niel35
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posted on August 22, 2005 02:13:42 PM
My computer guru suggests that I get an External Hard Drive to back up my hard drive.
I have about 500 pictures and other data I would hate to lose.
any ideas??
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fenix03
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posted on August 22, 2005 02:54:44 PM
500 photos and you need an external hard drive? How big are these photos?
Get a DVD burner and store them on DVD disks. The burner costs less than a decent drive., you now have unlimited storage capability plus you can practices your amature video director skills and send samples to eveyone you know 
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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niel35
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posted on August 22, 2005 03:21:24 PM
Fenix - I can type this stuff but no nothing but external hard drives or DVD's or burners.
I think I have a burner tho cause I have HP XP whatever that means.
Director skills - I am lucky if I can get a decent pic on with Camedia which is what my Olympus camera comes with
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EstateSaleStuff
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posted on August 22, 2005 03:23:58 PM
niel ... why do you not want to "lose" all those photos? ... if they are ebay related, you really DON'T need to keep them on your hard drive.
Just trying to help.
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fenix03
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posted on August 22, 2005 04:07:25 PM
Well - you should be able to tell if your computer has a internal DVD burner or not. Basic model type doesn't really say much about what type of add-ons you have, a DVD burner is general an add-on. You can purchase an external DVD burner for under $100 on ebay and simply burn the images that you want to save on to a disk. It's an quick and easy way to archive all types of files.
It just doesn't sound like you area heavy duty user that needs another hard drive especially since it sounds like you want to save the pics rather than need to have enough space to have constant access to them.. The DVD burner sounds like a more economical and multi purpose option for you.
Truth be told, if it's just about saving some pics, there really is no reason they can't be done on CDs depending on size.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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glassgrl
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posted on August 22, 2005 04:17:00 PM
Why would they need a DVD burner when a CDROM RW writer/burner would do the same thing at less cost?
And XP has nothing to do with having the ability to write CD's.
Go to Start>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager & click on the + sign besides your CD whatever. Tell us what it says.
I agree - I'd put them on a CD or you could get some of those USB drives that are as big as a hard drive these days.
(well personally I'd dump the pics and format but that's just me - I believe in formatting frequently)
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fenix03
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posted on August 22, 2005 04:30:33 PM
Glass - my assumption is that if someone said they needed an external drive for 500 pics that they were large, high DPI files. (When I archive photos I usually go with 11x14 300dpi and sometimes I forget that's not the norm  )
For larger files like that, you don't get many on a CD so the larger capabilities of the DVD are more beneficial, especially onsidering how much the price of the hardware and media have dropped.
Considering that Niel is not sure of the capabilities of his system I agree with you that CDs are probably more than sufficient.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:03:00 AM
Glassgirl - it says
DVD/CD-ROM DRIVES
ASUS CD-S480/AH
HP DVD writer 300n
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:05:22 AM
these pics 90% Ebay at 320 pixels. Over the years I take pics before I list them and then when I get around to it, then I have them. Guess I shouldn't have done it this way.
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:06:41 AM
these pics 90% Ebay at 320 pixels. Over the years I take pics before I list them and then when I get around to it, then I have them. Guess I shouldn't have done it this way.
I appreciate all your help and will relate your comments to my guru.
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:07:48 AM
and I am a she. Guess its hard to tell with the name I have on Vendio. Computers get confusing for a 70 yr old.
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cblev65252
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:44:39 AM
Sounds like you have a DVD drive on your computer. I would suggest as the other did that you store your photos on DVDs or CDs. I back up my files at least once a week onto a CD. It's saved my behind more than once. When you back things up, make sure you grab your "favorites file" and the file that has your email addresses in it. I forgot to do that one time and had to start all over.
Cheryl
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:57:39 AM
niel35
If you don't intend to continue this practice in the future - why don't you post them with a service like Vendio or even some free services. You could use them quickly for your listing and then discontinue the service. I think Ralphie knows a good free service.
I have an average of 400 to 500 on Vendio all the time.
Just a thought if you don't want or need to add more hardware.
Also your ISP gives you free space too - can you use that?
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glassgrl
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posted on August 23, 2005 05:58:58 AM
This should tell you how to burn CD's on your computer. Regular CD's should do fine.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00042289.pdf
You might want to try Google's Picasa to find all your images so you can sort through them and put them on CD. It really helped me when I formatted my computer.
http://picasa.google.com/index.html
Picasa Customer Support
How do I create a backup?
