PC File Backup using Blu Ray burner

[bz186]

I am looking to backup my pc files like photos, personal videos etc. My computer is not HDCP compliant and is missing some video card components (Windows XP , SP3). I am not looking to play commercial blu ray videos since I already have a blu ray player.
Does my computer need to be HDCP compliant if I am just using it for backups?
How long would 25gb take to backup?

[redwudz]

I burn BD MKV video data discs all the time using my Pioneer BD burner with no problems. Just use ImgBurn. I use UDF 2.50 settings. My PC is HDCP complaint, but I don't think that matters for data discs. It takes me about 15 minutes to burn Verbatim 25GB BD discs. Lots of small files may take longer.

[bz186]

It only takes 15 minutes to burn 25gb? That seems a lot faster than backing up to a hard drive. I am backing up to a hard drive right now, and I would also like optical backup. I have gone through 3 flash drives, so I will not be using that as a backup medium.
Is this the full file that you are backing up so that you can copy it to another computer?
So since I am only doing data discs, it probably does not matter what type of video card that you have. Correct?

[redwudz]

No. Video card doesn't matter. These MKVs (Three videos to a 25GB BD) are all data. A whole bunch of smaller files may take a bit longer. I only use them as backup if one of my video server hard drives fail. Each MKV is about 8GB. My burner ramps up the burning speed to a bit less than 8X, so that helps with the burning time.

[jman98]

I have gone through 3 flash drives, so I will not be using that as a backup medium.

For what it's worth I've NEVER had a flash drive issue. I mostly buy Patriot as I find them to be the best brand. But back on topic, HDPC and video cards have nothing to do with making backups to consumer burnable BD discs.

[bz186]

Thanks. I suppose buying $15 lexar flash drives will lead to problems. I am just looking to do a blu ray backup every month or so. I was thinking about buying a Digistor external blu ray burner.

[redwudz]

If you use an external BD burner over USB, it could burn a fair amount slower. My internal SATA drives just barely keep up with my burners buffer at 8X, though newer burners may have larger buffers now. Internal SATA or eSATA should work well, though.

It will work with USB, though, but the burner may have to wait on occasion during large data transfers. Most burners now use 'Burn Proof' or similar to keep from corrupting data with long waits from the source drive. I would definitely only use ImgBurn and good quality media. I use Verbatim BD discs and never a coaster.

[bz186]

Is imgburn better for backups than the free software that comes with the burner?

[budz]

Is imgburn better for backups than the free software that comes with the burner?

The answer is yes IMGBURN is the best burning free software. Don't use the crappy software that comes with a burner. Just my 2 freaking cents1