DVDDisc - write protected?

coowee

I've been backing up my files using a DVD-RW disc for years.
Today I had a prompt to insert my disc for another back-up. ( this is set for every month)

Now this is where I am having a problem - for some reason I'm getting a warning triangle saying "Disc is write protected"
I've tried putting in a new dvd disc - same outcome.

I've even tried to go it alone and burn files to disc but the same message comes up when trying to format !

Can anyone advice me ( not technical please) in what I should do next?

I'm using a Vista Home Premium

closed

what software are you using to backup

dvd +/- R's or external hard drive might be easier

try imgburn

coowee

Hi closed
I have just been using the standard Windows back-up which is already on laptop.
I cannot understand how it can except the original backup disc one month and not the next?

Will it become a litte clearer if I say ...
I can play music cds, its when I insert a DVD-RW to copy something, thats when its going wrong!
I've checked Control panel- Autoplay and the following has been applied....
Audoi CD - using Windows Media player
DVD movie - using Windows Media player
Enhanced DVD movie - using Windows Media player
Video CD - " Media player
Enhanced DVD movie - " Media player
Video CD - " Media player (Hope I haven't messed it up!)

I am panicing in case I loose my photo's and documents.
Thats all I need the backup for, nothing else !

I'm going out today to get the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500GB Portable harddrive.
I've been wanting one of these for a while to cut down on laptop space, I only hope that I will not have the same problem -as I am not sure whether it will need to go through a format ??? ( hope not or I will be snookered )

Please help me if you can
Grandmasue

fwor

coowee wrote: »

I am not sure whether it will need to go through a format ???

All of the external USB hard drives that I've had have been formatted already, and were ready to go as soon as plugged in. However, if not, it's very easy to do - just come back here when you're ready and someone will tell you how.

TBH you're making the right choice - rewritable DVD's are not the best medium for backups because the dye that they use only has a limited lifetime. An external hard disk is much more durable (provided you don't bash it about while it's running!).

closed

A tub of 50 dvd+/- r's for under £10 would be a useful backup too, they are more reliable than rw's, and not prone to viruses

Don't recommend moving data to an external drive unless your c: drive is full, copy instead.

Which operating system is it? If you are buying a seagate, you could use maxblast to do a sytem image of your whole hard disk to usb disk

kwikbreaks

closed wrote: »

A tub of 50 dvd+/- r's for under £10 would be a useful backup too

IMO DVDs of any type no longer cut the mustard for backup - at < 5GB each they are simply too small. A 1TB drive costs (or at least did before the floods) ~ £40 so a similar price per GB to DVDs, far more convenient, and reusable to boot.

closed wrote: »

.. and not prone to viruses

Sorry but I have absolutely no idea what that is supposed to mean - please explain.

closed

One or two 15p dvd's would probably hold the average persons data that they would be really sorry to lose, ie irreplaceable photo's, spreadsheets, docs, and a few more discs for home video's if they have any, and they are cheap.

Music, commercial video's and most of the other things people collect on usb hard disks are replaceable, and often rarely important.

A worm or sync problem could delete or corrupt the master copy, and the backup on usb disk in seconds, and any dvd rw's too, which wouldn't apply to a finalised dvd+/-r sat in a case.

30p of dvd's gives a second chance if the hard disk backups fail.

coowee

Hello everyone
My portable hard drive is now installed ,and I'm glad to say that my documents and photo's are all safely tucked away. (Smile)

I still have a problem with my DVD/CDs . I can play a cd - but cannot copy or burn anything to a blank disc ?
Never mind , at least my main worry is over, thanks for all your help.

closed

try imgburn