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12/22/2003 11:53:03 AM · #1 |
I write pictures to CD-R's as back-up and then delete from my hard drive after a certain period of time. As I add files to the hard drive, I eventually add them to the CD-R. I have followed this work flow for sometime and has worked well until now!
Last night, I was adding some files to the CD-R and also doing some printing and reading on DP...etc. Apparently I was doing too much at one time as my computer couldn't finish the CD-R write process. The problem is now I can't read the CD at all and the picutres that were on the CD are not accessible!!
Does anyone know if there is a way to get the files from that CD? When I put the CD in, Windows acts as if there is no CD in the drive, like it may be unformatted! For reference, I use the CD Burn software which is incorporated in Windows XP.
Thanks for any help..... |
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12/22/2003 12:01:59 PM · #2 |
| I'd love to know if anyone has a solution to this too - I also have a couple "coasters" that were backups! It's very frustrating (and sometimes heartbreaking!) to know that you've tried to protect your stuff only to have it snatched away by a bad disk. |
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12/22/2003 12:11:27 PM · #3 |
No idea how to do it yourself - a Data Recovery company would almost certainly be able to get the data back but they're not cheap.
A very quick hunt through Google threw up some prices around the $89 mark although I'm sure you'd be able to find cheaper if you spent more than the 2 seconds I just did! All comes down to how badly you want the data back. |
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12/22/2003 12:41:10 PM · #4 |
my suggestion would be that before you delete files from your pc, make sure you have 2 good backups. i work as a system administrator, and we all know how much a bad backup can burn you :) i've had it happen to me before and it really sucks.
while i can't really answer how to get that data off the CD, other than a data recovery company, i'd suggest that in the future you verify you have 2 good backups before you delete the files from your PC.
good luck!
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12/22/2003 12:52:06 PM · #5 |
It also sounds as though you are using a "packet-writing" program which allows files to be written to the CD in more than one session. These programs and discs are notoriously unreliable, although there is usually a procedure for "closing" the disc so it can't be written to anymore which makes it more readable on all machines.
While just dragging files to a CD until it's full seems convenient, but I only use this system now for a temporary backup, never as an archival copy. The CD-R blanks are so cheap now that I wait until I have enough files to fill a disc, and then burn one with the "regular" method. I never delete the files from the hard drive until I have a "regular" CD which I've read on another computer.
The data should still be there, and a recovery company can probably get it back, but it's expensive. |
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12/22/2003 03:43:07 PM · #6 |
My write software has data verification. The disk is not considered 'finished' until it has compared the disk data to the source data. This check can be turned off/on. If your software has this feature, make sure it is on. If it does not have this feature, I would buy software that will do data verification. I use Nero Burning ROM and have never had a problem.
I also burn two disks of each back up. One stays at home in a CD holder case that is for archives only. (in other words, it does not see daily use, no possibility of damaging the disks).
The second copy goes into another CD wallet that I keep at work so they are in two different locations.
I saw in an earlier post an estimate of $89 to recover data from a faulty cd. In my eyes, that is very inexpensive! I had a hard drive crash about a year ago and it had about 2 months of photos on it that I had not backed up. I got an extimate of over $2000 to attempt data recovery, with no guarantee of success. Also, that $2000 is just to start the process. The price was going to go up with the amount of data that they could recover. I kept the hard drive, and I'm hoping that in time the recovery costs will come down...
also, I try not to use the computer for anything when I am burning a disk. I have a P4 with 768MB of RAM and the computer is capable of running several applications at a time. Burning disks is the only time I won't use the computer for other things...
Good luck with getting your photos back. It is heart wrenching to lose files that way...
JD
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12/22/2003 03:54:51 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
My write software has data verification. The disk is not considered 'finished' until it has compared the disk data to the source data. This check can be turned off/on. If your software has this feature, make sure it is on. If it does not have this feature, I would buy software that will do data verification. I use Nero Burning ROM and have never had a problem.
... also, I try not to use the computer for anything when I am burning a disk. I have a P4 with 768MB of RAM and the computer is capable of running several applications at a time. Burning disks is the only time I won't use the computer for other things...
Good luck with getting your photos back. It is heart wrenching to lose files that way...
JD |
This doesn't apply when you are using the packet-writing method, only if you are burning a regular data CD. That's why I agree with your suggestions.
I saw a link to some photo recovery software in a recent thread. It might "see" the disk even if Windows itself cannot. |
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12/22/2003 03:55:04 PM · #8 |
| if u use nero, it might be a multisession disk. If you dont use nero, download the trial version, click write a data cd, and try to add more files to it. It just sounds like the cd wasnt finalized yet all information is on it. Try finalizing it. |
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12/22/2003 04:21:05 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
I try not to use the computer for anything when I am burning a disk. I have a P4 with 768MB of RAM and the computer is capable of running several applications at a time. Burning disks is the only time I won't use the computer for other things... |
Me2. I even turn my screensaver off when I burn discs.
On an old P1 175mhz system with a 2x writer the activation of the screensaver has cost me several CD's. The CD's were not the problem, but the time was (35 minutes each).
Now it writes in 6 minutes and "BURN-proof" is supposed to save the discs, but I am not taking any chances. :)
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12/22/2003 05:18:31 PM · #10 |
do a search on the net for some apps to do the job, try some trials, and grab the best one.
I did a quick search and this came on top with google.
//www.cdrom-prod.com/ that was on the top.
don;t know if its good or not?
give it a try. |
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12/22/2003 10:21:32 PM · #11 |
I RECOVERED THE DATA!!! I used a program called IsoBuster that I downloaded for free at download.com! I recovered all of the pics, no problem!!
IsoBuster has a free trial and then option to purchase....here is one I will definately buy!!!
FYI - to anyone who has a bad CD, this is a must! |
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12/22/2003 10:34:05 PM · #12 |
| Great news -- thanks for the report. |
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