[cfgmiller]

I would be grateful for anyone's help in what is a tricky situation.

I have a back-up DVD ( I need to get some files off, since my laptop was stolen. It's the last back-up I did and appeared to be working when I checked it after writing. However, Windows now refuses to load it (have tried XP, Vista, 7).

The general symptoms are as follows (does this in the variety of laptops that I've tried):
Windows recognises DVD in drive. Drive spins and whirs more than usual, stopping and starting.
Opens AutoPlay options but says 'Searching for content'.
Keeps going... never stops!
So I click 'Open folder'...
Spinning wheel spins.... apparently forever! Explorer window stays blank, eventually brings up some column headers and the green bar appears...never reaches the end. Does not actually crash. The window can be closed no problem and task manager shows it is still running. Disk still spinning...

Unusual aspects
Media Player can sometimes read the disk and lets me see details of media files on there (i.e. pictures). Other times it says 'This disk is empty'.
Tried it on a Mac... actually sort of works, but v. slowly, and some files appear to be corrupted.

So I know the data's on there... how do I get it off? Any suggestions anyone?
Is Linux worth trying? (I think I have a Puppy Linux disk somewhere...)

Many thanks

[Megabite]

What program did you use to back up the disk in the first place?

[cfgmiller]

Hmm, good question.
It was a little time ago!

I'm pretty sure I was using one of those free utilities.. maybe BurnAware?

[stantley]

It sounds like the disc is damaged. Try IsoBuster to recover your files.

[lordsmurf]

Use ISO Puzzle. Read this: Recover Data From a Bad Disc [GUIDE]

[stantley]

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

Use ISO Puzzle. Read this: Recover Data From a Bad Disc [GUIDE]

Thanks lordsmurf, I hadn't heard of that program. I'll have to try it out sometime.

[SDFOX 7]

Did you create the recovery CD on the same machine as the one you are trying to restore from?

I've found that my workstation drive is DVD+R, but I need to burn using DVD-R format and discs so that I can watch on my DVD/VCR machine. DVD+R is incompatible with many DVD players/VCR combo machines.

[lordsmurf]

DVD+R is incompatible with many DVD players/VCR combo machines.

That's not really true.
DVD-R is about 95%+ compatibility
DVD+R is about 90%+ compatibility
Most of the 5-10% problem players are more than 10 years old.
More about DVD-R vs DVD+R and other blank media topics.

[cfgmiller]

Thanks folks.
I've been trying Isopuzzle but it's not making much progress. It doesn't recognise the volume name (which even Windows manages most of the time) and doesn't seem to be able to read any sectors...

BUT *miraculously* I have just discovered while typing this that Windows is now reading the disk!!!!! So I am copying things off it as we speak...

I wonder if it's something to do with IsoPuzzle asking me if I wanted to ignore the last sector (informed me it was bad and asked if I wanted limited retries - I said yes)

Hopefully it will continue long enough for me to get my files off!

[SDFOX 7]

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

That's not really true.
DVD-R is about 95%+ compatibility
DVD+R is about 90%+ compatibility
Most of the 5-10% problem players are more than 10 years old.
More about DVD-R vs DVD+R and other blank media topics.

That's not really true, either.

I have two (different) DVD players at home that are both incompatible with the DVD+R file format. They are both less than a year old.

[lordsmurf]

That's not really true, either. I have two (different) DVD players at home that are both incompatible with the DVD+R file format. They are both less than a year old.

That doesn't prove anything. More likely the issue is with the MANUFACTURER or BRAND of disc that you've used, and not at all related to the format. TDK CMC DVD+R for example, is crap. Try a TAIYO YUDEN or MITSUBISHI (VERBATIM) disc. I bet it works!

I wonder if it's something to do with IsoPuzzle asking me if I wanted to ignore the last sector (informed me it was bad and asked if I wanted limited retries - I said yes)

I have a feeling it's your drive that is really the problem, from info given so far. Many drives are cheap junk (especially ones that come with the computer). Drives also die in a couple of years. If you smoke inside the house, that kills them fast, too.

[cfgmiller]

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

I have a feeling it's your drive that is really the problem, from info given so far. Many drives are cheap junk (especially ones that come with the computer). Drives also die in a couple of years. If you smoke inside the house, that kills them fast, too.

As I've tried the disk on a good number of different machines, most fairly new (and all non-smokers!) it seems like it must be the disk... the drive has no trouble with any other disks, including those of the same format.

I've now managed to get all the info off the disk except two folders which keep crashing Explorer.

Many thanks,
Clare

[lordsmurf]

It still a drive issue, most likely. I have one of the rare BTC drives that excels at reading discs. The Pioneer 111 is pretty decent, too. Generally 99% is recoverable after a few hours with 10 minute cycling of the tray. I've recovered a number of discs for folks in the past, for about $10 each.

In the future before sure to use good blanks! (What did you use, anyway?)

[cfgmiller]

Interestingly IsoPuzzle didn't manage to get anything as I far as I can see... just threw up errors and showed Read 0.
Win Exp managed in the end.

[Megabite]

Sounds like a damage or faulty disc.......