Backup Large Harddrive onto DVD to free up space.

[bNeta86]

I have a 250 gb HD that is full to the brim with random crap (not pron)...andI am trying to clean up some space.

I dont really need the data accessable anymore. I was wondering if there is a way to archive an entire HD across multiple DVDs.

I have plenty of those - and really shouldnt ever need the data again but if I do I could always restore the HD from the DVD rom backups.

If anyone knows of a proggy that can do this I am all ears. Norton Ghost said it was too big to be able to be restored and didnt do it. Thanks

 

[corkyg]

Your best bet is to get a second HDD to put the junk on. Then you can either leave it connected or remove it and put it on the shelf.

 

[mugs]

1. If the data is anything you cannot possibly retrieve any other way in the future, at least back it up on two DVDs. CDs and DVDs degrade over time.
2. Personally I'd just sort the files and burn them manually rather than using a drive imaging program or something like that.

 

[bob4432]

most of the drive imaging programs like acronis true image and ghost offer the options to cut the backup into chunks, i persoanlly us acronis and have it separate them into 650MB chunks and have done the same with ghost corporate in the past.

not trying to pry, but what do you have 250GB of?

 

[lansalot]

http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?ignition

That's a good program for optimally filling DVDs. Easy to use, and with the right extensions, will make an ISO or 6 for you ready to burn.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: bob4432
most of the drive imaging programs like acronis true image and ghost offer the options to cut the backup into chunks, i persoanlly us acronis and have it separate them into 650MB chunks and have done the same with ghost corporate in the past.

not trying to pry, but what do you have 250GB of?

Now, if you did a segmented image, would you have to restore the entire image just to get one file? And if you lost/scratched/sat on one disc, would you be screwed?

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: bob4432
most of the drive imaging programs like acronis true image and ghost offer the options to cut the backup into chunks, i persoanlly us acronis and have it separate them into 650MB chunks and have done the same with ghost corporate in the past.

not trying to pry, but what do you have 250GB of?

Now, if you did a segmented image, would you have to restore the entire image just to get one file? And if you lost/scratched/sat on one disc, would you be screwed?

usually you need all the files to get just one file, or if you are missing some of the image files you will be missing some of the files you backed up, if you can open the image at all. usually what i do is create an imge, check it, open it, then run a program that creates md5 checksums for all the files, then burn to dvd and the run the md5 program to make sure the files are exact. quite tedious, but it usually works. i usually only do this for offsite backups when they are the "last ditch" effort.

 

[mercanucaribe]

You don't want to backup the whole drive image to a bunch of discs. If you ever need the files you'll need to buy another 250gb hard drive and restore to that... Pretty inconvenient. I'd sort the files like someone said.

 

[Sforsyth]

I'd just make folders 4.3 GB(4.7GB) big and move your files into them and then put them on DVD as data, thats what I do and then I print a square of paper whats on the Disc and keep them in a folder, works real good.

 

[bNeta86]

First off thanks for allthe great responses.

As for the "whats on the drive" question...well lets just say that there was a particular console manufacturer that might have left some holes in their proprietary game technology that have since been found. And unfortunately this means that there are TONS of very small files making up this 250 gb mess.

They are all in folders but there are about 100 different folders all of random size. I dont know if I have the patients to sort them out in size etc.


The chunked up backup idea sounds good - but the fact that I couldnt get to one file without restoring the whole archive does pose a bit of a threat. Is there a way to just Rar up the archives directly onto the DVDs? I dont have the extra space in my comp.

Man this is turning into the well...just waste a HD and keep it all on there idea I guess. But I was hoping to just use DVD as the storage medium and move along without having to buy another drive. but that may just prove the easiest solution. Thanks again for the input guys!!

 

[bNeta86]

Originally posted by: lansalot
http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?ignition

That's a good program for optimally filling DVDs. Easy to use, and with the right extensions, will make an ISO or 6 for you ready to burn.

Will this program keep the folders intact? I suppose I could just zip each of the folders individually first - then have the program segment them without separating whats inside the zips.

Hmm....good advice though I'll take a look at it further.