Use Sonic RecordNow! to Backup your Data
 
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Your EN laptops and EN desktops, not including the budget model, come with a DVD/CDRW combo optical drive. The DVD part of the drive allows you to play DVD movies on these computers and to access high capacity DVD data discs. The CDRW part of the drive allows you to record data. You can use this and the Sonic™ RecordNow!™ Software that came installed on your Dell Computer to backup your important files.

Note: If your EN machine has Roxio software installed, see this How To.
If your EN machine has no 3rd party CD burning software installed, see this How To.

When an EN machine is setup, 2 special folders are created on the Local Disk (C:): a Local Documents folder and a Personal Data folder. You should use the Local Documents folder to store work related files or other important data. You should use the Personal Data folder to store any non-work related files that you might have (e.g. pictures).

Please keep this items in mind when deciding what you need to backup.

  • If you have a redirected My Documents folder (ie. the files are stored on a server) you will not need to backup the My Documents folder.
  • Documents from applications like Access, FileMaker and PageMaker may crash if opened/used from a network shared folder. In addition, if you use DreamWeaver MX for website development, the DreamWeaver MX site manager files should not be stored on a network shared folder. ICT recommends that you don't use the above files from a network drive or a redirected My Documents folder.
  • Outlook OST and PST files may be located in a folder in the Local Documents folder as well. You do not need to backup the OST (Offline Folders) file. You should back up the PST (Personal Folders) file.
  • Several key folders stored in your Documents and Settings folder should be backed up as well. These folders store Outlook's email address history file, Office's custom dictionary, Outlook's signature list, as well as Office's stationary and templates.

Display your UserProfile Folder Verify the Backup Data
Back up Using Sonic Software Restore or Transfer your Data
Save your Back up Project  

Display your UserProfile folder

In order to backup your Favorites and the Microsoft application folders, you need to locate and display the "correct" User Profile folder in Documents and Settings. This folder normally has the same name as your Userid (example: dss9). It may be listed as Userid.AG in some cases (example: dss9.AG).

  1. Click Start and choose Run.
  2. Remove any text in the Open: line.
  3. Type in the below command and click OK.

    %UserProfile%

    Note
    : Your User Profile folder should open in a separate window.

  4. At the top of the window, look for the Address toolbar. If you don't see this toolbar, from the View menu choose Toolbars then select Address bar.
  5. In the Address toolbar you will see the path to the correct folder. Write down this path. This is used in the next section.

    Examples:
    C:\Documents and Settings\thw
    C:\Documents and Settings\vcv1.AG

  6. In the User Profile folder, look for an Application Data folder. It will appear as a "dimmed" folder. If you see this folder, you are ready to backup. Go to the next section. If you don't see the folder, go to the next step.
  7. To show the hidden folders, from the Tools menu choose Folder Options. Click the View tab. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders. Click OK. You should now see the "dimmed" or grayed out Application Data folder. Go to the next section.

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Back up Using Sonic Software

Note: If you will be backing up Outlook's PST file, Outlook must be closed before you begin the backup process.

  1. Click Start, then All Programs, choose Sonic, slide right and choose RecordNow! Plus, and slide right and choose RecordNow! Plus.

    Note:
    If you see a Product registration window, click Cancel. Click Exit Registration.

  2. The Sonic Viewer window should appear.
  3. Click Data Disc. The Data Disc window appears.

    Note: A Sonic RecordNow! window may appear asking if you are adding files to an existing data disc. Read the information carefully, then click Continue.

  4. Insert a blank CD into your CD-Recorder (the destination drive).
  5. Under Quick Start Links, click Data Disk.
  6. If you want to label your CD, type the name in place of Volume Label in the field at the top of the Data Disc window.
  7. Click Add Files and Folders. The Select files and folders to add window appears.
  8. In the Look in: drop-down list box, select Local Disk (C:).
  9. If you see a Local Documents folder, select Local Documents and click Add. Double-click the on the Local Documents to open the folder. If you see an "Outlook-PST-OST" or "Outlook-OST-PST" folder, Double-click this folder to open it. If an Outlook.ost file is here, click on its name to select. Then click the Remove button in the toolbar (red X). Click Yes.

