DirectCD Disk Thrashing - the Kiss of Death?

' -------------------------------------------
Graham Mayor (MS MVP), were you also born
with "Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
-------------------------------------------
(Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?)
(Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?)

jason wrote:

Graham Mayor (MS MVP) squealed:

snip Poppycock


Yeah, I think I'll create multi-session CDRs from now on. I'm not sure
what multisession ISO discs are, but I know I can create multisession
disks. I think there's the loss of storage for overhead each time, though.

Try drag&drop multisession (iso):

CopyToDVD:
http://www.copytocd.com

That's a bummer thoughr. I've paid for two types of backup -- a zip drive
and a CDRW drive -- and now I can't use either one. So far, the only
"backup" system I have that IS working is my floppy drive.

DLA packet writer has good reputation:
http://sonic.com/products/dla/default.asp

If you want backups - use Norton Ghost - for a full disc or partition
iimage, or one of the specialised incremental back software packages for
backing selected files. If you put all your\data on its own partition or
hard drive then backing up becomes a simple task using Ghost. See
http://www.gmayor.com/Norton_Ghost.htm

The multisession discs you have noted your software produces will be ISO
format.

CDR discs cost about 30 cents - a little bit of overhead is immaterial.

--

Graham Mayor





jason wrote:
Graham Mayor wrote:

This is a media problem, not software. Direct CD is arguably the best
of its type, but it is up against a flaky and unreliable type of
format and disc media that is not suited to the task. You could use
CDR discs, but they will fill and they are not capable of being
re-written however they are cheaper and more reliable). Better still
don't use Direct CD or CDRW discs for important backups. Create
multisession ISO discs with your disc mastering software (Easy CD?)
on CDR discs.


Yeah, I think I'll create multi-session CDRs from now on. I'm not
sure what multisession ISO discs are, but I know I can create
multisession disks. I think there's the loss of storage for overhead
each time, though.

That's a bummer thoughr. I've paid for two types of backup -- a zip
drive and a CDRW drive -- and now I can't use either one. So far,
the only "backup" system I have that IS working is my floppy drive.

' -------------------------------------------
Graham Mayor (MS MVP), were you also born
with "Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
-------------------------------------------
(Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?)
(Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?)


Graham Mayor (MS MVP) squeaked:

Direct CD is arguably the best of its type,
but it is up against a flaky and unreliable type of format

Don't MS MVPs know the distinction between Standard and Implementation?

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Kaikow:

Why the hell cant anyone produce reliable packet writing software
(and I dont mean the flaws in the format) but the software itself?

The problem is not the format, it is the inept implementation of the
standards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

=========================================
Mike Richter on Packet Writing Format (i)
=========================================

==============================
From: Mike Richter
Date: 12/15/01
Subject: Files Disappeared From CDRW DIsc.......

Suddenly i find myself among those who are having BIG problems
with Roxios crappy software, after a reasonable amount of small
problems with it, i insert a cdrw with files on it (jpegs) and
tried to burn a few more onto it only to find Roxio software
thinks it is either, corrupted, unrecognized data or need
formatting(?)

only one file remains on the disc, the others are GONE.

My guess is that you used DCD and you have now joined
the crowd of users who have learned that

fixed-length packets are the least reliable and
most fragile format you can write to CD.

Incidentally, the fault is not with the software but with
the format and the medium.
==============================

-----------------------------------
Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?
-----------------------------------

--------------------------------------
Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?
--------------------------------------

' -------------------------------------------
Graham Mayor (MS MVP), were you also born
with "Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
-------------------------------------------
(Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?)
(Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?)


Graham Mayor (MS MVP) squeaked:

This is a media problem, not software. Direct CD is arguably the best of its
type, but it is up against a flaky and unreliable type of format and disc
media that is not suited to the task.

Do you dare to question Mike Richter's spew, Mayor (MS MVP)?

=======================
From: Mike Richter (Acraptec Shill)
Subject: A note on Take Two
Date: 9/1/99

For Take Two to work ideally, your drive must support
packet writing and you must have DCD installed...to do it.

You may back up ... to a DCD-formatted erasable.
=======================

Imagine for Take Two, supposedly a backup software, to work IDEALLY,
it must use supposedly *inherently* flaky, fragile, faulty, unreliable
packet writing format!

