[Ham-Computers] RE: DVD burn issue

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

OK, were any of these disks written using a "packet writing" format (such as DirectDisc, Drag-to-disc, etc)?  Packet writing is notoriously faulty can can cause a disc full of data look empty or unrecognizable.

If the data is somewhat important, there are several relatively inexpensive tools that can help recover data.  Though I haven't used it personally, one I generally recommend is CD/DVD Diagnostic by InfinaDyne.  One of the regulars on the A_CDR reflector (Adaptec's old user support list for EasyCD products) is InfinaDyne's founder and I have no question as to the value of the program.  Much of what I know about CD/DVD recording can be attributed to the the A_CDR list.

You can download the free eval to see if it can find the data and then purchase the full version to do the actual recovery.

http://www.infinadyne.com


73 and GL,

  - Aaron, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 4:17 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] DVD burn issue

The unit I used was an HP "dvd writer dvd200i", and the program I used 
was the burner that came with it - also named "dvd writer".

   There are several different brands of disks used, but they were all 
"+", as that was all this burner could do. I'll have to check a few more 
to make it a fair test.

   I'll never know if the original drive can still read the disks - it 
was removed and scrapped months ago, as I suspected it fried the 
motherboard in my old PC. Coincidence perhaps, but I know I closed the 
door with a DVD in it once, and the PC went completely berserk.

   I'm also uncertain now as to which way the program defaulted - 
whether it was to close it completely or allow adds. I'm reasonably 
certain that on many of them I forced it to close completely, as I has 
carefully picked the data to go on it to fill it as close to full as 
practical.

   Hopes this helps somewhat!

Thanks!