[2]

Certain file types are degraded, each time the file is saved. For example, jpeg files, maybe tiff and others.

What is the best free, open source software to do the job?

Should the file types be changed prior to back up, and can this be done in bulk?

What about Volume Shadow Copy that comes with vista?

I'll use an external hard drive for the target, and have no plans to upload everything to the web.
That there is too much work.

[allan5oh]

What's wrong with just copying it to the hard drive? You do not need to back everything up, but rather just sensitive files, spreadsheets, pictures, etc..

[Roadhog]

I partitioned my local drive to (D) for making a complete Recovery.
Out side of that, the only things I need to back up are my documents. I trim them to what I really want to save and then back up to CD, DVD, and an External Hard Drive.
I even made a complete back up recovery to a couple DVD discs. That is redundant, but made me feel safer. Last time I wiped my hard drive and reformated was just off my Recovery partition. Plugged in my External Hard Drive and put my documents back up.

Don't forget to save your important emails to a document file.

[NotSteve]

Originally Posted by 2

Certain file types are degraded, each time the file is saved. For example, jpeg files, maybe tiff and others.

What is the best free, open source software to do the job?

Should the file types be changed prior to back up, and can this be done in bulk?

What about Volume Shadow Copy that comes with vista?

I'll use an external hard drive for the target, and have no plans to upload everything to the web.
That there is too much work.

The files are degraded because of the default options you have set like compression and other features.

I use Paint Shop Pro and I can save the file 1,000,000 and it will not change or degrade. If I go into preferences and set the compression and other features it will degrade each time I save it.

[Mackman]

I thought this was about backing up a truck :x

[Double L]

Originally Posted by Mackman

I thought this was about backing up a truck :x

Yeah so did I! :lol:

[2]

Originally Posted by allan5oh

What's wrong with just copying it to the hard drive? You do not need to back everything up, but rather just sensitive files, spreadsheets, pictures, etc..

The problem with just copying everything, is that every time you save certain files, there is degradation. This is more acute with pictures in the .jpg format, even with no compression.

It is technically over my head, but I do have an awareness that there are issues.

roadhog, I'm going to have to spend some time with the pre-existing recovery partition D... I can see an original image, an some other stuff, but not quite sure how to work it, should I need to reformat.

There were 4 partitions - the maximum - on this. I resized one partition, and deleted another. So, that 4th partition has sub-partitions, and is something I can play with, when the urge strikes.

I have corrupted the MBR 2 times, in the past couple of months. That from being overly cautious and from being overly confident. The second event led to a back up note book.

And, I use web mail, and do not down load much, at all. Usually select documents that I need to have on the computer or other wise that I need to print.

Steve, I know what you're saying, regarding compression. Experts smarter than me will disagree with your assertion that no degradation occurs on each save, though.

However, you can open the file and save it under a million different file names, and you should have the same content, without degradation, in each one.

However, when you open a file, then save it, you will have degradation. Open the saved file and save it again, the degradation will grow.

Again, this is mostly picture files, that I'm worried about. I think you will also experience degradation in other file types, but now we're getting over my head, again.

For you gents that thought this was about backing a truck, I spent a good 2 or 4 years, learning that little trick.

I could back down a curved and sloped construction site, in the rain, with deep ditches on both sides, easier than I could hit a dock.

[ben45750]

I think you are being a bit to cautious. Your not going to see a noticeable difference in files that are backed up or even ones backed up several times. I use DVD's and Flash drives to back up my files. I use the DVD's for music, movies and pictures. I use the Flash drive backing up website files (also keep a second backup on the Webserver). I have never had any problems files degrading over several back ups.

[matcat]

There are two types of compression, Lossy, which methods such as JPG, GIF, MP3, DivX, ETC are, and what that means is that the compression method takes out certain bits of the file completely that cannot be recovered. And no matter what the format is, if you open a file that is saved in a lossy format, it will uncompress it first so that you can do whatever you are doing to it, but the missing bits are still gone, and when you save it it will re-compress it, taking more bits out. It is the copy effect, take something, and copy it, and then copy the copy, and keep on doing it and eventually it will have nothing left. Now on the other hand there is LOSSLESS compression, which is what ZIP, RAR, (I believe TIFF but I could be wrong), WAV, etc are all LOSSLESS compression, which means they are compressed without removing ANY of the data, so when it is uncompressed and recompressed, it will have no effect on it what so ever. Generally Lossless compression methods aren't as efficient but are required when you cannot loose bits of the data, such as a program, obviously if bits are missing from a program it just won't run right, but if a few bits are missing on an image, who is going to notice?

Usually high end audio/video/photo editors, work in either raw or lossless compression modes. Photoshops PSD format is a lossless format, so if you do a lot of photo editing it is best to keep your master files saved as PSD format, and when you want to use them publish them as JPG or GIF, but save for yourself the PSD format.

[2]

Thanks, matcat.
That's what I was thinking.