Using Picasa's backup feature, you can burn your pictures to CD or DVD. This backup set will allow you to install your pictures as you have arranged them onto a new computer.
Follow the steps below to create a backup:
1. Click the "Backup" button.
2. To backup all still and video files in Picasa click the "Backup" button, then in Step 1 click on "New Set", in Step 2 click on "Select All."
3. If you wish to back up select groups, click the empty boxes next to the folders you wish to backup (on the left side of the backup screen). Only checked folders will be included in the backup.
4. The blue bar above the "Burn" button will state how many blank CD or DVDs will be needed to complete the backup. Insert your blank CD or DVD, wait 20 seconds for Windows to read the disk, then click the "Burn" button.
5. When you insert this backup into a new computer, you will be prompted to restore your pictures. You can choose to have the pictures copied back to their original locations or you can select a new location for your pictures.
[ edited by glassgrl on Aug 23, 2005 06:03 AM ]
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replaymedia
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posted on August 23, 2005 07:06:54 AM
I bought an internal DVD recorder a couple of weeks ago and it makes backups a breeze! I can fit every image I've ever used on one disk! You can fit up to 4.7 Gigs on a single DVD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106988
Is the one I got. $47.00, and they had a combo deal at the time for a hundred blank DVDs.
I don't even see where Newegg sells plain old CD recorders anymore. If the DVD recorders are under fifty bucks, CD recorders are probably on the way out.
--------------------------------------
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 07:24:41 AM
thanks Everyone - appreciate it.
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fenix03
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posted on August 23, 2005 08:11:15 AM
Niel - my appologies
I did assume from the name that you were male. I get mistaken for one as well over on RT and I never would have thought you were 70 either. I just assume everyone is in their 30's until they say differently.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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jwpc
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posted on August 23, 2005 08:18:49 AM
niel35 70! Go girl, go!! I’ll be 65 in a couple of weeks, and been working in on line internet sales since 1996. I thought I was one of the oldest left!!!! Congratulations to you.
I agree with a few others, and back my photo's up on a DVD.
With 4+ web sites, we have a zillion pictures, and we do redundant item auctions on various sites, so I don't want to "dump" any of my photographs.
The same is true with my husband who runs one of our web sites by himself, 1 we mutually run, another I run by my self, and the rest are shared work.
Between web sites and auctions, it would be a disaster to lose either pictures, or text. Fortunately, my husband is a great tech, and we use one of our older computers that he refurbished, added ram to, and back up our whole computers on that 3rd computer. I realize that is not an option for most, but our computers are networked, and it works great for us.
Best of wishes in finding the right backup program for you.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
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niel35
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posted on August 23, 2005 10:22:13 AM
I'm a one-woman operation here. Do the yardsale, pictures, listing, packing and mailing and take care of 3 dogs and one parrot with a little help from my daughter.
I try to stick with what I know as far as the computer goes as if I change anything, it screws up the works it seems. I updated MSN Instant Message and nothing has been the same since. My guru came over to get it right and has to come back.
No offense taken Fenix. JW - you are lucky to have a hubby to help. That 3rd computer sounds great for backing up etc.
My guru knows I am not computer literate and thought the easiest thing for me would be the external hard drive. With all I have to do what with listing it would be a chore to figure out what I want saved and then downloading and uploading on discs etc.
Hope I can be of more help to you all. Once in a while I can help with a china pattern or glassware and feel great that I can help someone else for a change.
Thanks again gang
Neva
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sparkz
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posted on August 23, 2005 10:44:55 AM
The main computer I use has 2 hard drives, drive c: (master) and d: (slave). Every three months, I transfer all the pictures I have on C over to directories on D. I then defrag C: and am ready to go for the next quarter. The transfer is quick and easy, and I always have instant access to the old ones. It also makes it much quicker when I do a virus scan on drive C, because there are not a zillion images for the AV program to wade through. Used high capacity hard drives can be picked up at yard sales and swap meets dirt cheap, and can be installed in your existing computer as a slave in about 15 minutes. Format the drive and you're set to go.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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niel35
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posted on August 24, 2005 02:50:12 PM
Well after all your good advice, I went for the External Hard drive, because it was easier for me.
Ended up costing 140.00 less 50.00 rebate = 90.00 plus 40.00 labor = 130.00 and then I sold my guru some china and made 50.00 so it ended up costing me 80.00
I am happy with that and I just have to push a button when I want to backup my hard drive. The first one was the whole disc and now it will just back up what I have after that.
Again thanks for all your help.
neva
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