Windows 7: cannot backup to dvd

I have been trying to backup my data files to DVD. I know I'll need about 9 disks. Win Backup asks for the first disc and if I want to format it. However after the progress gets to 25% it appears to hang. The "More Information" window shows 25% complete and a "Windows Backup is currently in Progress" message. I've let this go for as long as an hour and nothing happens. I see some references to this issue on the web but no solution identified that I can find. If I cancel the backup, I can look and see that disc was written to and is full. For some reason Win 7 never asks for the next disc.

I have successfully create a backup to a hard disk drive, but cannot backup to DVD. I've now wasted 6 discs. Identical results with all of them. All Win 7 upgrades/updates have been applied. What gives?

Dave hi and welcome


Backup to dvd is a really bad idea. You may create a good set that two weeks or two months down the line wont work. Dvd drive heads change over time so no dvd player may be able to read them when you need them

What specifically is happening to your dvd at the moment may be a dirty lens, not enough free space on the HD for the temp files, etc

Strongly support the zigzag advice. Absolutely forget DVDs for this kind of job.
Passive optical media that you can archive away. Great idea, just doesn't seem to work out.

In addition to the DVD writer alignment issue, many people report DVD backup giving up the ghost part way through.

I appreciate the advice to not use DVD for backup, understand it's not my only backup. I backup to a second (external disk) as well. but I don't trust that alone either. I want to have two backups of different types stored in completely differenet enviornments. It give me ultimate safety. But I can't get the DVD backup to work. There is nothing wrong with my DVD recorder. It works fine with every other program.

All I can say is I've noticed a number of people over time reporting the same problem. I can only assume it has something to do with the software itself and your particular system configuration. I have in the past made and recovered from DVDs. Someone else may have an answer - I haven't seen any.

Quite a few other people report problems of different kinds with Windows imaging itself. Again I haven't had problems but it prompted me to use a second (highly regarded) imaging program as well for security. Macrium Reflect (free). Maybe try making DVD based images with this program.

I believe you cannot backup to either CD or DVD in Windows 7
Try this link Windows Backup does not back up to CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R devices
Kind regards Gormenghast

That link applies to Windows XP, not Windows 7. It's not relevant to this thread.

I agree with all the above comments about not using DVDs for backups (that does kinda start getting expensive soon with how many discs you need anyway).

But I understand the OP's desire to use different kinds of backup media.

I suggest that you use a large-capacity USB stick in addition to the external HD drive, instead of DVD media. This is a very durable backup solution and much more convenient than a set of multiple discs, and it's the method I use personally.

Hi there
Nothing wrong in using some types of DVD for long term archive and also off site backup too. -- D/L (dual layer) or better Blu Ray discs will work just fine if your writer supports them and for a typical OS image you should only have at most around 25 GB of backed up data using a decent backup program.

Things like Acronis work fine and prompt you to change the media --LABEL EACH ONE CAREFULLY as you have to restore them in the right order if you have to use them to restore your system.

You'll probably use ONE BD disc or 2 - 3 D/L discs --works fine.

I like restoring / backing up to DIFFERENT sets of media too,

Note it's always a good idea to separate the OS from your data partition(s).

Cheers
jimbo

I wouldn't be fooled into thinking mass produced dirt cheap DVDs are anything like "Archive Quality". I still believe a small cheap portable HDD stored away from strong magnetic fields is the best short or long term option.

Technically Windows and programs like Macrium will support DVD backup if you really want. With some system configurations Windows Backup & Restore can fail with DVDs.
In this country the dual layer DVDs and especially Blu Rays are still relatively expensive.