Cheap, good quality data backup

[stazzo]

I'm looking for a cheapish (£50) CDRW drive for data backup (and occasional MP3). I currently use a Zip 100Mb disc but need to be able to backup a coupla gigabytes. Any recommendations?

Thanks, Stazzo.

[TheWizard]

I'm not sure what drives you have available in Gloucester, but take a look at any Lite-On or LG drive; they are cheap in comparison to other drives prices and their quality is second to none. You don't need the fastest drive out there, so keep that in mind since you are on a budget. I'm sure 50 pounds could get you a very good Lite-On or LG 24X, 32X, or 40X burner.

[stazzo]

Thanks, I've seen LG available in the shops. Any advice about media for these? People keep talking about coasters! Presumably errors can sometimes by managed by the software with some loss of capacity? Also, what about software - will any do for Data Backup or is some easier to use than others?

Ciao!

[TheWizard]

I think the overwhelming majority of burners (that is people who burn, not the drives themselves) use Nero. You can download the free, full-featured version at http://www.ahead.de.

For advice about what media to use, refer to this thread...

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6005

Depending on what drive you settle on, you can use the thread to locate your drive and see which media burns at rated or higher speeds and which media does not burn well at all. I think it's obvious that you want media that burns at the rated or higher speeds.

[stazzo]

Right on, Thanks,

[stazzo]

I've looked at www.ahead.de and it says nothing about a free fully featured program, just a demo? Is this what you mean?

[cfitz]

Yes. The demo is fully featured and free for 30 days. So you can give it a good workout to decide if you like it and want to pay for a permanent license.

LG drives, at least here in America, come with a copy of Roxio burning software:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.ph ... e=Features

I'm sure you can download a free trial of it as well.

Unless you buy a bare drive, it will come with a bundled burning software package. You might try one of two strategies in making your decision:

1. Pick the drive you want without regard for the bundled software, buy it, and then try the bundled software that came with it. If you like it, just continue to use it. If you don't, then get back in the market for alternative burning software. If you do buy alternative software after the fact you will pay significantly more than what you pay for the version that comes bundled with the drive.

2. Download and try the various burning software free demo versions, and pick the one you like best. Then select a burner that comes bundled with that software.

Don't forget to read the reviews here. Ian has written many on both drives and software.

cfitz

[Phil K]

Whats the point ? If you buy a drive, it'll come with a Nero disk anyway !

[Action Jackson]

Stazzo, as long as you buy a RETAIL package of LiteON [I'm not sure about what LG comes with], it should come with a full featured version of Nero specific to your drive. At least there's no expiry date on using it.

If you buy a OEM or BareBones package, then it might not come with any software, audio cables or screws.

This is true for North America. I couldn't tell you if it's the same for Europe.

[forbjok]

I recently bought my Lite-On LTR-52246S (52x/24x/52x) in Norway. It came with the drive itself, a Nero 5.5 OEM CD, an extra audio cable and three or four screws. It's probably the same all over the world.

I've been using Nero for about three years though. Just download the demo from www.ahead.de and get a keygen at www.ilookretardedinmypicture.net or some other crack/keygen/serial site, and you have a fully functional registered version of Nero.

[cfitz]

Forbjok, you've already been told once that we do not advocate key generators, cracks, warez, et cetera, and will not tolerate the promotion of same on these boards. You are running the risk of being banned from these forums. Please do not do so again.

cfitz

[Ian]

ditto what cfitz said.

[dodecahedron]

Just download the demo from www.ahead.de and get a keygen at www.ilookretardedinmypicture.net or some other crack/keygen/serial site

hey, that link does'nt work for me!
are there any other retarded looking sites to help me out?
or should i just look in the mirror?