Moreover, the supposedly *inherently* flaky, fragile, faulty, unreliable
packet writing format was good enough for BACKUP, even when combined
with supposedly *inherently* flaky, fragile, forgetful, unreliable CD-RW
media!

Don't you value Mikey's spew, Mayor (MS MVP)?

-----------------------------------
Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?
-----------------------------------

--------------------------------------
Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?
--------------------------------------

jason wrote:
Graham Mayor wrote:


This is a media problem, not software. Direct CD is arguably the best
of its type, but it is up against a flaky and unreliable type of
format and disc media that is not suited to the task. You could use
CDR discs, but they will fill and they are not capable of being
re-written however they are cheaper and more reliable). Better still
don't use Direct CD or CDRW discs for important backups. Create
multisession ISO discs with your disc mastering software (Easy CD?) on
CDR discs.



Yeah, I think I'll create multi-session CDRs from now on. I'm not sure
what multisession ISO discs are, but I know I can create multisession
disks. I think there's the loss of storage for overhead each time, though.

That's a bummer thoughr. I've paid for two types of backup -- a zip drive
and a CDRW drive -- and now I can't use either one. So far, the only
"backup" system I have that IS working is my floppy drive.

Your CD-R drive is fine for backup. Use a program (there are several
choices) which will write the image to a hard drive, then burn from
there. In practice, that's quicker as well as more reliable than writing
directly to an erasable.

Another choice - depending on your software - is to back up directly to
write-once media. Although that uses packet writing also, the write-once
discs do not have the problems of erasables.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

.. --------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with
"Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
--------------------------------------
(Mike Richter, any Material Connection w/ Roxio?)

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...mindspring.com
(Messages 10, 12 -- 34, 54 -- 69)

( NO pipsqueaks have been able to prove ANY of the above is a LIBEL )
( -- despite Mikey claimed to have proof of misquotes !! )
'

Mike Richter (Friggin ****) splattered:

Another choice - depending on your software - is to back up directly to
write-once media. Although that uses packet writing also, the write-once
discs do not have the problems of erasables.

================================================== =========
Mike Richter (Slimy Scum) splattered (6/21/04):

Recent versions of DCD saved the user one step
when closing a variable-length packet session without
closing the disc: they format for the (presumed) next session
when closing the last.

"Save" one step! But the supposed benefit of the "save" is this:

===================
From: "Bob M"
Subject: Roxio Easy CD Creator & Direct CD 5.0
Date: 3/12/01

DCD 5.0 does not temporarily close CD's
so the session is always open, and most times,
unreadable on ANY CD drive.

They [cRoxio] hope to have a fix very soon
===================

Wow! The DirectCD bug is a "save" feature!

As I understand the spec, that's legal

And the DirectCD bug is even sanctioned by the spec, no less!

---------------------------
Wow! What a Friggin' ****!
---------------------------

--------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with
"Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
--------------------------------------
(Mike Richter, any Material Connection w/ Roxio?)

================================================== =========

.. --------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with
"Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
--------------------------------------
(Mike Richter, any Material Connection w/ Roxio?)


Mike Richter (Friggin' ****) splattered:

I burn CDRW disks using the Adaptec DirectCD program that came with my
computer. All of a sudden, the disk I use for backup is thrashing around
and freezing my system. I can't access the disk at all

It means that the TOC can no longer be read - the disc is essentially
dead.

The theoretical life of an erasable is rarely approached in practice.
Each time a changed fixed-length packet disc is removed from the drive,
the TOC is written. A few dozen to perhaps a hundred such operations is
all that you can expect of the medium.

Is it now all media fault?

Is the supposedly *inherently* fragile, flaky, faulty, unreliable packet
writing format not at fault also?

=========================================
Mike Richter on Packet Writing Format (i)
=========================================

==============================
From: Mike Richter
Date: 12/15/01
Subject: Files Disappeared From CDRW DIsc.......

Suddenly i find myself among those who are having BIG problems
with Roxios crappy software, after a reasonable amount of small
problems with it, i insert a cdrw with files on it (jpegs) and
tried to burn a few more onto it only to find Roxio software
thinks it is either, corrupted, unrecognized data or need
formatting(?)

only one file remains on the disc, the others are GONE.

