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Suggestions for software to easily copy large numbers of digital images to CD and DVD
"Colin D" wrote in message ... MaryL wrote: Can anyone make some suggestons for software that can easily copy large numbers of digital images to CDs and DVDs (and span more than one disk, if necessary)? Following some suggestions from this group, I did buy a program a couple of years ago that I thought was just what I needed -- Archive Creator. I even tried out the demo version first, and every *seemed* to go smoothly. It was only after purchasing the full version (non-refundable) that I learned that it created major problems with my system. I use Win XP-Home edition on a Compaq Presario 8000 computer, and my first inkling of a problem was that System Restore would not work after installing Archive Creator. I made many attempts and communicated with the publishers, but nothing helped. Finally, I uninstalled Archive Creator -- and then all of my options under "Help and Support" literally disappeared from the screen. I finally used System Restore by going a different route (through StartAccessories, etc.), restored to a date earlier than when I had installed AC, and then everything worked fine. Recently, I had to reformat my hard disk and reinstall everything. So, I decided to try AC again -- and had exactly the same results. So, can anyone recommend an alternative program that will carry out the type of functions that AC was actually designed for? I went into such great length about AC because it does have exactly what I wanted -- easy to use, fairly fast, and can be used to copy both image files and data files (in fact, any type) to both CDs and DVDs. I also like using a "tree" of my computer files that I can quickly click so that only those files I select will be copied. It's unfortunate that AC is obviously completely incompatible with my system. Thanks, MaryL A file manager like Powerdesk or ExplorerPlus, which are considerably more powerful versions of Windows Explorer will do it. Or, if you don't mind a dos-like command-line interface, xxcopy is brilliant, though there is a learning curve,there are over 200 cammand variations. Googl;e for any of them. The first two are like about $US40, xxcopy is free. Colin Thanks for the suggestions. PowerDesk looked "great" for awhile, but I sent email with a couple of questions -- and learned that it will not span multiple disks. So, it's back to the drawing board... I still need to look into ExplorerPlus. The one web site I checked didn't have much information about it. MaryL |
#2
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MaryL wrote: Can anyone make some suggestons for software that can easily copy large numbers of digital images to CDs and DVDs (and span more than one disk, if necessary)? I suspect that I simply don't understand how to facilitate this process. How do you determine, in advance, which files will fit on a disk? I know the size of the CDs and DVDs I use, and of course I can see the size of each individual file. For that matter, it is easy to use Properties to determine the size of each folder. However, I have numerous folders (some with various sets of subfolders), and some have many files or digital images of different sizes. So, is there some relatively easy to determine in advance (that is, before starting to copy) which specific files and folders will fit on a disk? I am using XP-Home Edition. This program offers a complete display of directory and file sizes. It won't solve your problem, but may make the eventual solution easier to see or implement. http://www.jam-software.com/treesize/index.shtml I have a not-pro edition from a while back, free quick and easy. I don't know if such is still avalable. -- Frank ess |
#3
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I normally use Nero Burning ROM to back up my photos - I don't like the
idea of spanned disks at all, because of the aformentioned problems with the "index" disk going bad. Some programs apparently can recover gracefully from this, but many have no idea what to do if the first or last disk is bad or goes missing. I have to say, with the price of media being what it is, I usually just accept a bit of wastage. I will often leave 50-100 MB empty on a CD-R; I'll put a couple of months of photos on the disk, and then if the next month doesn't fit, I just go on to the next disk. It's 10-20 cents a disk, so what? I'm even getting good quality DVD-R for $0.40 now.... ECM |
#4
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MaryL wrote: "Colin D" wrote in message ... MaryL wrote: "Colin D" wrote in message ... MaryL wrote: Can anyone make some suggestons for software that can easily copy large numbers of digital images to CDs and DVDs (and span more than one disk, if necessary)? A file manager like Powerdesk or ExplorerPlus, which are considerably more powerful versions of Windows Explorer will do it. Or, if you don't mind a dos-like command-line interface, xxcopy is brilliant, though there is a learning curve,there are over 200 cammand variations. Googl;e for any of them. The first two are like about $US40, xxcopy is free. Colin Thanks for the suggestions. PowerDesk looked "great" for awhile, but I sent email with a couple of questions -- and learned that it will not span multiple disks. So, it's back to the drawing board... I still need to look into ExplorerPlus. The one web site I checked didn't have much information about it. MaryL I would think twice about spanning multiple disks, Mary. In my experience with multiple-disk spanned backups, one has to insert the first or last disk into the drive for it to read the backup contents, and then insert the required disk. If for any reason the last disk cannot be read, you may not be able to recover anything from the disk set. For this reason, I back up image files disk by disk, each one