best ways to back up a large mp3 collection?

Veej007 · 28th July 2003, 13:03

hey guys. i can't really afford to buy a dvd-rw drive right now and backing up to cd-r gets quite tedious after a while. does anybody have any suggestions as to how else i might do it?

what about tape drives? i don't care that there's no random access; i've heard that they're really cheap, and i'd only need them for temporarily storing data while i reformat

Atmo · 28th July 2003, 13:11

I'd grab another ide drive. Either buy one (2mb cache drives are pretty cheap nowdays), or borrow one from a friend/relative.

If you have another pc at home or can take yours to a friends/relatives house (and as long as they have enough hard drive space) you could always backup across a network.

Merlin · 28th July 2003, 13:13

Depends how large you mean by large. I backed up 750+ tracks (about 4.1 gigabytes) by adding the directory to WinRAR (not compressing the files at all) and having it split the archive into 'CD-700MB' sized parts. Only took 5 CDs.

Tapes and tape drives aren't that cheap. Even if your collection would fill 20 CDs, it's still cheaper than a buying a tape drive.

Edit: Atmo's solution is also good.

DJHotIce · 28th July 2003, 13:13

They have firewire drives out there. That may be a good way to backup as well. Since Firewire is fast

don't use USB 2.0 or just plain USB, ekk

lemon_chicken · 28th July 2003, 13:41

im not sure if you have 'hard rubbish' collections were you live, but if you do you could do what i did.
[list=1][*]roam the neighbourhood till you find an old computer that is being thrown out[*]rip out the hard drive[*]piff it in your comp (i scored a 10 gig one)[*]back up mp3 collection[*]put drive in your bookcase or somewhere equally safe[*]repeat above steps until entire mp3 collection is backed up[/list=1]

EfaustuS9 · 28th July 2003, 14:45

like lemon chicken said salvage an old hard drive or buy a cheap used one at a local PC repair shop. Otherwise I would go the CD-R rout, its not as laborious if you back up your growing stock each time you have enough to fill a additional CD, then its only one cd every few months (at least in my case).

Viper007Bond · 28th July 2003, 14:53

I'm going with cheap hard drive as well. *reminds self to back-up his medium sized to CD-R since it'll fit on a 1/2 dozen or so...*

Cylob · 28th July 2003, 17:53

Don't rely on just a HD. Use CDR's - you can't beat a solid-state back-up. CD's don't burn-out or explode.

zootm · 28th July 2003, 18:29

ok then, maybe the CDRs.

Viper007Bond · 28th July 2003, 19:17

Wouldn't it be okay to use a HD and once you back it up, just selve the HD? That way it won't wear out.

Veej007 · 30th July 2003, 08:55

bump. would that be ok?

Cylob · 30th July 2003, 10:24

HD's (external or internal) have a shelf life. When my last HD blew I lost 5,000 MP3's!! If you're talking BACKUP, use your CDR's!!!! Solid state is best.

zorpidus · 30th July 2003, 11:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Cylob
HD's (external or internal) have a shelf life. When my last HD blew I lost 5,000 MP3's!! If you're talking BACKUP, use your CDR's!!!! Solid state is best.

I agree, CD-Rs (or DVDs) are the best for archiving. However, CD-Rs also have a limited life span! You might also want to make sure you store them in a dry place, out of the sunlight and somewhere where the dust can't reach them. Just yesterday I noticed that a few mp3 backup cd I made 3 years ago had dust all over them (on both faces). I had been keeping them in their cases and in a closet yet the dust still got through all that! An dit was this really fine dust that came of really hard...

thedoggfather · 30th July 2003, 13:03

lemon_chicken's solution seems the best, I did that for a while, and it saved my ass once when I lost my 80Gb.

Veej007 stated that he didn't want to back up on CDR. If I have 40 Gb of mp3 then it would take 40Gb/700Mb = 58 cds. It cheaper than buying a new harddrive (if you already have a CD burner) , but a much bigger pain in the arse.

A harddrive saves time and is less tedious. the best solution would be to buy dual x Gb drives and configure them RAID1. $$$

Exabrial · 30th July 2003, 17:42

When they talk about backing up files on old hard drives, make sure you have more than one copy. I used to do that until the hard drive didn't work and i needed my backup!

ctn|chrisw · 30th July 2003, 18:30

I just rar them up and ftp them to the pc in the other room usually (although it takes forever cause that pc in the other room has a wireless net card)

rinaldi · 30th July 2003, 18:38

I bought a new hard drive for this reason, but also because I have more than just mp3's.. music videos, movies and mp3s were the reason.. can we say 50-60+ GB? CDs notoriously get scratched.. I'd say the complete good span for CDs is no more than a year unless you put them in cold storage and never touch them. HDs... haven't had one die yet even when constantly running for the better part of a couple years.. (I rarely shut my computer down). Cost to practicle use, plus the ability to keep an organized catalogue... I'd say HD. Dynamic storage is the only way..

cgfiend · 30th July 2003, 23:25

I recently backed up my own collection (OGG's) onto CDR. It took me 25 700MB CDR's. Wasn't too bad. I recently downloaded a bunch off of newsgroups and since I have a DVD burner now I filled up one.

