So let’s start right at the beginning. What kind of CD should you use for your computer backup? There are two kinds of backup CDs. The first kind is called a CD-R. This type of CD allows you to record information onto the CD one time. Once your data has been stored on a CD-R you cannot rewrite over top of your initial backup. It’s a one-time deal. You can view the data as many times as you like, but once it’s burnt onto the CD, you can’t change it.

The second kind of CD that you can use for backing up your files is called a CD-RW. The RW stands for re-writable. This type of CD can be used over and over to backup your files. It’s slightly more expensive than the CD-R type, but it’s a more economical way to backup your files in the long run.

One thing you have to consider when deciding whether or not to backup your entire hard drive to CD is the capacity of the backup CDs.  A CD has a storage capacity of only 700 MB. That is plenty of storage if you are just planning to backup a few files or photos. If you’re planning to backup an 80 GB hard drive to CD, then it’s going to take up approximately 117 backup CDs to complete the project.

The cheapest way to buy CDs is to buy them in bulk. They come on a spindle and can be purchased in quantities of 10, 50, or 100. If you’re planning on copying a lot of files to CD, then you should probably go ahead and buy a spindle with 100 CDs. The best deal we found on blank CD-R disks was at Amazon. They’re 18 cents a piece.

These CD-R disks are available from Amazon 100 backup disks for $18.42

TDK 52X CDR 80 Minute / 700MB 100 Pack Spindle

How to Copy a single file or folder to a Backup CD

1. Insert a blank CD into your CD drive. Once the CD has been inserted into the drive,  Windows will recognize it and show the following screen, which asks you, “What do you want Windows to do?” with the CD.

Backup Tutorial - Figure 1

2.  Highlight the selection that says “Open writable CD” folder and click OK.  You will be taken to the “CD Drive” screen that looks like the following screenshot (Figure 2):

Backup Tutorial - Figure 2

Note: You can also arrive at this screen by clicking on start, and clicking on My Computer. Then double click on the CD icon

3. Next, you must choose which files you want to copy or backup.  If the files you want to copy are located in the My Documents folder, click on My Documents. In the large panel to the right, all of the files and folders located in your My Documents folder will be displayed as in the photo below (Figure 3):

Backup Tutorial - Figure 3

This is the screen where you will choose which files you want to copy.  In this backup tutorial we will choose the “A Diary” folder to backup to CD. You can also choose one or more files and photos or you can choose to backup entire folders.

You can backup as many files and folders as you like from your hard drive to CD as long as the total size of your files does not exceed the capacity of the backup CD.  Backup CDs have a capacity of 700MB.

4. To select a file to backup to CD, simply click on it and the file will be highlighted. Once the desired files or folders are highlighted, simply click on the appropriate option of “Copy file”, “Copy folder”, or “Copy selected item”  that is shown in the left side panel titled “File and Folder Tasks” In our example, we clicked on Copy Folder.

5.  Windows will then display the Copy Items dialog box, as shown in the photo below.  Now you must choose where you want Windows to copy the files.  Since you’re creating a backup CD,  simply click on the CD recording drive. In our example, we highlight “CD Drive (D:)” by clicking on it.  Next, click on the Copy button at the bottom of the screen. (Figure 4)

Backup Tutorial - Figure 4

Depending upon the size and number of files that you have selected to back up from your hard drive to CD, the copy process could take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Windows will display a status bar indicating the time remaining to complete your backup.

Backup Tutorial - Figure 5

Windows copies your files to a temporary folder where they are waiting to be transferred to the backup CD.  In order to complete your backup it’s now necessary to actually burn the CD.

6.  On the left-hand side of this screen, in the box labeled “Other Places” click on “My Computer”. Next double-click on the CD recording drive. (Figure 6)

Backup Tutorial - Figure 6

Windows shows a dialogue box with the names of the files you wish to backup. The files are displayed under the heading Files Ready to be Written to the CD. Check to make sure that all the files that you want to burn to the CD are displayed.

Backup Tutorial - Figure 7

7. Now under Writing Tasks,  all you have to do is click on the “Write to CD” and your CD burner will go to work. Windows will open the CD Writing Wizard.  Here you have the option of naming your backup CD. Follow the instructions on the Wizard by clicking the next button.

Backup Tutorial - Figure 8

Once your CD has finished, the Wizard will give you the opportunity to make an additional CD just like the one you completed. All you have to do is check the box labeled: “Yes, write these files to another CD” and stick another blank CD into your drive.  If you don’t wish to create an additional backup CD, simply click on the “Finish” button. Your completed CD will automatically eject.

