bohleber Loc: southern Indiana

I attached an externl drive and when it opens it says BUdata and there are a bunch of files numbered B0000006, etc. Are there no pics on this drive and can I format and use it?

Thanks, Don

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

They are Blue Ray data files that were downloaded to the drive.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you can see files, then the drive has been formatted. Is it a new drive? Did it come with a loaded backup application that might generate files that begin with “B” ?

bohleber Loc: southern Indiana

No triX, i have used it before. I can't open any images, just a bunch of BUs. Does that mean there are No Images on it?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Right click on the drive and then properties - that will show you the total capacity, number of files and the remaining capacity. Then do the same with each file and pay attention to the file type (extension) and size. Are any of the extensions common image file types such as .jpg, .nef, .CR2, .PNG, etc.? Finally click on those files and see what you get. If they are directories/folders, you may have other files within them. If not, clicking on them may open the application associated with them. Without knowing any of the above information, my guess is that they are backup files that may be compressed and written by a backup application. What is the history of the drive?

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

The drive has been used as a backup target by a backup software like Windows backup or a similar application. The application compresses the files and writes them to a numbered file such as you noted. It does not create a single file that hold your backed files, but uses a maximum set file size and creates as many as needed for the backup. The files can usually only be accessed by the application that created them. If you do not need this backup for any reason, then you can certainly format the drive and use it for another purpose.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

This is likely true. Many backup programs don't make an exact duplicate of the files being backed up. Instead they make a bunch of compressed files that only the application that created the backup can access and then restore at a later date. If you access the files using the application that created them you may be able to see each picture file and then choose the files that you want restored, but you may not be able to see the thumbnails of each picture. You'd have to know the original file name and then restore them using the application that created the backup.

This is why I don't like applications that work this way. They make it difficult to find a particular image or file. I use an application called Sync Toy that is free from Microsoft. It actually backs up the original files to another drive and makes the duplicate exactly as they are from the source disk. This way you can access them from the backup drive any way you like from any program you use to view or open those files. You can drag and drop them or copy and paste the files. You can still see the thumb nails as you can the originals.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 completely agree. I prefer a mirror any day. A percentage of restores from compressed backups do fail, even with professional quality backup programs such as NetBackup, and the small amount of disk space saved in no way compensates for the pain of a failed restore.

bohleber Loc: southern Indiana

Thanks all..