[scabbage]

I was wondering if there is a way to do multi-session backup for my iTunes library and iPhoto library. Currently, I have 2G of music in my iTunes library which I would like to backup onto a DVDR. But I don't wanna waste the rest of 2.7 G on the DVDR, which a backup of my 2.3G iPhoto library could nicely fit. So is there a way to fit both? Thanks.

[clairejr]

There are a few DVD burning programs that let you do multi-session DVDs but only with DVD+R media. Two that I know of are Dragon Burn and LiquidCD, but I haven't tried them so I can't tell you how well they work. Another option is to just create a single session DVD that contains your iTunes and iPhoto libraries.

The links for Dragon Burn and LiquidCD are:

http://www.ntius.com/dragon_burn.asp

http://www.maconnect.ch/index.php?pa...cd&lang=en

Dragon Burn is expensive ($49) and LiquidCD is free.

Claire

[scabbage]

Originally Posted by clairejr 

There are a few DVD burning programs that let you do multi-session DVDs but only with DVD+R media. Two that I know of are Dragon Burn and LiquidCD, but I haven't tried them so I can't tell you how well they work. Another option is to just create a single session DVD that contains your iTunes and iPhoto libraries.

The links for Dragon Burn and LiquidCD are:

NewTech Infosystems (NTI) Software - Best Ultimate CD & DVD Burning & Backup software

Maconnect

Dragon Burn is expensive ($49) and LiquidCD is free.

Claire

Well, I guess my question should be: how can I backup both my iTunes library and iPhotos library in one DVDR such that next time when I insert the DVD, I could easily restore these two libraries with all my playlists and albums preserved? I know it would be trivial just to burn all my songs and photos in the DVDR. But how about my playlists and albums? Thanks.

[clairejr]

I think if you copy the entire iTunes folder (not just your songs) and the entire iPhoto folder (not just the albums), you would be able to just copy them back to their original locations from the DVD if you needed to. Of course, the best way to ensure a backup in the event of hard drive failure is with an external drive that is a clone of your boot drive. But if you're only concerned with the iTunes and iPhoto libraries, just burn the entire folders to a DVD.

Claire

[scabbage]

Thanks, Claire. That's what I had in mind. However, my intention for backing up my files is not to prepare for HD failures, but rather to give more space for my Macbook HD. I would like to easily insert a DVD and find a photo or song in my backup libraries. So after I burn the entire iPhoto (iTunes) library, how can I access it in the future without messing up my future libraries? (I cannot simply copy the entire iTunes (iPhoto) folder back cuz that'll overwrite my existing library, right?) Thanks.

[JKT]

If you follow the suggestion to manually copy the whole iTunes and iPhoto Library folders to your DVD, you can easily choose to load those backups as an alternative to the Library folders on your hard drive. To do so, press and hold the option key as you launch iTunes or iPhoto and you will be prompted to select your desired Library. Once you have finished with that Library. Quit the app and hold option down again as you re-launch and select the prior Library.

You can test how this works now (without the backup) - once at the prompt you can simply select your current Library folders.