Re: excel backup question

Cindy wrote:
I hope I'm not being a PAIN, BUT...why is this different then the way I back up quickbooks? I save the quickbooks file to MY DOCUMENTS, and then copy to a cd from by documents. Excel is already in my documents, so why can't I just copy it to a cd? I'm just trying to understand, I'm not being argumentative. ;)
thanks..cindy

ANY storage media REQUIRES an index that identifies where the various files are located. The standard format for generating a CD=R doesn't write that index on the CD-R until the recording session is "closed". The information is not retrievable until that index is written to the CD-R AND the CD should not be removed from the drive until the session is closed. Since opening the tray allows the user to change which disk is in the drive, any disk that is ejected before the session closure may be deemed PERMANENTLY unusable by the CD-R writing software.

There is a provision to write additional sessions, called multi-session, to the CD-R. The new data, any revised files and a COMPLETELY new index are written to a previously unused section of the CD-R. The old index and any "deleted" or revised files remain on the CD, unreadable through ordinary means like Windows Explorer. The old files remain available through some specialized software though. Some versions of Nero and Easy CD Creator might include provisions to read these hidden old session indexes and old files. SOME CD readers are not compatible with multi-session CD-Rs.

Packet writing software permits a computer to use a CD-RW like a SLOW 650 MB hard drive. In has the ability to reuse areas of the disk that were previously used by deleted files or even earlier versions of the same file. Packet writing software maintains its index as the disk contents change instead of waiting for a irrevocable single session closure process. To be safe you should ONLY use the on screen provision to eject the CD-RW, NEVER the physical button on the front of the drive. Unfortunately packet writing software is NOT standardized and CD-RWs generated by one publisher's packet writing software might not be at all accessible to packet writing software produced by another publisher. Windows XP does not include Packet writing functions.
.