Backing up to DVD

[lovelyladylucy]

I am looking to back up my hard drive to DVDs, and was wondering if there are any disadvantages in using RAM discs, or are the plus/minus variety more reliable, I would be sooo grateful for any advice

[artood2]

as long as your pc an others can read the disc there should be no difference.

[trustthex]

just make sure you get good discs whatever you do...

http://supermediastore.com/taiyo-yud...d-r-media.html

pretty much the disc of choice around these parts, its a little more expensive than your walmart discs, but its worth it in data integrity.

also, be sure to verify your fingerprints/md5 files prior to and post burning, to make sure the files you put on the disc are good, then that they are also good on the disc. pretty much everything i can think of.

Taiyo Yudens are the best, but DVD+Rs are better than DVD-Rs. This disc model [YUDEN00T02] was named one of the five best blank DVDs ever made by digitalfaq:
http://supermediastore.com/taiyo-yud...s-r-media.html

I'm not too familiar with DVD-RAM discs. Are they re-writable? Write-once media lasts longer than re-writable media. This site says that DVD-RAM discs can be used much like an optical hard drive (I guess that means re-writable?), but that it isn't very compatible for video. Very few DVD players will play a DVD-RAM video disc (the video files are in VRO format). I didn't see any blank DVD-RAM discs on www.supermediastore.com I guess they are not that popular.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdformats.htm

[Johnny Thunder]

DVD RAM is like DVD RW, but ALOT more reliable. Not all DVD writers will write to DVD RAM disks however, so you really need to be sure your drive will actualy write to DVD RAM before you go and buy anything. Another FANTASTIC source for disks is www.rima.com. For better prices, www.shop4tech.com is better than supermediastore. Go ahead and compare prices, you'll see. If you'd like a shop4tech referal for an additional 10% off, PM me your email address and I'll send you a referal.

JT

[AAR.oner]

Originally Posted by Johnny Thunder

For better prices, www.shop4tech.com is better than supermediastore. Go ahead and compare prices, you'll see.

unfortunately, i checked that site and it doesn't tell you if yer getting TY firsts [Premium line] or seconds [Value line] like supermediastore, nor do they list the media code to know which type it is [they do list the mfgr part #]

also, and maybe this is just an anomaly, but i checked a few different discs and here's the prices i got

TY 8x DVD+R silvers:
shop4tech 100 spindle $59.99
supermediastore 100 spindle $39.99

TY 16x DVD-R silvers:
shop4tech 100 spindle $47.00
supermediastore 100 spindle $28.99

Verbatim DVD+R 6X Double Layer
shop4tech 20 spindle $45.80
supermediastore 20 spindle $38.99

[kidrocklive]

Originally Posted by Tubular

Taiyo Yudens are the best, but DVD+Rs are better than DVD-Rs. This disc model [YUDEN00T02] was named one of the five best blank DVDs ever made by digitalfaq:
http://supermediastore.com/taiyo-yud...s-r-media.html

are they better than the gold plated MAM-A discs? I know they cost a lot more though but was just curious.

the gold discs are probably better because gold won't oxidize over time like silver. I wonder how many ppl use them? On this site gold DVD-Rs are about $2.00 each:
http://www.mediasupply.com/mamgold.html

[kidrocklive]

hmm I might get some and gradually back up everything, just not do it all at once so it doesn't seem like such a big project or cost lol. Thanks for the link. Just got weigh in the 60 dollars for TY discs or the 200 for the MAM-A discs (I'd need 100 of em lol). That's be the cheapest way to go, buying gold plated cds for my audio show back ups would be hell.

MAM-A also makes gold DVD+Rs, which are supposed to be better than DVD-R. http://www.mam-a.com/products/dvd_product_list.htm

I hardly ever burn audio CD-Rs any more. I just archive FLACs to DVD+R and play back the FLACs on my PC > coax digital out > receiver.

[vladsmythe]

I burn all video twice as dvd video file. Then a data disc of the entire torrent file. Always keep the discs cool, and safe. Make sure you burn at slowest speed, using quality brand discs, and at least one of the discs will outlast you. Keep all cds/dvds vertical to avoid warping. Here's how I do it.

[vladsmythe]

In one shot you'll see a basketball on the floor, a couple of cases of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and some milk crates filled with about 2000 Grateful Dead cassettes that my wife wants me to get rid of. Any takers?

[kidrocklive]

Originally Posted by vladsmythe

I burn all video twice as dvd video file. Then a data disc of the entire torrent file. Always keep the discs cool, and safe. Make sure you burn at slowest speed, using quality brand discs, and at least one of the discs will outlast you. Keep all cds/dvds vertical to avoid warping. Here's how I do it.

good god lol, I don't have anywhere near that much stuff. I was just wanting to back up stuff for 2 maybe 3 artists haha. Burning twice would be ideal for sure.

[kidrocklive]

why do the discs "warp" if they're not vertical?

[vladsmythe]

Originally Posted by kidrocklive

why do the discs "warp" if they're not vertical?

I've seen discs left in warm places for a long time that have warped. Dashboards are not a good idea, so I'm always careful. Oh, and that's only about half of my archive I have shown. My dvds have a wall of their own, and I'm building more shelves this week.