My guess is that you used DCD and you have now joined
the crowd of users who have learned that

fixed-length packets are the least reliable and
most fragile format you can write to CD.

Incidentally, the fault is not with the software
but with the format and the medium.
==================================

BTW, do you know what Howard Kaikow is talking about?

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Kaikow:

Why the hell cant anyone produce reliable packet writing software
(and I dont mean the flaws in the format) but the software itself?

The problem is not the format, it is the inept implementation of the
standards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

.. --------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with
"Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
--------------------------------------
(Mike Richter, any Material Connection w/ Roxio?)

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...mindspring.com
(Messages 10, 12 -- 34, 54 -- 69)

( NO pipsqueaks have been able to prove ANY of the above is a LIBEL )
( -- despite Mikey claimed to have proof of misquotes !! )
'

Mike Richter (Friggin' ****) splattered:

Another choice - depending on your software - is to back up directly to
write-once media. Although that uses packet writing also, the write-once
discs do not have the problems of erasables.

That's because Mikey sees only CD-RW:

-------------------------------
Mikey sees CD-RW everywhere (i)
-------------------------------

=======================
From: Jack Box
Subject: Salvaging Direct CD CDs?
Date: 7/1/01

Mike Richter (Friggin' Scum) spewed:

I'm guessing that these are erasables. If so,
you are a victim of the forgetfulness of the medium.

my DirCD discs "in peril" are all CD-Rs (various mfrs)
not CD-RWs
========================

' -------------------------------------------
Graham Mayor (MS MVP), were you also born
with "Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
-------------------------------------------
Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?
Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?
-------------------------------------------

Graham Mayor (MS MVP) squeaked:

Direct CD is arguably the best of its type,
but it is up against a flaky and unreliable type of format

Don't MS MVPs know the distinction between Standard and Implementation?

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Kaikow:

Why the hell cant anyone produce reliable packet writing software
(and I dont mean the flaws in the format) but the software itself?

The problem is not the format, it is the inept implementation of
the standards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

==========================================
Mike Richter on Packet Writing Format (iv)
==========================================

=====================
From: Mike Richter (King Troll)
Subject: UDF, Packet Writing, and Backups
Date: 4/27/01

The format is fragile; the fault is not in the software per se.

In fact, the overwhelming majority of the complaints about
any UDF software are about the format, but the format is seen
through the software which gets the blame
=====================

-----------------------------------
Does MS stand for "Mikey S-licker"?
-----------------------------------

--------------------------------------
Does the "P" in MVP stand for "PRICK"?
--------------------------------------

"Mike Richter" wrote

Your CD-R drive is fine for backup. Use a program (there are several
choices) which will write the image to a hard drive, then burn from
there. In practice, that's quicker as well as more reliable than writing
directly to an erasable.

Another choice - depending on your software - is to back up directly to
write-once media. Although that uses packet writing also, the write-once
discs do not have the problems of erasables.

Oh really! My first burner (CD-R only) would regularly trash DirectCD
written discs and I was not alone in having this problem Since the record
for losing data from CD-R stands at a few hours and there is apparently a
mailing list for those who have lost data from CD-R in periods ranging from
a few weeks to a year or two, how can you be 100% sure that backups to CDR
will be significantly more reliable?

Yet again, I have never lost data from either CD-RW or DVD-RW whether
mastered or packet-written. Some of these discs are now 4 years old and show
no signs of an increase in error rates despite being LS discs written in a
HS burner. Write once discs have not been as reliable.

There have been enough reports of RW discs which fail under DirectCD but
which still work well enough when mastered to imply that all RW media is
unreliable.

If a burner can't reliably write good quality RW media (eg. Singapore made
Verbatims) it is a poor writer.
If it can't write most of the rest reliably it is a mediocre writer.

Just as with CDR a few years ago when there were reports of some examples of
some models of some brands of burners being extremely media sensitive and
their owners instead blaming poor quality media despite others being able to
write the same media without problem, I see no reliable evidence that the
situation with RW is any different. If there ever was a significant problem,
it was with 1st generation HS writers using Memorex media. It is also a
little difficult to believe that more recent lasers, chipsets and discs
haven't reduced the incidence of this largely WRITER (not media. or even
software) problem, as would appear to be the case since complaints about RW
are far less frequent these days.