Sonagram on DVD-RW empty?

March 1, 2017 9:33 AM

My wife had her 20 week sonogram on Monday, and we purchased a DVD for $5. We just put it in our laptop DVD drive, and the disk appears to be empty.

Windows Explorer shows no files, and VLC says the following: "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'dvd:///D:/'. Check the log for details." But when we look at the underside of the disk, it looks as though content has been written to it. Is it possible that I'm missing something? I haven't touched a DVD in about five years. My wife is pretty upset.

posted by jwhite1979 to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

By any chance is there an .exe file on the DVD? When a friend had hers, the DVD contained software for viewing the sonagram, and clicking the .exe file started it off.
posted by james33 at 9:42 AM on March 1, 2017

Response by poster: Unfortunately there are no files showing in windows explorer, just "This folder is empty." :(
posted by jwhite1979 at 9:48 AM on March 1, 2017

They might have burnt a coaster by mistake. Or it could be some flavor of format your laptop doesn't speak. Some rewritable media is flaky or hard for some drives to read. Find another machine, or ask for a new copy.
posted by nickggully at 9:54 AM on March 1, 2017

Response by poster: You think there's any chance that they have the file still?
posted by jwhite1979 at 9:55 AM on March 1, 2017

Sounds like either a coaster, or they didn't finalize the session.
posted by deezil at 9:55 AM on March 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Oh well. Update: the doctor's office scheduled us for a second ultrasound so we can have it on file. :)
posted by jwhite1979 at 10:27 AM on March 1, 2017

We had the same issue and they just gave us a new copy. Mazel tov, by the way!
posted by anya32 at 10:47 AM on March 1, 2017

In my experience, seemingly blank dvd disks is related to finicky dvd drives and finicky old dvd disks, try popping the disk into other drives in other computers (at work, laptop etc) and alot of times, it works just fine on another model drive.
posted by edman at 11:04 AM on March 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I've used IsoBuster to extract files from otherwise unreadable CDs and DVDs. It's probably worth a try using their free trial.
posted by zsazsa at 11:35 AM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

I've had unfinalised DVD burns that would be readable in some drives and not others. Try another drive, if you have one.
posted by pompomtom at 1:29 PM on March 1, 2017

If this was at large institution, then they likely have the files saved at least in their image management system (PACS). It is possible the exam is still on the ultrasound system too. They should be able to burn a new disc.
posted by sulaine at 1:30 PM on March 1, 2017

they probably have the image. I'd think they'd want it for medical records/comparisons with growth, etc.

My kids' sonograms were on VHS when presented to us. Now I feel old.
posted by randomkeystrike at 1:50 PM on March 1, 2017

Response by poster: IsoBuster did the trick! It extracted the files into an odd file format which VLC was able to open. Thank you so much. My wife is going to be overjoyed. (Incidentally, when I called the hospital they said they don't store the video files and therefore can't make a replacement disk. Odd, I know.)
posted by jwhite1979 at 1:12 AM on March 3, 2017