Updateing Backup problem

[joe935]

Using Windows Explorer I can write several folders with multiple
subfolders and get a sucessful back up. But then when I try to
update this cd by copying individual files, some files will copy correctly.
but then one file size may be wrong or data may be incorrect, with no indication that an error has occured.
QVerify program reports the error has occured.
Not only is the file that was copied wrong but another file that was
previously correct is now showing bad data.

I have also used Insync to backup and there is no problems
creating the initial backup only when updating do files get corrupted.

I have tried with DMA both enabled and disabled for this drive.

CD-RW_Model: Spressa Professional (EIDE) CRX160E/A1
Operating_System: Windows 98
My media is Memorex 12x, 700mb 80min
Neroinfotool_227 Indicates no problems with the drive and
ASPI is installed and working properly it at ASPI 471a2

I use Sony abCD to format and it is at version 1.6
ptUDFapp.exe is version 1.6.0.184
ptUDF.vxd is version 1.6.184

I have not tried other media, but since it only fails when trying
to replace files, it doesnt seem to be a media problem.

Anything else I should be looking at to resolve the problem?

[dodecahedron]

hello joe935, welcome to CDRLabs.

what you are doing is called packet writing.
packet writing software is a soft of driver that installs itself into the operating system and enables a "drag-n-drop" capability from Windows Explorer into a CDRW disc.
Sony abCD software is such a software


all packet writing sotware is notoriously unrelieable. the only advice i can give you is to stop using it and do "regular" CD burning.

moreover, many people feel that CDRW (media) is unreliable too, and would recommend against using it, just use plain CDR.
if you do use CDRW, i can only recommend Verbatim. Memorex CDRWs are usually bad. you can check with Nero InfoTool or Nero CDSpeed who is the manufacturer of the Memorex CDRW you're using. very likely it's Infosmart - bad!

[joe935]

Thanks, dodecahedron
What programs would you recomend for doing the type of Backups I am trying to do? Or is keeping a current syncronized copy of my personal files not possible?

[dodecahedron]

any program you like.
i use Nero, or sometimes burnatonce (haven't used it in quite a while actually)

just erase the CDRW disc and copy everything to it every time. in many ways this is simpler than keeping track of which files have changed and need to be "synchronized".
that's what i do.

[joe935]

Ok. I just tried a program called SyncBack free have you had any experience using it?
it's at 2brightsparks.

This CD writing is not living upto expectations.

[dodecahedron]

never heard of it.
what burning program do you have? most drives come with one.

if you want a freeware program for burnnig Audio and Data CDs i can recommend burnatonce.
www.burnatonce.com

[joe935]

The software supplied with the drive is:
CD Extereme for creating music CDs
abCD to create A large floppy disk type cd
Retrospect Express for backup and restore
Only one i use is abCD didn't care for the other programs.
I will stick with Syncback for now give it a test drive for a bit
Thanks again

[dodecahedron]

well, CD Extreme is ageneral-purpose burning application, like Nero.
you can burn data CDs with it.

[dodecahedron]

it depends on how much data you have to back up.
assuming it's not too much (say up to 1.4GB of data) that (part of it) is constantly changing and needs to be backed up, what i suggest (and this is what i do too) is to burn it to CD (or 2 CDs if it's more than 700MB) every now and then (every day, once every few days, whichever you like).
i mean "regular" burning (using programs such as Nero, Easy CD Creator etc., Sony CD Extreme, burnatonce etc. etc.), not packet-writing, which like i said is problematic and unreliable. for some people it works fine, but i've heard too many stories of data loss when using packet writing.

also, burn to CDR not CDRW, since it's more reliable too.
what i do is burn to CDRW more frequently (say 2-3 times a week when i'm not lazy) and to CDR less frequently (every week or two).

[joe935]

Thanks for the advice. I will have to go out and buy some CD-Rs