  10. KEY STEP: In the toolbar, click the Up button to return to the top level of the data disk project. If you were to click Add Files and Folders now, any folders or files you added would be "stored" in the "Outlook" folder on the CD.

  11. When ready, click Add Files and Folders. If needed, click the Up button again. You should be viewing the Local Disk (C:).

    Note
    : You may skip Step 12 if you don't want to backup your "Personal Data" on a work related backup CD. You could repeat these steps with a different CD to backup just your personal data.

  12. If you see a Personal Data folder, select Personal Data and click Add. Click Add Files and Folders.

    Note: You will now continue with the remaining work related data backup.

  13. Double-click on the Documents and Settings folder to open that folder.
  14. Double-click on your UserProfile name (ex: thw or vcv1.AG) to open the folder.
  15. Select Favorites and click Add.

    Note: If you don't see a My Documents folder in the next step, your computer may be located at University Park or in an office where the My Documents folder is redirected (stored) on a server. You may skip this step.

  16. Click Add Files and Folders. If you see a My Documents folder, select My Documents and click Add.

    Note: These next steps will backup the key folders stored in the Application Data | Microsoft folder.

  17. Double-click on the Application Data folder to open this folder.
  18. Double-click on the Microsoft folder to open this folder.
  19. Scroll down in this list. You will select the following five folders and click Add after each one.

    Select Outlook and click Add. Click Add Files and Folders.
    Select Proof and click Add. Click Add Files and Folders.
    Select Signatures and click Add. Click Add Files and Folders.
    Select Stationary and click Add. Click Add Files and Folders.
    Select Templates and click Add.


    Note: Before you burn the CD, browse through the folders. Be sure that you have the files/folders added the way you want.

  20. Click the Burn button to begin creating your CD. The Burning Disc window appears.
  21. Wait for the backup to complete. Then go to the next section.

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Save Your Back Up Project

Note: If you save your CD project, you are saving a file that specify which folders/files to backup. This means that the next time you want to back up your data, you simply need to open the saved Project List.
  1. Click Save when it asks if you want to save your project.
  2. Enter a File name. Ex: Backup Data
  3. In the Save in drop down list, select Local Disk (C:).
  4. Click Save. Click Done.
  5. Click the X button to exit Sonic.

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Verify the Backup Data

Note: Please verify that you can actually retrieve data from the Backup CD. Even though it was created successfully, you should double check that you can use the data on the CD.

  1. On this machine or on another machine, reinsert the Backup CD.
  2. Open the CD.
  3. You should be able to see the various files and folders.
  4. Open the My Documents folder. Open other folders.
  5. As a test, copy a file back to the Local Disk (C:).
  6. Open this file. If it opens and appears correct, you have made a successful backup CD
  7. Eject the CD.
  8. Store this CD in a safe place. You may want to store it off-site (out of your office).

Restore or Transfer your Data

Note: These steps will help you "restore" your data to the same machine. Or, transfer the data to a new computer.

  1. Insert your backup CD into the machine.
  2. Open the CD window.
  3. Resize the window to fit half of your screen. Move to the right side of your screen.
  4. Open My Computer. Open Local Disk (C:).
  5. Open Documents and Settings.

    Note: As before (see Section 1) you need to open the "correct" User Profile folder in Documents and Settings. If you are unsure, follow the Section 1 steps here in the new machine. You need to be able to see the Application Data folder as well.

  6. Open the "correct" User Profile folder.
  7. Resize the window to fit half of your screen. Move to the left of your screen.

    Note: You'll be able to transfer from your CD (window on the right) to your computer's hard disk (window on the left). The folder structure should be the same. You can choose to replace entire folders (ex: you could drag the Favorites folder from the right to left and replace); or, you can open individual folders and drag files as needed.

  8. As needed, open folders on the right. Drag their contents to the same location on the left. If you are asked if you wish to overwrite, click either Yes or Yes to All.

    Note: If doing a data transfer for a new machine and you have copied back a PST file and need to re-link it to your Outlook profile, see Re-link an already created PST file.

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How To Use Sonic RecordNow! to Backup your Data
10-3-05 vcv
updated 11-21-06 vcv

 

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