Backup to DVD has become increasingly common due to mature technology and cheap DVD burners, this is why the backup to DVD method is so popular (and with the release of Blu-ray discs, which basically have the same physical dimensions as standard DVDs and CDs, backing up to DVD will become one of the most used backup methods).
If you plan to do a backup to DVD, please consider our recommendations:
- Do not use the same DVD to store consecutive backup versions. It’s better to use different DVD media for each backup version (change the DVD media at each backup run). Use a set of DVDs and rotate them periodically (e.g.: take 7 DVD media, one for each week day; start with the first DVD again every 7 days). The reason for this is that in case the burn process fails, you still have the previous backup version on a different disc.
- Rewritable DVD media can be burned only a limited number of times. When strange errors happen, first consider whether if the DVD might be overburned (worn out) or not.
- Always test the DVD backed up data after burning. Backup4all has a special option to automate the test after a backup to DVD.
How to backup to DVD with Backup4all
Backup4all makes the backup to DVD process be easy to perform, through its new backup wizard:
- In the first step, select where will the backup be saved. Click on Local and select the DVD disc you will store the backup files onto from the combo-box.
- Select what files and folders you want to backup. Click Next.
- On the Filter the backup sources page, you can set include/exclude filters for backup sources. Then press Next.
- Select the type of backup you want to use. If you want to use zip compression select Smart/Full/Differential or Incremental, if you want the files to be backed up to DVD without compression select the Mirror backup type (make sure the Zip the files checkbox is not selected, as that allows you to zip files individually).
- You can schedule this backup to DVD to be executed automatically at specific time intervals. If you schedule this backup, just remember that you will need to have the DVD you want to backup to in the DVD drive, otherwise the backup will not run.
- On the Personalize your backup job page, enter a name for the backup in the Backup name field.
- Click the Save button and select either Save and run to execute the backup now, or only Save to have it in the backup job lists from where you will run it manually (or if scheduled it will run automatically)
Backup4all has features that are specifically suitable for backing up to DVD:
- Native Win32 interface (SPTI) / Internal DVD burning engine. By default Backup4all uses one of its own built-in burning engines to backup to DVD media (you do not need third party drivers or burning software installed). However, if you prefer using third party packet writing software, you can select it in the Backup Properties -> Destination -> Optical -> Write Method -> Use third party packet writing software.
- Spanning the backup onto multiple DVDs. If the backup does not fit on one DVD, this DVD backup software will automatically span the backup over multiple DVD discs. Each disc is assigned a different label for future identification. We recommend marking the DVD with this label.
- Backup to DVD automatic testing. At the end of the backup, Backup4all will check the written data to be sure of its integrity. This way you can be sure that the backed up data is safe and you can always restore it.
- Erase DVD tool. If the DVD is erasable (DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM), you can use Backup4all's own Erase Disc tool to erase it. Simply put the erasable DVD disc in the DVD burner, and from Backup4all's interface go to File -> Tools and select Erase Disc. This will launch the erase tool and you can clean the data from the DVD. Backup4all can automatically erase the DVD disc before writing to it - to do so in Backup Properties go to Destination and select Optical, then check the Erase before writing option. This will delete all the data from the DVD before writing the backup to it.
Use built in burner
Backup4all does not need third party drivers or other burning software installed (like ActiveX, ASPI, etc) to be able to burn a DVD. The application has two built in DVD burners to backup to DVD directly.
Read the Use built in burner page for more details on using this burning method.
Use packet writing
If you do not wish to use one of the built-in burners of Backup4all to make a backup to DVD, or if your DVD device is not compatible with this DVD backup software, then you can use a third party packet writing software (InCD or DirectCD).
Read the Use packet writing page for more details on using this burning method.
Besides backing up to DVD, Backup4all supports also burning a backup to CD. For an article on how to backup to CD, please refer to this article: Backup to CD