We're in the home stretch of this 3 part series on backing up, and we leftoff having looked at software that fell into the category of archivers,and now we're going to look at the copiers. If you were added to the list, since this started and want to catch up, all the newsletters are archived at http://www.quickbyte.net/newsletters and the relevant newsletters are the last two, Backing Up Parts I and II.

Simplicity rules for some of us, and if you have Windows XP, you have some really simple, but good CD copying software built right into the operating system. Based on Roxio's Direct CD software, the Windows XP tool can be accessed a number of ways. Perhaps the simplest is by using the "Send To" command.

Accessible via right clicking on the files and folders and selecting Send To CD-RW Drive (or something similar), this will allow you to copy files directly to a CD. You can also use the old fashioned copy and paste tools in the same way if you like. In fact, if you're working on a document you can use the Save As command to save a copy directly to the CD Writer. Once you've sent all the files you want to send, just go to the CD Window (accessible via "My Computer" if it's not already open) and a few clicks will finish the CD. Quick and easy, no muss, no fuss. This might be the best advantage that Windows XP has over Windows 2000.

Of course, the Send To shortcut can be used for many other things such as sending files to a floppy or a zip disc. If you're looking for a time saver, this may well be it. You can even attach files to an email using it. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread, no doubt.

At the same time, I always liked the Direct CD tool that you can use with any other modern flavor of Windows. You need to take a couple of extra steps with it, but it is pretty much the same. Both Direct CD and its companion product, Easy CD Creator come included as a basic version with many CD Writers. Other CD Writers come with Nero Burning Rom. Both products are actually pretty good, though for years I thought the Nero product was needlessly complicated. The last couple of versions have gotten a lot better, but in my opinion, the interface still lags behind quite a bit. For some reason, it seems like a lot of trouble to get some simple tasks done. Of the two, I prefer the Roxio product, though I don't use the Nero all that often.

One of the big drawbacks with CD writing is that there is a lot of information that you may need to know in order to accomplish what you want to. Does anybody really know what a buffer underun error is? Even the Microsoft Word Dictionary doesn't. CD writing is somewhat complicated, and it doesn't always work smoothly. Fortunately, it has a big payoff; you learn a lot that you can apply elsewhere, at least in using a computer.

With that in mind, both Easy CD Creator and Nero Burning Rom are actually suites of programs that allow you to create various types of CDs and DVDs. There is a lot you can do with both of these programs which only adds to the mix of choices you have to make in order to get anything accomplished.

The primary reason I prefer Easy CD is that the interface, which I think is superior, remains very consistent throughout the different parts ofthe suite. Perhaps more importantly, the interface is constructed in a way that permits new users to easily access wizards and help information, and more advanced users to bypass this and easily tweak settings, or just get started doing whatever it is they want to do.

Essentially though if you want to create a backup CD, using the EZ CD Creator portion of the package (as opposed to Direct CD) you follow several steps:

1. Place a blank CD in the drive and Start Easy CD Creator
2. Choose Make Data CD
3. Drag your files from the top window to the bottom window or highlight them and click the add button that is between the windows.
4. Click the big red record button that is also between windows 5.
Choose the appropriate options 6. Click Start Recording
7. Double Check Your Data

Obviously, this is a very basic procedure. If you want to really know what you're doing, you're going to have to do more reading than this. In my opinion, the help file goes over the basics pretty well. On the other hand, if you replace the word data with music, these are the steps for making a music CD, which goes to show how similar the suite's module's are.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do though is step 7

7. Double Check Your Data

If you have files that you truly value, see if you can open the versions that you put on the disk. Obviously, no one is going to open thousands of files every time they back up, but, and I'm talking to the people writing novels and creating databases out there, if you have something that you truly value, double check. After all, and nobody ever really believes this, sometimes computers mess up.