Backing up various data...which format on DVD???

[aussiemac]

I am trying to backup heaps of files... .mov, avis, mpgs, mp3...etc
onto to DVD.

This is so I can get some space on my Hard drive.

So I am using latest Nero 6 version.

What format should I use for success??

UDF? ISO? UDF/ISO?? DVDRom??

I am using a DVD-RW DVD...

I keep having burn failures ...where Nero starts the burn ..then just sits there...going nowhere...and never finishes.

What DVD format does everyone else use for backing up data ??
That succeeds??
Are there any rules for file names ??
Do files have to not use certain symbols etc within the filename
to work under these DVD backup formats??

So far I have reformated three DVD-RW in attempts to find the right
DVD format for backing up data...eg .mov, avis ,mpgs, mp3s.

It is very frustrating...

[northcat_8]

well....I use DVD-R or RW because that's what my burner supports.

I just burn them straight out like I would a data CD. If size is a serious issue, I will compress the files with WinRar and burn one file on it.

File names can't be really really long, I forget the exact length limit.
You can't have too many directory depths.

I just open nero, drag and drop the files and then burn it.

[Capmaster]

I keep having burn failures ...where Nero starts the burn ..then just sits there...going nowhere...and never finishes.

I had the same problem for the brief time I had Nero 6 installed. It'd just stop .....looking like it's burning, but the progress indicator would never advance, and it wouldn't time-out. I always had to do a power-down reset and trash the media.

Solution: I went back to Nero Burning ROM 5.5.10.56 and haven't looked back. No problems since then

[aussiemac]

I have an LG GSA 120...which can burn DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM
in the rewriteable DVD area.

So northcat_8 what format type do you use when you are "draging and drop the files" to Nero???

I keep getting burn failures where it just goes a few minutes then stops..
eg it burns lead-in ..probably dvd structure eg folders and file names but no actual data ....and just sits there going nowhere.

Capmaster....you have described the exact same experience as I have..

"but the progress indicator would never advance, and it wouldn't time-out. I always had to do a power-down reset and trash the media. "

so then I have to reformat the DVD-RW and try again ...very frustrating!!!

So far I havent worked out what I am doing wrong...thats why I thought I would ask here to see if maybe something I doing is in correct or I am missing a step?
So any input from successful users of Nero who back up there HD data would be much appreciated??

[regular8mm]

+ or - RW can be bothersom sometimes. Try a different media. Do not use RW for long time storrage; use R for permanent backup.

DVDs don't play off RW disks for me, only off R disks. The'll work out of the burner or off the HD but not in the player. The same files on a R disk will work every time.

UDF is for files over 2GB. Change the ISO so that 31 characters will be used in names or all your file names will be in caps and very shortened

[aussiemac]

Damn it has taken me two days!! ...but I now know these -RW discs are the problem.

I am using Verbatim 2x -RW and Ritek 4x -RW discs in an attempt to back-up some data off my Hard drive (around 20GB). They kept failing. I went thru at least two Verbatim and 3 Ritek. Then using Nero to try and reformat or fully erase the discs for re-use ...that wasnt really a success.

So finally after having refomatted any potential problems with file names..
I burnt a UDF formatted DVD-R with Nero...something like 150 files..4.32 GB ... DAMN it burnt just fine!!!

Those ###ing -RWs....tried another -R and it worked fine ...at 4x mind you!! ...instead of 2x for the -RW .

Then I got adventurous and started burning some other directories with looser file name length and construction....NO PROBLEMS...even UDF 1.02 format...not UDF 1.5 or 2.0 .

So I ended up getting back 27 GB of space with DVD-Rs (Shintaro and Ritek brand) burnt using UDF format with Nero 6.3.1.25.(all at 4x).

Its a pity Nero wont burn -RW at 1x then I could see if it is definitely media. Still I am grateful that I now have so much more HD!

Just have to use -Rs in future.

I just hate wasting discs for backing up ..which is why I was trying to use
-RW type (so could be reused when data no longer needed)
I use CDRW all the time ..never use CDRs for backup..and they never fail even with looong file names with dashes.

And because I have a Mac as well cant really use +RW ...they dont really work cross platform(Toast wont write them).
Enough of my ranting ..thanks for those that provided feedback..to my original question!!