Recovering a damaged data DVD-R

[Funkstar]

I have a DVD-R that fails to read correctly. It was one of several copies of a backup disk we made at work. Unfortunately the idiots I work with (well some of them are) haven't returned any of the other copies to the archive and have proceeded to loose them.

When trying to copy the data off the disk I get Cyclic redundancy errors. It's tried 'ripping' it with DVDDecriptor to an ISO and it gets to about 95% and fails.

Any sugestions on how to recover the maximum amount of data off it. I'll setting for getting as much as I can, even if it isn't complete.

(this won't happen in the future, we now have a 1TB Snapserver with backup so we are not tight for space like we were)

[nichomach]

CD file data recovery, CD | DVD | BD | HD DVD support, Product details is supposed to be OK. Demo available.

Also, we've implemented a system here where we always have at least two copies of archived disks - one or more lending copies and a reference copy. The latter is never, ever, ever lent, but may be used to generate new lending copies.

[0iD]

What about CD / DVD Data Recovery & Rescue software, featuring BD and HD DVD ?
*beaten to it

Is it scratched? Use a skipDoctor on it.

[nichomach]

I FINK dass wot I just said, mate...

[mikerr]

Yeah isobuster is great. I had a mini DVDRW from a camcorder that could not be read at all.

I left isobuster running on it in a laptop...the drive sounded like it was failing to read all the time spin up click lcik/ spin down.

It did take TWO DAYS, but recovered the whole lot to a file...

[0iD]

I FINK dass wot I just said, mate...

yeah yeah, all right, don't rub it in

[Funkstar]

Thanks guys, I'll take a look at those.

Also, we've implemented a system here where we always have at least two copies of archived disks - one or more lending copies and a reference copy. The latter is never, ever, ever lent, but may be used to generate new lending copies.

That was what was supposed to happen

[nichomach]

Supposed....it's a much bigger word than it looks at first, isn't it? You have my sympathy...

[Funkstar]

It's not my fault.

I wan't looking after them and I didn't loose then

However something i have had to tell a few people here off for is using finger print laden blank disks. I've seen a couple of burns that were "sucessful" that didn't work because of the massive smudges on them.

[Max Tractor]

If it is scratched you could try some form of polishing service, or a DIY job, some toothpaste and a rub might do the trick

[switchmode]

It' s not much help to you now but I think that the rewritable disk technology is more robust rather than a die that can fade like on dvd-r( I've some early dvd-r full of errors) . DVD-RAM is probably the best. if you don't need to loan out disks obviously Hdisk I think is the best for storage. Good practice is to refresh backups on any media sooner rather than later (Look at all the tv programs and films lost by so called pro companys and institutions.). I'm sorry this is no help now but may help you in the future, you could put disk images on a couple of cheap removable Hdisks to store at different locations as well.