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tritonus · Oct 17, 2003, 02:48 AM

For my clean install of Panther, I need to backup my iTunes library.

I currently have 1569 titles of AAC, a total of 9.45 GB to backup.

I want to use my SuperDrive to do a full backup.

I created a smart playlist (all titles, size <4700 MB). This playlist I can burn to DVD. Now, how can I burn the remaining titles that don't fit into Playlist #1? Is there an "automated" backup way, or do I have to split my library manually to Playlist #1, #2 and so forth?

Better ideas?

Thanks!

Putta · Oct 17, 2003, 03:58 AM

This was an issue I saw last time when they introduced DVD back-up, how do you create playlists of the right size but also getting all your songs and not duplicating any.

Fortunately, iTunes 4.1 seems to have addressed this issue. One of its features is that when burning a playlist, it will go as far as it can then ask you to insert a new CD and continue. This also works with DVDs.

Now, I don't have my iTunes machine with me, so I can't explain how to do it all, but your first step is to create a playlist containing all songs.

Before burning, investigate the options under the iTunes prefs for burning. Once you have done that, click the burn icon in the usual way and insert your first DVD. Once that DVD is done, it will prompt you to insert the next DVD.

This is of course a nightmare for copyright issues. It makes it so much easier to give your friends your entire music library! Of course, when your library is 30Gb plus, it will get kind of expensive!

tritonus · Oct 17, 2003, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Putta:
This was an issue I saw last time when they introduced DVD back-up, how do you create playlists of the right size but also getting all your songs and not duplicating any.

Fortunately, iTunes 4.1 seems to have addressed this issue. One of its features is that when burning a playlist, it will go as far as it can then ask you to insert a new CD and continue. This also works with DVDs.

Now, I don't have my iTunes machine with me, so I can't explain how to do it all, but your first step is to create a playlist containing all songs.

Before burning, investigate the options under the iTunes prefs for burning. Once you have done that, click the burn icon in the usual way and insert your first DVD. Once that DVD is done, it will prompt you to insert the next DVD.

This is of course a nightmare for copyright issues. It makes it so much easier to give your friends your entire music library! Of course, when your library is 30Gb plus, it will get kind of expensive!

Thanks! That's what I was hoping for.

Trying it out right now... DVD #1 burning now...

tritonus · Oct 17, 2003, 06:23 AM

Originally posted by tritonus:
Thanks! That's what I was hoping for.

Trying it out right now... DVD #1 burning now...

It didn't work out. Here's an error code (translated from German):

"The buffer of the device is full and the current burn process was not protected."

What option did I forget?

Sarc · Oct 17, 2003, 09:33 AM

I might be wrong, but I seem to recall that iTunes had a DVD Archive feature somewhere ... designed specifically for backup.

tritonus · Oct 17, 2003, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by Sarc:
I might be wrong, but I seem to recall that iTunes had a DVD Archive feature somewhere ... designed specifically for backup.

Well, I found this here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120254

new in iTunes 4.1:

� Burn large playlists to multiple CDs or DVDs; when your playlist is too large to fit on one CD or DVD, iTunes asks you to insert another disc

I'm giving it another try. Maybe it was just a DVD coaster?

tritonus · Oct 17, 2003, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by tritonus:
Well, I found this here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120254

new in iTunes 4.1:

� Burn large playlists to multiple CDs or DVDs; when your playlist is too large to fit on one CD or DVD, iTunes asks you to insert another disc

I'm giving it another try. Maybe it was just a DVD coaster?

No, after trying again, I get the same error code when the first DVD wants to finish the burn process:

"Der Puffer des Ger�ts ist ersch�pft und der aktuelle Brennvorgang wurde nicht gesch�tzt."

Is this also the case on US localisation?

chris.p · Oct 17, 2003, 12:03 PM

Does anyone know of a way to check what you have burned (as backup) lastime, and then burn the newly added tracks? Something like an app that creates a database of what you have burned already, and then just copies, or burns the new mp3's to a new folder or disk. That would be cool- as burning 15gb everytime I want to back up sounds a bit excessive- just a few hundred meg each time is Ok though. (prefferably keeping the fiolder structure too would be cool.

edit: It seems that a smart playlist could do this- soooo.... do the discs burned like you mentioned above keep the folder structure+ playlist info?

Mac Write · Oct 17, 2003, 10:50 PM

Try doing a manual playlist and select Albums in alphabetical order and keep adding until you reach DVD capacity. Then create a second playlist from where you left off on the first one.

Also using Backup from .Mac can do this to, just automatically.

tritonus · Oct 18, 2003, 03:50 AM

Originally posted by Mac Write:
Try doing a manual playlist and select Albums in alphabetical order and keep adding until you reach DVD capacity. Then create a second playlist from where you left off on the first one.

Also using Backup from .Mac can do this to, just automatically.

Thanks, that was my plan B.

One more thing: Why don't I just grab all the folders from "iTunes Music" folder to an empty DVD-R and burn it in the Finder? What's the difference between an archive in iTunes and a manual backup of folders and files?

Mac Write · Oct 18, 2003, 04:30 AM

Originally posted by tritonus:
Thanks, that was my plan B.

One more thing: Why don't I just grab all the folders from "iTunes Music" folder to an empty DVD-R and burn it in the Finder? What's the difference between an archive in iTunes and a manual backup of folders and files?

Actually do it via the finder, then you will retain your folder structure. Once you restore, then just put all the folders back in place and boom everything is retained.

To prevent yourself from doing this again, I strongly recommend partitioning. One partition for OS and Apps and the rest for Data (also one 1-2GB for OS 9 if you still use it).

How big is your HD? it it's over 40GB+ make a min of 10GB for OS and apps.

tritonus · Oct 18, 2003, 04:39 AM

Originally posted by Mac Write:
Actually do it via the finder, then you will retain your folder structure. Once you restore, then just put all the folders back in place and boom everything is retained.

To prevent yourself from doing this again, I strongly recommend partitioning. One partition for OS and Apps and the rest for Data (also one 1-2GB for OS 9 if you still use it).

How big is your HD? it it's over 40GB+ make a min of 10GB for OS and apps.

Okay, then I'll use Finder for it, thanks.

I'm not so sure about paritions though. What if I reach 10 GB for OS and Apps and still have 20 GB left on my Data partition? It seems limiting to me. Doing a full backup once a year (OS X 10.3, OS X 10.4...) is not that hard. I'll do a clean install anyway.

My HD is 60 GB, 17" PB Rev. A standard.