I'd say CDR's are the best bet, because if you get a HD you tend to use it for other things and HD's can fail. I justified two hard drive purchases saying it would be for backup. I ended up using them for other things as well as my music. lol Also, you should keep more than one copy of your music. Stash one somewhere and forget about it, the other on your computer desk. The one you forget about just may save your ass. What happens if the RIAA sues your ass and takes your computer? Then you have a set backed up and hidden under your house. lol

insomniac · 31st July 2003, 03:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Merlin
Depends how large you mean by large. I backed up 750+ tracks (about 4.1 gigabytes) by adding the directory to WinRAR (not compressing the files at all) and having it split the archive into 'CD-700MB' sized parts. Only took 5 CDs.

How do I do that exactly?

eleet-2k2 · 31st July 2003, 11:59

If you cant relly afford a DVD-RW, then you can sure as hell afford cds or another harddrive, use them, their the best way to go.

lemon_chicken · 31st July 2003, 15:27

Quote:

Originally posted by thedoggfather
A harddrive saves time and is less tedious. the best solution would be to buy dual x Gb drives and configure them RAID1. $$$

good point, then you dont even have to remember to back up

Atmo · 31st July 2003, 15:32

RAID1 only protects against disk failure, if you format or your data becomes corrupted somehow you still lose all data on both drives.

s0be · 31st July 2003, 15:47

Only wimps use tape backup: _real_ men just upload their important stuff
on ftp, and let the rest of the world mirror it

-- Linus Torvalds, about his failing hard drive on linux.cs.helsinki.fi

s0be

thedoggfather · 31st July 2003, 16:03

LOL!! s0be

I just got this old second computer, PII 400, so i've set it up as a mp3 file server. It keeps my mp3s and movies seperate from my other computer that i'm always goofing around with. I also share it on a network at school, so when ppl access my data it doen't lag my cstriking out, b/c they are on seperate computers now.

I just log in with read only access, then I can't accidently delete stuff. If i need to do any other maintainence (deleting/organizing), I use XP's remote desktop feature and i have full Admin access. Now all i need is raid and I'll have the best solution besides backing it up on the internet!!

28th July 2003, 13:03	#1
Veej007 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 349	best ways to back up a large mp3 collection? hey guys. i can't really afford to buy a dvd-rw drive right now and backing up to cd-r gets quite tedious after a while. does anybody have any suggestions as to how else i might do it? what about tape drives? i don't care that there's no random access; i've heard that they're really cheap, and i'd only need them for temporarily storing data while i reformat

28th July 2003, 13:11	#2
Atmo The Freak (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 9,400	I'd grab another ide drive. Either buy one (2mb cache drives are pretty cheap nowdays), or borrow one from a friend/relative. If you have another pc at home or can take yours to a friends/relatives house (and as long as they have enough hard drive space) you could always backup across a network. :Psykotech:

28th July 2003, 13:13	#3
Merlin ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ (Forum King) Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Manchester Posts: 4,209	Depends how large you mean by large. I backed up 750+ tracks (about 4.1 gigabytes) by adding the directory to WinRAR (not compressing the files at all) and having it split the archive into 'CD-700MB' sized parts. Only took 5 CDs. Tapes and tape drives aren't that cheap. Even if your collection would fill 20 CDs, it's still cheaper than a buying a tape drive. Edit: Atmo's solution is also good. as he faced the sun, he cast no shadow __________________

28th July 2003, 13:13	#4
DJHotIce Forum Loser (Forum King) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: That place I can't remember the name. Posts: 4,617	They have firewire drives out there. That may be a good way to backup as well. Since Firewire is fast don't use USB 2.0 or just plain USB, ekk -DJHotIce Bounce Multimedia - Professional Web Design

28th July 2003, 13:41	#5
lemon_chicken Major Dude Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: the land of the collapsable clothesline Posts: 627	im not sure if you have 'hard rubbish' collections were you live, but if you do you could do what i did. [list=1][]roam the neighbourhood till you find an old computer that is being thrown out[]rip out the hard drive[]piff it in your comp (i scored a 10 gig one)[]back up mp3 collection[]put drive in your bookcase or somewhere equally safe[]repeat above steps until entire mp3 collection is backed up[/list=1] \|arbitary focus\| it's never as flaccid as it is when plucked \| 01110011 01100101 01111000 \|

28th July 2003, 14:45	#6
EfaustuS9 Major Dude Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: MA, USA Posts: 1,895	like lemon chicken said salvage an old hard drive or buy a cheap used one at a local PC repair shop. Otherwise I would go the CD-R rout, its not as laborious if you back up your growing stock each time you have enough to fill a additional CD, then its only one cd every few months (at least in my case).

