| Are you wondering if there's an inexpensive | | | | companies started to make DVD discs. If you |
| way to backup the data on your hard disk? | | | | are going to buy a DVD drive, you should look |
| There is! While DVDs cost a bit more than | | | | for one that says it can do DVD+R, and DVD-R. |
| CDs, they have so much more storage capacity | | | | If you are looking for one that has |
| that the extra cash is worth it. Many | | | | rewriting capabilities, look for DVD+RW and |
| computers that are on the market today have | | | | DVD-RW in the same drive. This will give you |
| DVD burners integrated into the computer from | | | | the most flexibility when burning discs. |
| the start. This allows you to utilize this | | | | |
| great backup storage option without having to | | | | DVD+R and DVD-R are the same type of disc, |
| spend any extra cash later on. | | | | they just have different formats. You cannot |
| | | | use a DVD+R in a DVD-R and vice versa, but |
| DVDs are much better than the older storage | | | | you can use them both in a drive that is |
| options availe on the market before they | | | | marked for both types of disc. Most new |
| became standard. The closest type of backup | | | | drives can read and write to both types of |
| media to the DVDs were CD-Rs, but CD-Rs could | | | | DVD. |
| only hold 700MB of information, which left | | | | |
| them at a huge disadvantage. Besides the | | | | DVD+RW compared to DVD+R are DVDs that can be |
| that, the biggest benefit of DVD storage is | | | | written to more than once. This is similar |
| that you can very easily create multiple | | | | to the difference between CD-Rs and CD-RWs. A |
| backups over a period of time without | | | | typical DVD can hold about 4.7GB of data |
| incurring a huge extra cost. If you need a | | | | which is what makes these ideal for backups. |
| new external hard drive every time you backup | | | | |
| your system, you can imagine that the cost | | | | There is also a DVD-RAM disc which is 9.4GB |
| will go up fairly rapidly. | | | | of data and a dual-layer DVD that has 8.3GB |
| | | | of space. These are great if you need to |
| You might have to purchase a DVD writer if | | | | back up really large files. However, you will |
| your computer wasn't fitted with one. If | | | | have to make sure that you DVD writer is able |
| this is the case for you, then you should | | | | to write to those formats. |
| make sure that you pay attention to the | | | | |
| format of the drive before you buy it. | | | | If you want an easy method of backing up your |
| | | | hard drive, you should invest in a DVD |
| Drive format? Aren't all DVD drives and DVD | | | | burner, a stack of DVDs and a backup software |
| writers the exact same? Yes, they are all DVD | | | | program to make sure that everything |
| drives. However, there are different formats | | | | important on your hard drive gets backed up |
| due to the different ways in which different | | | | without too much fuss or work on your part. |