DVD Burner b0rked

November 8, 2005 6:25 PM

DVD-RWFilter: I burned a DVD ages ago, and on attempt to re-read, wimdows thinks it's blank.

I burned a 1.4gb mini DVD (8cm disk) a ways back with a handful of large files on it, totalling about 400mb. When i put it back into my computer (which has since been reformatted), windows asks me what i want to do with the blank CD I've inserted. I NEED THESE FILES!!
Any suggestions?

posted by weaponsgradecarp to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Was the DVD previously readable, or had you not tested it before?
posted by Robot Johnny at 7:12 PM on November 8, 2005

I don't think this will turn out well for you. The session might still be open, in which case you might (my memory here is fuzzy) be able to use your burning program to try to finalize it.
Good luck.
posted by boo_radley at 7:20 PM on November 8, 2005

The DVD was previously readable, before i reformatted the machine. Additionally, my friend's dvd/crdrw combo drive can read the disk
posted by weaponsgradecarp at 7:29 PM on November 8, 2005

Maybe you need a DLA driver/app?
posted by kcm at 7:30 PM on November 8, 2005

Couldn't your friend burn another disk for you? Or use a USB drive?
posted by hoborg at 7:48 PM on November 8, 2005

Run the disc through ISOBuster. It can access data in any sort of hidden or unclosed session. The free functionality should be all that you need, unless the disc was burned with a UDF filesystem only. Then you need to register it.
posted by zsazsa at 8:21 PM on November 8, 2005

The DVD was previously readable, before i reformatted the machine. Additionally, my friend's dvd/crdrw combo drive can read the disk

That strongly implies that you burned the disc with a UDF filesystem. This is commonly used with rewriteable media because it can be used to fake a "real" live filesystem by appending blocks on the end. This is sometimes known as "packet writing" because the disc can be updated incrementally like a real filesystem, as opposed to standard ISO filesystems where you burn the entire thing in one go and then close the session.

However, UDF support generally requires a filesystem driver. Windows has some limited stock UDF support but it's normally supplimented by a driver that is installed when you install your burning software (like roxio or nero or whatever.) That you reinstalled and now can't read the disc (and another system can) strongly implies that you lack the required UDF driver. Probably the simplest thing to do would be just install whatever burning software you had on the old system. But most likely any modern CD/DVD burning package will have the necessary UDF driver support, so it probably doesn't have to be the exact same package.

More info: http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpcd.php
posted by Rhomboid at 11:00 PM on November 8, 2005

It's not just UDF. Many burners now let you write ToCs as ISO:1999, which has longer filenmae support than the Windows Joliet system. However, AFAIK, Windows will mount an ISO:1999 disc, it just won't display any directory or filename information. The discs work fine in DVD players though.
posted by meehawl at 9:42 AM on November 9, 2005