Difference between copying and backing up files?

[Blown Interceptor]

Which is better for large amounts of data, why?

Thanks!

[hotrodd]

Isn't it kinda the same thing?

[Ed Blown Vert]

Copying is usually done with the file size intact.

Backing up usually means compressing the files before saving them to tape or another drive.

I use to back up to tape. Now I mirror two drives.

[F-Bomb]

backing up a file usually means you are going against the grain and your not smoothing the metal surface very well no really backing is haveing a safe copy of the original, copying a file is just putting it somewhere else on the computer at risk. or if you save to dvd or dvr you can save several files that way we use lacie back up drives its like a external hard drive.