Examples

dvdisaster Version 0.64 (pl2)


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Contents

Overview

Examples and screen shots

· Invoking the graphical user interface

· Creating a medium image

· Generating error correction files

· Scanning a medium for errors

· Recovering a medium image

· Compare image against error correction data

· Configuration

Download

Command line mode

Questions and Answers

Background information

Imprint

Scanning the medium for errors

To check your medium for read errors insert it into your drive and carry out these steps:

1. Select the drive (1) where the CD or DVD has been inserted.

The Linux version currently only provides those drives for selection which are contained in the /dev directory. A more flexible selection scheme will be introduced in the next program version.

2. Start the medium scan.

Click on the "Scan" button (2) to begin with the medium check.

Screen shot: Medium scan

The graphical representation gives information on the scanning progress and media state:

The Speed chart provides a coarse estimation of the medium state since most drives will slow down as the medium quality degrades.
To exclude any influences from other system activities you should not run any other programs during the medium scan. Also, do not operate any controls in the dvdisaster window during the scan.
The spiral provides a (not drawn to scale) overview of the medium state. Red marks indicate the presence of read errors!
As soon as you notice read errors on your medium, try recovering the medium image and transfer it onto a new storage medium.
Clicking on the symbol provides additional information on the reading process.

How frequently should the media be scanned?
This depends on your media quality and storage conditions. As a guide line for CD- and DVD media of unknown quality:

3 days after burning (keep the media images on hard disc until this test passes!),
14 days after burning,
3 months after burning,
then one more scan after each 6 months.

If you're using lots of media from the same production of a high quality manufacturer, it may be sufficient to scan a sample of 2-3 media per month and batch.

Recovering a medium image...



Copyright 2004,2005 Carsten Gnörlich. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.