Picasa Backup

Picasa can backup your pictures and movies to CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and external or networked hard drives. We include a program to restore your backed up files with each backup you create, so this is a great way to move your pictures to a new computer.

We recommend backing up your important pictures regularly, so you can retrieve an accidentally deleted file, or recover from a system failure. Picasa's backup records label information and edits, in addition to the original files.  

If you've never backed up your pictures before, you will need to create a Backup Set. Click the "Backup" button on the top toolbar in Picasa 2 to get started.

Step One: Create a new Backup Set

1. Click "New Set" and enter a name for your set

2. Select a Backup Type:

CD or DVD Backup

Disk-to-disk Backup

3. If you are doing a Disk-to-disk Backup, select the drive you want to use to backup your files.

4. Choose the subset of file types you want to include in the backup:

All File Types

Only Pictures (exclude movies)

Only JPEGs with Camera Information

5. Use the default set "All Pictures" or enter a name for a new Backup Set.

6. Click Create to save the Backup Set.  

Step Two: Choose which pictures to add to your Backup Set.

1. Choose the folders you want to include by clicking the checkbox next to each folder you want to backup.

2. If you chose CD or DVD Backup, place a blank recordable CD or DVD in your burner, and click Finish to begin burning your CD.

3. If you chose Disk-to-disk Backup, click Finish and your pictures will begin copying over to your drive.

To add files to an existing Backup Set:

You can always add new photos to a set at any time. When you select an existing Backup Set, Picasa will only display the folders and labels that have not been backed up yet. To include a folder or album, click the checkbox next to its name.

Right click and choose "Select All" to select all the folders within an open Collection. This action will allow you to create a full archive of your pictures.

To exclude files from a Backup Set:

Uncheck the checkbox to the left of the folder. If there is a red triangle next to a Picasa Collection name (such as Labels, or Folders on Disk), this means the Collection is closed and will be not be included if you choose "Select All."  

To restore pictures from a backup

Picasa automatically includes a small application called PicasaRestore.exe with each backup. This is included in both CD/DVD backups and with disk-to-disk backups. This application will launch automatically when you insert a disk, and will restore your files and labels to their original state. We recommend that you always review the backup to double check that it was completed successfully.

If you want to burn a CD to give away to someone (and you don't want Picasa to track this for restoring to your computer later), you should use the Gift CD feature.