Salvage data from a scratched CD??

[Paddy]

I have been given a CD that has a sizable scratch on it. My mate want me to try and salvage any data that I can. Windows will see the CD and retrieve a directory listing, but wont let me access any of the files.

Surely only the data that is in the scratch will be damaged? Is there any way to salvage what i can???

As I type this, clonecd is making an image...I will try to burn that with the error correction turned on (if it completes)... Any suggestions guys??

[103er-Fan]

There are some CD cleaning sets out there which seem to work pretty good, but some are absolutely useless

Some people say that you can fix scratched CDs with somekind of hairspray, but I never tried this.

[Paddy]

nah, it wont be repaired! I dont know what he did to it... perhaps he was hungry??? Anyhow, I was hoping that there is a util out there that can read the raw data... CCD is stalling at 26%... although it has not reported an error yet. Current read speed is 0-0.02kbps.

[The PIT]

I've heard of product that does this can't remember whats it called it's just a case of searching the web.

[KeiFront]

Try the program CD-R Diagnostic.

[Paddy]

Thanks! I'll look for that now!

[Paddy]

I found a program called CD Roller - http://www.cdroller.com

It looks promising

[Paddy]

grrr.. the trial version wont let you recover data... and astalavista's no help

[Sasq]

try this http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/

[Gurm]

The problem is that if it's a scratch from center to edge, virtually EVERY file on the disc will have bad sectors, making getting an accurate checksum impossible. And since your CD drive does NOT, in fact, "just read 0's and 1's", as many think it does, but rather, reads entire large patterns and then checksums them in hardware to produce your data... you're pretty much SOL.

- Gurm

[Paddy]

the scratch is about 4mm from the periphery of the CD and is fairly localised. Its more of a gouge

CD Roller claims to be able to retrive the data, but it wants cash upfront. I cant find any help on Astalavista.

CD Check just pauses on 0%

[Gurm]

I wouldn't count on CD roller. It's hugely drive-dependent.

- Gurm

[Paddy]

I am using it in my PX1210S

[Dr Mordrid]

There are services that remove the damaged layer of plastic and refinish the now surface layer to factory specs. Audio stores usually have the info, but one of the companies is AuralTech. I believe they charge ~$3.50/disk + return shipping.

http://www.auraltech.com/

Another is SkippyDisk;

http://www.skippydisk.com/

Once they finish with it make a copy and use that for day to day.

I usually make 2 copies (use disk + a spare) as soon as a disk comes home and put the original away for safe keeping.

Dr. Mordrid

[Paddy]

Cheers! Sounds reasonably priced too!

I dont think it's anything too vital. I am certainly not going to loose sleep over it But I do have staks of old CDs that have become slightly scratched over the years... A util that could recover the data would be very handy

Cheers!