28th July 2003, 14:53	#7
Viper007Bond Major Dude Join Date: May 2002 Location: Portland, OR Life: None Posts: 1,054	I'm going with cheap hard drive as well. reminds self to back-up his medium sized to CD-R since it'll fit on a 1/2 dozen or so... - Viper007Bond \| Viper007Bond.com

28th July 2003, 17:53	#8
Cylob Forum Music King (Forum King) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Future Posts: 7,175	Don't rely on just a HD. Use CDR's - you can't beat a solid-state back-up. CD's don't burn-out or explode. Secret Snacker & Accomplished Pen Thief At:

28th July 2003, 18:29	#9
zootm Forum King Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: the nether reaches of bonnie scotland Posts: 13,375	ok then, maybe the CDRs.

28th July 2003, 19:17	#10
Viper007Bond Major Dude Join Date: May 2002 Location: Portland, OR Life: None Posts: 1,054	Wouldn't it be okay to use a HD and once you back it up, just selve the HD? That way it won't wear out. - Viper007Bond \| Viper007Bond.com

30th July 2003, 08:55	#11
Veej007 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 349	bump. would that be ok?

30th July 2003, 10:24	#12
Cylob Forum Music King (Forum King) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Future Posts: 7,175	HD's (external or internal) have a shelf life. When my last HD blew I lost 5,000 MP3's!! If you're talking BACKUP, use your CDR's!!!! Solid state is best. Secret Snacker & Accomplished Pen Thief At:

30th July 2003, 13:03	#14
thedoggfather Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: outside Posts: 63	lemon_chicken's solution seems the best, I did that for a while, and it saved my ass once when I lost my 80Gb. Veej007 stated that he didn't want to back up on CDR. If I have 40 Gb of mp3 then it would take 40Gb/700Mb = 58 cds. It cheaper than buying a new harddrive (if you already have a CD burner) , but a much bigger pain in the arse. A harddrive saves time and is less tedious. the best solution would be to buy dual x Gb drives and configure them RAID1. $$$

30th July 2003, 17:42	#15
Exabrial Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: KS Posts: 70	When they talk about backing up files on old hard drives, make sure you have more than one copy. I used to do that until the hard drive didn't work and i needed my backup!

30th July 2003, 18:30	#16
ctn\|chrisw Forum King Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 3,309	I just rar them up and ftp them to the pc in the other room usually (although it takes forever cause that pc in the other room has a wireless net card)

30th July 2003, 18:38	#17
rinaldi Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 48	I bought a new hard drive for this reason, but also because I have more than just mp3's.. music videos, movies and mp3s were the reason.. can we say 50-60+ GB? CDs notoriously get scratched.. I'd say the complete good span for CDs is no more than a year unless you put them in cold storage and never touch them. HDs... haven't had one die yet even when constantly running for the better part of a couple years.. (I rarely shut my computer down). Cost to practicle use, plus the ability to keep an organized catalogue... I'd say HD. Dynamic storage is the only way..

30th July 2003, 23:25	#18
cgfiend Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 257	I recently backed up my own collection (OGG's) onto CDR. It took me 25 700MB CDR's. Wasn't too bad. I recently downloaded a bunch off of newsgroups and since I have a DVD burner now I filled up one. I'd say CDR's are the best bet, because if you get a HD you tend to use it for other things and HD's can fail. I justified two hard drive purchases saying it would be for backup. I ended up using them for other things as well as my music. lol Also, you should keep more than one copy of your music. Stash one somewhere and forget about it, the other on your computer desk. The one you forget about just may save your ass. What happens if the RIAA sues your ass and takes your computer? Then you have a set backed up and hidden under your house. lol

31st July 2003, 11:59	#20
eleet-2k2 Forum King Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Mobil Ave. Posts: 5,381	If you cant relly afford a DVD-RW, then you can sure as hell afford cds or another harddrive, use them, their the best way to go. "Welcome to the Island of people who know too much."..."Did you really think balloons would stop him?!" See what I'm listening too.

31st July 2003, 15:32	#22
Atmo The Freak (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 9,400	RAID1 only protects against disk failure, if you format or your data becomes corrupted somehow you still lose all data on both drives. :Psykotech:

31st July 2003, 15:47	#23
s0be Major Dude Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: melbourne Posts: First Posts: 1,313	Only wimps use tape backup: _real_ men just upload their important stuff on ftp, and let the rest of the world mirror it -- Linus Torvalds, about his failing hard drive on linux.cs.helsinki.fi s0be And On that day, the Lords of the land said unto their Master Architect, "The temple you have made to the gods of Wasabi and Maki has brought us no great prosperity" and they sent out him into the lands. As he traveled to a far off land, he found he wasn't traveling alone, but that he had gained companions, and when they found their new land, they started work on a new temple, one that would be OPEN to all who wanted to worship. from The Book of Wasabi C 12 Vs 09 (pg 2003)

31st July 2003, 16:03	#24
thedoggfather Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: outside Posts: 63	LOL!! s0be I just got this old second computer, PII 400, so i've set it up as a mp3 file server. It keeps my mp3s and movies seperate from my other computer that i'm always goofing around with. I also share it on a network at school, so when ppl access my data it doen't lag my cstriking out, b/c they are on seperate computers now. I just log in with read only access, then I can't accidently delete stuff. If i need to do any other maintainence (deleting/organizing), I use XP's remote desktop feature and i have full Admin access. Now all i need is raid and I'll have the best solution besides backing it up on the internet!!

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