Right... I have approximately 350GB of data I want to back up

Now I can whittle that down a bit and get it closer to probably 200Gb but I need a program that can help me.

What I need... is a program that will fit the files I select for backing up onto several CD-Rs and DVD-Rs but in the most efficient manner (or at least close to it).

Now I could use winrar and leave it running for 24hrs sorting and archiving and splitting itself into lots of 4.5Gb rars, but that isnt what I want.

I want the ability to access any file on any dvd-r on a whim. Some of the files are family pictures others are uni research stuffs. I have about 1.5GB of family pictures mun I cant be unraring 20 or more DVDs of archives every time I need to print one.

So yea... I need a backup program that simply looks at a bunch of files, assesses the file sizes. Sorts them into the most efficient order, and then either gives me a list to work from or does it itself.

would be easier to do your own backup as then you can group certain folders together, might not be as efficient but dvds arent that expensive and having a few more discs that have a more sensible structure would be easier

Quote from: Sweensterwould be easier to do your own backup as then you can group certain folders together, might not be as efficient but dvds arent that expensive and having a few more discs that have a more sensible structure would be easier

 

Not fussed on structure

The family pics I can sort out and other bits, but I have folders of "junk" "garbage" "stuff" "downloads" of gigs and gigs of crap that I dont want to have to delete or lose. As Id say 95% of it is damn useful.

May just have to write that damn java program Ive been talking about and do it.

fwiw http://www.geocities.com/hirak_99/goodies/finddups.html - Useful for messy ppl like me - less wasted space/time before backing up.

Picassa2 for backing up your pics

rest of your stuff just bung on DVD the old fashioned way

Personally I would back up the photos seperate from anything else on a single DVD.

Normally I select stuff by hand before I back it up but I dont have as many tracks as you. Efficient order will probably mean stuff all over the place as a proggy has no idea what your filing system means.

I dont mind it doing it in an efficient order.

And your forgetting that I can just put in certain amounts of files for it to process first so say "software and drivers" I dont care if they are muddled up.... but I can pack it onto disks in the most efficient manner

Check out Norton Save and Restore.

You could do a full system backup (I would recommend that at least once, anyways) or you can do several backups where you save your important files and folders. You can do the latter individually, i.e. decide which files go into which backup, so you would have an achieve for your family pictures, one for your program downloads, etc.

The program lets you restore individual files, too, so if you ever delete or otherwise lose just a single file, or folder, its easy to get that back.