stand-alone. Then, if a disk cannot be read, that one is the only one lost, and file recovery will be much easier than recovering from a spanned set. Colin I suspect that I simply don't understand how to facilitate this process. How do you determine, in advance, which files will fit on a disk? I know the size of the CDs and DVDs I use, and of course I can see the size of each individual file. For that matter, it is easy to use Properties to determine the size of each folder. However, I have numerous folders (some with various sets of subfolders), and some have many files or digital images of different sizes. So, is there some relatively easy to determine in advance (that is, before starting to copy) which specific files and folders will fit on a disk? I am using XP-Home Edition. Thanks, MaryL Powerdesk and ExplorerPlus allow you to right-click on a folder, and under 'properties' you can see the aggregate size of the files in that folder. If you open the folder with a left-click and see the files listed in the right-hand pane, the total bytes of the files can be seen at centre bottom. To the left of that you will see 'Objects selected' and the aggregate bytes. Selecting one or more files with shift/arrow will show the aggregate bytes of selected files, which you can then copy to your backup disk For a 700MB cd, I put a maximum of about 660 megabytes, to allow a bit of headroom for the disk to finish writing. If the entire folder is less than about 660MB then simply copy the folder to the cd. Colin |
#5
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wrote in message ... SNIP (If anyone knows of a tool that can select a group of files to best fit a specific target disk size, while retaining the original directory structure, please let me know, as it'll save me from having to reinvent the wheel.) The easiest/fastest way is to sort the files by size (large to small), copy the largest file(s) that fit(s) the remaining space, if it doesn't fit move to the next smaller file in line until it fits or there are no smaller files. If there are still files to be written, proceed with a new disk and begin with the largest unwritten file, etc. until the total file list has been written. Bart |
#6
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"Bart van der Wolf" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... SNIP (If anyone knows of a tool that can select a group of files to best fit a specific target disk size, while retaining the original directory structure, please let me know, as it'll save me from having to reinvent the wheel.) The easiest/fastest way is to sort the files by size (large to small), copy the largest file(s) that fit(s) the remaining space, if it doesn't fit move to the next smaller file in line until it fits or there are no smaller files. If there are still files to be written, proceed with a new disk and begin with the largest unwritten file, etc. until the total file list has been written. Bart That won't work with my setup. I have thousands of data files and thousands of images. They are manageable because I have them categorized into dozens of folders -- so, I am trying to find a way to click on parent folders (which are far less numerous in numbers, of course) and copy the entire contents. As an example of data files, I have all of my WordPerfect files in one parent folder. They are then categorized by individual courses, which are further broken down into syllabi, exams, lecture notes, etc. Digital images are similarly categorized. The largest folders are the ones labeled "All 2004 photos," "All 2003 photos, etc." Those are used only if I have problems with the copies that I have edited and stored elsewhere. However, they are important because those files contain all of my original images. Images that I use more often are categorized -- trip to Alaska, family, inventory, etc. MaryL |
#7
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"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message ... "Bart van der Wolf" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... SNIP (If anyone knows of a tool that can select a group of files to best fit a specific target disk size, while retaining the original directory structure, please let me know, as it'll save me from having to reinvent the wheel.) The easiest/fastest way is to sort the files by size (large to small), copy the largest file(s) that fit(s) the remaining space, if it doesn't fit move to the next smaller file in line until it fits or there are no smaller files. If there are still files to be written, proceed with a new disk and begin with the largest unwritten file, etc. until the total file list has been written. Bart That won't work with my setup. I have thousands of data files and thousands of images. They are manageable because I have them categorized into dozens of folders -- so, I am trying to find a way to click on parent folders (which are far less numerous in numbers, of course) and copy the entire contents. As an example of data files, I have all of my WordPerfect files in one parent folder. They are then categorized by individual courses, which are further broken down into syllabi, exams, lecture notes, etc. Digital images are similarly categorized. The largest folders are the ones labeled "All 2004 photos," "All 2003 photos, etc." Those are used only if I have problems with the copies that I have edited and stored elsewhere. However, they are important because those files contain all of my original images. Images that I use more often are categorized -- trip to Alaska, family, inventory, etc. MaryL Addendum: In continually modify these folders -- I add, delete, and edit many files on a frequent basis. Therefore, I can't simply copy the folders "once" and think that I have completed the process. I need to be able to frequently make current copies. MaryL |
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