Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
TIP
Always check your backup discs once you've burned them, even if you verified
them during backup. Do that by putting the disc in your computer and making
sure all your files are there. If there's an error, you want to know about it
now
, not
6 months from now.
6.
Create the backup
.
Click Save Backup, and Elements generates the backup. If you decide you don't want
to make a backup, click Cancel instead.
TIP
These directions cover how to back up your images and your catalog. It's also a really
good idea to back up your
catalog database
(the data file that the Organizer creates to
keep track of where your photos are) every once in a while. To do that, in the Organizer,
go to Help→System Info to see the file path to your current catalog (it's listed next to
Catalog Location). Then burn those folders (including the files within them) to a CD or
DVD or copy them to an external hard drive.
Be aware that a backup made using these steps is for
Elements
' use, not yours: If you look at
the backup in Windows Explorer or a Mac's Finder, you'll see files with weird numerical
names, and you can't just rummage around to find a particular photo you accidentally de-
leted. Instead, you have to let Elements handle restoring the files. Because you can't easily
get individual files out of an official Elements backup, many people prefer to create their
own backups, copying the catalog file (the preceding Tip explains where to find it) and their
images. That way, you don't have to rely on Elements to retrieve lost photos for you.
If you want to switch your catalog to a new machine, you can install Elements and restore
your existing backup. (This works even when moving from Windows to a Mac. If you want
to do that, save your backup to a removable hard drive.) To restore your catalog, in the Or-
ganizer, go to File→Restore Catalog, and then follow the onscreen directions.
