Windows Backup Does Not Back Up to CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R Devices (315255)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q315255

For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 262006.

SYMPTOMS

When you select a backup media device in Backup (Ntbackup.exe), you cannot select a CD-R (compact disc recordable), CD-RW (compact disc rewritable), or DVD-R (digital video disc recordable) device.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Removable Storage Management does not recognize CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R devices as backup pool media, even though you can add these media types in Removable Storage Management. Ntbackup.exe therefore does not support backup to these devices.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, perform the backup to some other media type, for example, to a tape or to a hard disk.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Removable Storage Management regards CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R as just a file system-capable media type. However, the Windows file system does not support formatting CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R media. Removable Storage Management cannot write an RSM free label because the disc appears to be write-protected. This means that Removable Storage Management treats CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R media as read-only media types even if you add them to the Ntbackup media pool.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	1/16/2002
Keywords:	kbBackUp kbprb KB315255