Back Up (Windows XP Home IE 6 )

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I just bought and installed a cd-rw so I could back up my computer weekly. Installed the back up program on the Windows XP cd. I went through the wizard moves up to the point where I got an error message that said: ” The backup file name could not be used. “E:Backup.bkf” Please ensure it is a valid path and that you have sufficient access.”

How do I get past that and get the cd burner to back up everything on my computer?

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I think that the Windows XP backup program can only write its output to a hard drive.

I started a discussion in post 297767 of the Software finds and wants folder to find out what backup softrware to use for this purpose.

StuartR

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I think that the Windows XP backup program can only write its output to a hard drive.

I started a discussion in post 297767 of the Software finds and wants folder to find out what backup softrware to use for this purpose.

StuartR

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The Backup program is supposed to write to a CD-R drive. I took a CD that still had some space, loaded it, and did this:

1. In Windows Explorer, click the D drive and display the contents of the root directory.
2. Right-click, new, Folder. Renamed “New Folder” to “BACKUP”. It appeared with a special arrow overlaid on the icon and in a slightly transparent color.
3. Started the Backup program and selected two files for a test. Chose to backup to “D:BACKUPtest.bkf”.
4. Ran backup. It completed with no complaints.
5. Right-click the CD drive icon in the folder list pane and choose “Write these files to CD”. A wizard appeared. I forget the details of what happened next. (It did not involve any large snakes, for you Harry Potter fans.)
6. After the wizard completed, the CD ejected. (I later discovered this is configurable.)
7. The file were there! Excellent.
8. But every backup administrator knows, the true test is whether the files will restore. I turned to the restore tab and selected the files for restore (setting an alternate location to avoid overwriting the original).
9. Backup complained that the files were not there, but was pointing to an odd path that Windows apparently uses as its staging area for these delayed CD writes. Clicking browse and double-clicking the “ghost” BACKUP folder redirected to the correct path. Restore completed successfully.
10. Files are okay.

So, it seems to work under the above conditions. I didn’t try a virgin CD (I just moved and they are in a box somewhere…) Hope this helps.

Update: Okay, now Windows is doing something strange. When I re-insert this CD it shows a virtual duplicate of my BACKUP folder, and when I eject it wants to write them again. (Did I forget a step somewhere?) Another test restore ran smoothly, so… anyway, as said, I hope this helps.

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Your advice has always been helpful so I need more information from you.
My d drive is the one that operates the zip disc.
The cd drive is e.
And, I don’t know what a “root directory” is.
Could you be a little more detailed in your instructions to a barely computer literate old person.
I have another concern, too. The cd-rw I bought at Walmart and installed myself is a Samsung. The install disc that comes with it is a Roxio Easy CD Creator. Yesterday there was a lot of negative feedback about Roxio on the Woody’s Lounge. Now I am a little afraid to use the Easy CD Creator to install the cd-rw. If I install this thing is it going to mess up my machine?
Thanks for your help.

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I think I can help a little bit more. Obviously, in your case, use E instead of D where I have D.

The “root” directory of a drive refers to the “top level” contents. On your C drive, for example, you have a folder named c:Windows. The root is c: with no folder. When you click on a drive in Windows Explorer or My Computer, you normally are viewing the root automatically, but if you find yourself inside a folder, you can use the up-folder icon to find your way to the top of the drive.

I don’t do a lot with my combo DVD/CD-R(W?) drive, and I haven’t had any special problems that I can say have anything to do with Easy CD Creator. The copy I run came with my computer from Dell. Every one of these programs has flaws of one kind or another. I haven’t seen any posts that make me want to remove it.

I wish I could give more comments on Backup, but I just haven’t had time to play with it much yet. (I use the Outlook backup add-in, which covers the most valuable stuff on my computer, so I don’t have as big an incentive as I otherwise might.)

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I think I can help a little bit more. Obviously, in your case, use E instead of D where I have D.

The “root” directory of a drive refers to the “top level” contents. On your C drive, for example, you have a folder named c:Windows. The root is c: with no folder. When you click on a drive in Windows Explorer or My Computer, you normally are viewing the root automatically, but if you find yourself inside a folder, you can use the up-folder icon to find your way to the top of the drive.

I don’t do a lot with my combo DVD/CD-R(W?) drive, and I haven’t had any special problems that I can say have anything to do with Easy CD Creator. The copy I run came with my computer from Dell. Every one of these programs has flaws of one kind or another. I haven’t seen any posts that make me want to remove it.

I wish I could give more comments on Backup, but I just haven’t had time to play with it much yet. (I use the Outlook backup add-in, which covers the most valuable stuff on my computer, so I don’t have as big an incentive as I otherwise might.)

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Your advice has always been helpful so I need more information from you.
My d drive is the one that operates the zip disc.
The cd drive is e.
And, I don’t know what a “root directory” is.
Could you be a little more detailed in your instructions to a barely computer literate old person.
I have another concern, too. The cd-rw I bought at Walmart and installed myself is a Samsung. The install disc that comes with it is a Roxio Easy CD Creator. Yesterday there was a lot of negative feedback about Roxio on the Woody’s Lounge. Now I am a little afraid to use the Easy CD Creator to install the cd-rw. If I install this thing is it going to mess up my machine?
Thanks for your help.

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