This article describes how to back up your Microsoft Money data file to a writable CD or DVD drive.

When you back up your Money data file, Money prompts you to select the media where the backup file is stored. You can back up your Money data file to either of the following locations:

• A default or other location on a hard disk.
• A removable disk, such as a floppy disk or a ZIP disk.

To back up your Money data file to a writable CD or DVD drive, use one of the following methods.

Manually Create the backup file

Manually copy the backup file to the writable CD or DVD according to the instructions that are provided by the manufacturer of your writable CD or DVD drive.

Back up the file directly to the writable CD or DVD drive

Note This method requires that you use third-party software to copy files to your writable CD or DVD drive just like the way that you copy files to a hard disk.

To configure your version of Money to back up the file directly to a writable CD or DVD drive, follow these steps.

Microsoft Money 2006 and later versions

1. Start Money.
2. On the Tools menu, click Settings.
3. Click Backup settings.
4. Select Automatically back up my Money file every time I close Money or select Perform scheduled backups every ___days.
5. Click Browse for the section that you selected.
6. Locate your writable drive.
7. Provide a name for your backup file.
8. Click OK two times.

Microsoft Money 2005

1. Start Money 2005.
2. On the Tools menu, click Settings.
3. Click Backup options.
4. Select the Automatically back up file to hard disk on exit option.
5. Click Browse.
6. Locate your writable drive.
7. Provide a name for your backup file.
8. Click OK two times.

Microsoft Money 2004

1. Start Money 2004.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the Backup tab.
4. Select the Automatically back up file to hard disk on exit option.
5. Click Browse.
6. Locate your writable drive.
7. Provide a name for your backup file.
8. Click OK two times.

When you quit Money, the backup file that is automatically created is copied to the writable CD or DVD drive.

If you want to rename the backup file, you must manually back up the file.

Note If you experience difficulties backing up using the above methods, it is possible that due to your operating system, third party applications or out dated drivers, Money will not be able to directly write to your CD Rom drive. For additional assistance with this issue, please contact the manufacturer of your CD Rom drive or Windows support.

In many instances, Windows will store your information in a temporary folder to be written to your disk at a later time. This process can also be used to write to other removable media such as Flash Drives.

Note Windows Vista supports direct backup without the need of third-party software drivers for most CD and DVD drives.
For more information about troubleshooting issues with Windows writing to your CD Rom drive, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

On a computer that is running Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot problems with creating a DVD-Video using Windows DVD Maker" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot problems with creating a DVD-Video using Windows DVD Maker" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Troubleshoot problems with creating a DVD-Video using Windows DVD Maker, and then click Search Help.
3. In the list of topics, click Troubleshoot problems with creating a DVD-Video using Windows DVD Maker.
4. Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5. Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
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