backing up files to DVD? good idea?

[704_Skate]

my crappy computer only has about 120GB of harddrive,

now I'm fighting with 20-30GB left, I keep adding stuff and deleting,

I don't have an external harddrive at the moment, but I have about 100 DVDs that carry 4.7GBs each,

Can I rely on this plethora stack of CDs to store files?

only downside I noticed so far is the time it takes to write my stuff onto it

[photolady]

It's always a good idea to back up your files to something other than your harddrive. Dvd's work just fine for me. And the reason it takes so log sometimes to do this burning is, your laptop drive isn't as fast as a desktop drive. DVD burning is slower than cd burning also.

And I hope you mean uninstalling, not deleting. Check your harddrive for uninstalled programs folders. Some get left behind when an uninstall is done. Remove programs you rarely or never use. Clean out temporary internet files folder, temporary/temp folders. Delete all cookies. Remove your stored system restore points, and set to use a lower amount of disk space. You'll be amazed how much space you can get back after doing those few things.

[Midknyte]

You should really invest in an external. If you make changes to files, then you'll have to burn a new disc. It's such a hassle and waste.

[Train]

I have over 500 data DVDs of stuff stocked away.
Yes, it takes time to make them, but it sure beats losing stuff.

Options to add.
Set up a file server and network your computers.
Add hdds
USB external hdds

All kinds of options available for backing up data.

We just need to figure out what works best for us.

[Train]

Or upgrade.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=

Not that spendy.

[704_Skate]

It's always a good idea to back up your files to something other than your harddrive. Dvd's work just fine for me. And the reason it takes so log sometimes to do this burning is, your laptop drive isn't as fast as a desktop drive. DVD burning is slower than cd burning also.

And I hope you mean uninstalling, not deleting. Check your harddrive for uninstalled programs folders. Some get left behind when an uninstall is done. Remove programs you rarely or never use. Clean out temporary internet files folder, temporary/temp folders. Delete all cookies. Remove your stored system restore points, and set to use a lower amount of disk space. You'll be amazed how much space you can get back after doing those few things.

Good ideas, I'll try thoses once I get the files I'm not using backed up.

Also I got 2 questions,

1) I just compressed about 4.8GBs down to 4.19GBs into a zip folder, is it even worth compressing them? Didn't seem like it did much, and it took a while to compress,

2)If there's a program I want to save, and it was downloaded off the net, how can I copy the program so that I have the install version?

Options to add.
Set up a file server and network your computers.
Add hdds
USB external hdds

Train:

Nah an upgrade to me isn't worth it on this machine.

Also what do you mean by setting up a file server, and what are HDDs? harddrives? Is any money involved? sorry for my lack of knowledge btw

You should really invest in an external. If you make changes to files, then you'll have to burn a new disc. It's such a hassle and waste.

Mike:

I wish I could invest in an external harddrive, but I'm broke, and the next thing I'm going to buy are some accessories for my nikon D60 (:

so right now I think my stack of DVDs next to me will do just fine.

[Train]

Nikon D60 tells me most of you files are pictures. D40 here.

No Zipping them does not really help. They are pretty well compressed already.

My file server is a old Socket A computer with XP installed.
I added a ATA100 card and 4 hdds [yes harddrives] to the card.
OS is on a 40 GB hdd and the others are 300 GB drives which are shared.
C:| is not shared.
I used a router and networked my computers.

Like you found out a laptop is nice to have, but limiting when dealing with graphics.

EXAMPLES of prices:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...al-Hard-Drives

[704_Skate]

Well I'm sort of new to photography, but yes I do have a lot of photos. Actually most of my files are music. I have 12.9GBs of that, and only about 5GBs of photos, though I deleted a lot.

Hmm, well about the HDDs, witch is the best one you'd recommend that's cheap but holds a lot?

[Train]

I prefer my Maxtor One Touch, 750 GB over WD [Wester Digital] MY BOOK 640 GB. But that is just me.

Note please, they both have a power supply that plugs into the wall receptical. A plus as it saves on the laptop battery.
I picked both up a sales prices. Less that $100 for each.

Music depending on the format, is fairly compressed also.

[704_Skate]

Yeah I noticed the HDDs with a lot of GBs use power cords. I actually am interested in the WD elements 1TB. I like the style on that one compared to the Maxtor, although shape shouldn't matter because what inside matters. But is this one good too?

[Train]

Western Digital Element 1TB 3.5" Black External Hard Drive - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136321

Looks good to me. Not a bad price either in my book.

[704_Skate]

It also has some very good reviews. I looked it up on amazon and it was 4.5 with a lot of 5 stars in there.

Also I have a question concerning some programs on my laptop. I have a compaq(aka hp)

and it has a lot of these HP stuff loaded on it that I never use, (I'm to lazy to type them so I'll show you an image)

]

witch of these can I uninstall?

[Train]

I would not uninstall them , but would stop them from automatically starting in msconfig.

Here is how to check msconfig
Start/Run and type in
msconfig
OK
Startup Tab

Keep the page open then go to link below. It will tell you what all the entries are and whether you can disable them or not. It will also identify any malware. Disable everything which is not needed to run at start up
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/

Read the Key at top of page. Use the Search box at the top to check all your entries

When you reboot you will get a message saying you have started in "Selective Startup" Click "Don`t show this message again" then OK

What program do you use with you pictures?

[704_Skate]

Thanks for showing this to me, I'll get a jump on that in a few.

For pictures, I'm using Capture NX2(downloading that now)/photoshop/or light room.

Oh and real quick, I'm installing NX2 right now, and my self I never read those read me stuff, and I happen to scroll down, and it mentions I need .NET Framework 2.0, I have 1.1

It's ok to update to 2.0?

[Midknyte]

.NET 2.0 is backwards compatible.