Q: How do I backup to a CD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-RW disk?

If you are using SyncBackPro (and are not using Windows 8) then simply create a profile that does a backup to CD/DVD. The information below is only for SyncBackSE or SyncBackFree.

Steps

First, test your profile with a hard drive to make sure your profiles settings are correct.

Second, you must format your CD/DVD using the UDF file system before using it with SyncBack. This is very important. SyncBack cannot put files onto a CD/DVD unless it has first been formatted in UDF format. You may need to do a full format (instead of a quick format). There are free programs that can do this (see below).

Third, make sure you eject and re-insert your CD after formatting it, otherwise you may get errors saying there is no CD in the drive.

DELL DLA (FREE) - Recommended

- Download 4.95 here and install it (as per instructions on download page).

- Format your CD before using it with SyncBack. Make sure you eject and re-insert your CD after formatting it, otherwise you may get errors saying there is no CD in the drive.

- You may need to do a full format (instead of a quick format).

IBM DLA (FREE)

- Download 4.95 build 35b here and install it (as per instructions on download page). If it says it can only be used on IBM hardware, then you must use the Dell DLA software instead (see above) or download an older version (here), install it, then install the newer version over the old version.

- Format your CD before using it with SyncBack. Make sure you eject and re-insert your CD after formatting it, otherwise you may get errors saying there is no CD in the drive.

- You may need to do a full format (instead of a quick format).

HP DLA (FREE)

- First download HP DLA 4.60 here (this page also provides additional information about why a previous version of the HP DLA can cause blue screens on Windows 2000, XP, and XP SP2) or here.

- Then an additional download is also required for the HP/Sonic DLA 4.95.1c here.

After downloading both files, follow these steps:

1. Remove all other packet writing software
2. Run install of DLA 4.60
3. Restart your computer
4. Run install of DLA 4.95.1c
5. Acknowledge message to remove v4.60
6. Restart your computer
7. DLA 4.95.1c install continues automatically, proceed with install
8. Restart your computer

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Nero InCD: In some situations, SyncBack will not recognise UDF formatted CD's created using Nero InCD. The cause of this problem is unknown and there is no known solution.

Note: Copying a large number of files to a DVD can take an extremely long time.