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Re: [LUG] Recovering a cdrom

 

Robin Cornelius wrote:

> I have been given a cdrom that is corrupt in some way, it was ok but
> either it has just gone bad or somebody as managed to write something to
> it using that horrible built in cd writer software in win XP. Its a CD-R
> not a RW if that makes a real difference.

Do you know how it was burnt?

And /was/ it burnt and not prepared in some strange way?

Possibilities: (I suspect #2 as you say windows shows something, but 
can't interpret what it is)

1. Many CD-ROM drives won't read anything other than mass produces 
disks. Try on different drives. Some disks won't be read by anything 
other than modern CD/RW drives that support multisession - depending on 
how they were written.

2. Disk was "formatted" using proprietry software and written to in 
packet state. The problem with these is that you need the original 
software to restore. Ask user if they "just saved to the disk like a 
giant floppy disk". Most common variance of this is "InCD" by Nero (Now 
seems tobe depreciated) but there are many others. Try to get access to 
the original PC and see what cd writing software you can find.

3. CD is buggered. Very likely if it was stored in direct sunlight, > 3 
years or has been left out of the case. CD's are *not* a reliable backup 
medium. Sadly this applies to both generic and branded CD's in my 
experience. :(

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