Windows Backup does not back up to CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R devices

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

Ntbackup.exe does not support backing up to CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R devices because Removable Storage Management does not have the ability to 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.

Back up to an alternate media type, such as a tape or hard disk.

This behavior is by design.

Note On page 15 of the accompanying "Getting Started" page in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server book, Under "New Storage, Security, and Compatibility Features" the passage reads: As stated previously in the "Cause" section, Windows does not support the use of recordable CDs as a backup media type.

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. When it attempts to write an RSM free label, Removable Storage Management does not succeed because the disc appears to be write protected. This means that Removable Storage Management treats CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R media as a read-only media type even if you add them to the Ntbackup media pool.

Automated System Recovery (ASR) is an advanced option for Ntbackup and is new in Windows 2003. Like Ntbackup, ASR supports the following storage types:

• Tape drives
• Jaz
• Zip
• Floppy
• Hard drive

ASR also supports devices that are connected through USB. ASR does not support write enable DVD or CD devices when these devices are used as hard drives.

Ntbackup does not support any kind of recordable DVD or CD. Ntbackup supports the same media types in Windows 2000 and in Windows 2003.