Backup Tutorial - Figure 9

That completes this backup tutorial.  In my opinion this is definitely the clunkiest way to backup computer files.  It makes much more sense to choose one of the more efficient ways to backup your computer, such as flash drive, portable hard drive, or online backup.
Try Carbonite Online Backup FREE for 15 days and back up your irreplaceable files automatically and securely. No credit card required!

Of all of the online backup services we’ve seen, this one is probably the easiest to set up. They’re the only computer backup provider that offers a total free trial, unlimited data storage, online backup plan. Carbonite lets you backup a computer using their full version online backup for 15 days for free. There are absolutely no data storage limitations. No strings attached.

The 15 day unlimited storage free trial offer is good because you really get to test drive the full version and get the true feel of what it’s like to use Carbonite backup. What it’s like can be summed up in one word, easy. Carbonite is easy to use.

Start by going to the sign up page. All you have to do is enter your email address and pick a password. After that, Carbonite does the rest. I mean literally, they take over and immediately start to back up everything in your documents and settings files, as well as your desktop. You don’t have to make any decisions, just let Carbonite do its thing. No choosing what to back up and what not to back up. No need to learn a new software program. Just sit back and do nothing while Carbonite works. What could be easier than that.

Try Carbonite Online Backup FREE for 15 days and back up your irreplaceable files automatically and securely. No credit card required!

Backup Tutorial: How To Sign Up for the Free Trial

Just go to the Carbonite home page.

This is the Carbonite computer backup homepage.

This is where you’ll find the easy “Start Your Free Trial” form. Just fill in your email address and pick a password. No credit card or other personal data is required.

Just fill in your email and choose a password. NO credit card required.

Once you’ve clicked on the orange “Start Your Free Trial” button, you’ll be taken to a brief survey asking you how you found out about Carbonite computer backup. Click on the little radio button called “Other” and since you found out about Carbonite here, enter backupacomputer.com and click the red “Continue” button.

Answer this brief one-question survey.

After filling out the short survey, you be taken to the main Installation page. Here you can read about the easy 3 step Installation process. All you have to do at this point is click on the orange “Install Now” button

Just click on the orange "Install" button to begin downloading Carbonite

Next you’ll be taken through the typical windows download sequence.

Click on the Save button to begin the download

Once you click on the save button, Carbonite will begin to download. Download time Depends upon the speed your internet connection. Even with a slow connection, it won’t take more than about 5 minutes. With high speed, its almost instant. Once the download is complete,  double-click on the Carbonite Setup icon.

Carbonite computer backup software begins to download.

You’ll be taken to the “Run” window where naturally you click on “Run”

Click on the "Run" button to install Carbonite

You’ll be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions before the program will run.

You must accept the Terms and Conditions

The installation will continue up to the point where your desktop has to be refreshed. So click OK.

Just click OK to continue

Carbonite will begin the activation process.

Carbonite will begin activating the download.

When activation is complete you’ll be taken to this screen where you can either accept the default set up options,which is the easiest thing to do, or you click on the advanced set up if you choose.

Click next to accept the default setup options.

Next you have the choice of letting Carbonite backup your My Documents and Desktop, the default setting, or of choosing manually which files you want to backup. Why not just let Carbonite do its thing?

Choose to automatically backup My Documents and Desktop.

At this point Carbonite is already running on your computer and is already backing up your data.  Notice the small audio controls in the top right of the screen. You can click on the play button and a woman from Carbonite will tell you about the features. The rest of these screens are for information purposes.

This screen is informational. Carbonite is already working to backup your computer

Set back and relax. You're done. No more backup worries.

Your first backup could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much you have on your computer. Home high speed internet connections are capable of backing up about 2 to 2.5 GB of data per day. So if you have 5 GB of files, your initial backup will take about 2 days. Remember, Carbonite works at top speed when you’re not actively using your computer. It’s OK to turn your computer off if you need to. Carbonite resumes automatically when you turn it back on. Carbonite recommends that you leave your computer on overnight until your first backup is complete. After your first backup, updates to your backup will happen so quickly you probably won’t even notice them. Carbonite will automatically upload new and changed files to keep your backup up to date.

Carbonite displays a little yellow padlock icon next to your clock.

Try Carbonite Online Backup FREE for 15 days and back up your irreplaceable files automatically and securely. No credit card required!