Can't get data off a CD-R...

Andrew Carrick · July 05, 2012, 10:58:16 AM

Tried this disc in several machines but all saying it's blank, although I know it did have data on. I guess it's not recoverable but anybody know of any magic solutions? Have tried slaughtering chickens but the neighbours complained...

Jeff Zylstra · July 05, 2012, 11:12:11 AM

Quote from: Andrew Carrick on July 05, 2012, 10:58:16 AM
Tried this disc in several machines but all saying it's blank, although I know it did have data on. I guess it's not recoverable but anybody know of any magic solutions? Have tried slaughtering chickens but the neighbours complained...

The Santeria isn't working?

I've run into proprietary formats before. I can't remember the particulars, but I think I ended up reading it in a Linux machine of all things, since that supported a ton of different formats. Other than that, I would try putting it in the machine that created it and see if that does anything. Sometimes the software that creates it can create a proprietary situation, and using that same machine and software is the only way around it. Had that happen once a long time ago. Unfortunately I can remember the exact particulars.

Hans Manhave · July 05, 2012, 11:18:19 AM

If it is badly scratched, there are polishing compounds to scratch it even worse and that appears to restore access sometimes.

Mark · July 05, 2012, 11:24:48 AM

Maybe it wasn't "Closed Out" if using a program similar to Roxio or whatever for burning data to it. Put it back in the computer that burned it and run the app used to burn it. If no access to that computer, use the app it was burned with and see if that's enough to read it.

Jeff Zylstra · July 05, 2012, 11:26:07 AM

Quote from: Mark on July 05, 2012, 11:24:48 AM
Maybe it wasn't "Closed Out" if using a program similar to Roxio or whatever for burning data to it. Put it back in the computer that burned it and run the app used to burn it. If no access to that computer, use the app it was burned with and see if that's enough to read it.

"Closed" - that's the term I was trying to think of. How can you tell what app was originally used to burn the CD?

Andrew Carrick · July 05, 2012, 11:27:55 AM

It looks to be in good physical condition. I generally use Nero for burning, on ,y PC. Nero now says disc "may be corrupt".

Mark · July 05, 2012, 11:30:30 AM

Quote from: Jeff Zylstra on July 05, 2012, 11:26:07 AM
"Closed" - that's the term I was trying to think of. How can you tell what app was originally used to burn the CD?

Ask whoever burned it.

Jan Regnier · July 05, 2012, 11:39:34 AM

and sometimes just "cleaning" the disk will help....unless like others have said - the format or not being closed won't allow access.

Andrew Carrick · July 05, 2012, 11:44:41 AM

I tried a freeware CD recovery tool as well but it claims that there's no CD in the drive!