil their function?
5. Why no setting in the Registry for these?

[Paul Komski]

I have always copied the ***.wab to a folder of my own choosing first and then changed the reg key. I also export the original key (in case of problems) and the new key so that if I ever clean reinstall the OS onto C (leaving D intact) I can just open the latter key and merge the new location into the new registry with ease. I keep these two reg files in the New Address Book folder on D so that I can easily find them if needed.

From past experience R-dragging the file and moving it to the new location moves the wab file but doesnt update the registry. Also, after simply moving it, on rebooting a new empty ***.wab file is created in the original location - and windows will use this one.

The ***.wa~ backup file will eventually get created in the AddressBook Folder - possibly after an app that uses it, such as OE, is opened. The original doesn't matter what you do with it - since you should by now have a backup copy of it anyways.

You can move these files anywhere and they will function normally by opening them directly or indirectly with a shortcut or whatever. The one referenced in the registry will however be the default one used by Windows, Outlook Express, etc.

This also works great if you are dual-booting since you can use the same Address Book in both OSes.

;)

:D

[Sylvander]

I now have it working:) :D

Many thanks for that.

I've been trying to find out how to do that for a long time now.

[Sylvander]

Something is troubling me.

Having deleted the original address book files I now have only the xxx.wab file in the new location.
New copies of the "xxx.wa~" and "~" files were not created in the new location.
Is this ok?

[Paul Komski]

I went and deleted my .wa~ file and it wasn't restored until I added a new contact to it in OE.

I then renamed it from paul.wa~ to paulbk.wab and opened it. The contents were identical to the original except that the file itself was smaller (probably compacted).

There is an oddity about the Windows Address Book to do with identities. All the identities (for that logged-on user) are stored in one address book. If that address book is opened independently of the mail client then all the addresses can be viewed in it. If the same file is opened by OE then only that identity's (and those shared) contacts are visible.

If using OE's export command for backing-up then only that identity's contacts are exported - so this needs to be done for each OE identity.

If there are multiple users on the PC, each will have its own address book and each one should be backed up as a separate process. The HKCU values, logically, only point to the current user's registry entries.

[Sylvander]

I don't have user profiles enabled, but there are multiple identities.

I understand and agree with all you said except:

In OE I deleted some items from, then added other items to, the address book of one identity, but no "xxx.wa~" file [or "~" file] was created:confused:

[Paul Komski]

It may even depend where things are opened from as to where the *.wa~ (or the simple ~ file or the "OE tilde bug") is created.

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/10/Technology/Solutions__Error_mean.shtml

Certainly I can consistently open the folder containing the wab and wa~ files and delete the wa~ then open the wab then add a contact then close the address book app and watch the folder create the new wa~ in front of my eyes.

IMHO its really not all that important if you have a backup somewhere else anyway. What would be interesting to know is why MS developed it in the first place - and its very difficult to find anything by searching since the ~ is always "stripped" from any google search string that it is entered into.

[Sylvander]

AH!
Now I understand:)

When I opened the "xxx.wab" file from within its new folder location and made an alteration to an address, the tilde ["~"] file was created inside that folder.

[Paul Komski]

;)

:D

[Paul Komski]

Came across the following:-
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/wab.htm (The Windows Address Book).