My apologies if this question has been stated and answered before (though I couldn't find any thread specifically mentioning this). There are a lot of CD copy programs available - CloneCD, BlindWrite, Alcohol 120%, etc.) And I'm sure that each has benefits and limitations. But I'd like to know what is the best program and why. I currently "own" the following programs and versions: CloneCD v4.3.1.9 Alcohol 120% v1.4.7 (Build 1005) BlindWrite v5.0.2.113 In addition, I have the following "tools" that I've seen listed and recommended: ClonyXXL v2.0.1.5 CCD4 Profiler v1.2 Alcoholer 4.1 TwinPeak v0.2 BlindWrite v4.2.5 (to get the BWA Builder program!) I'd greatly appreciate people's comments as to what they personally use and recommend and why. Thanks! TomKey
There's no best cd burning program m8, but there are the "highly recommended". I find CloneCD\FireBurner superior for backing up Safedisc 3.1 and BlindWrite 5 for backing up SecuROM 4.83-5.0. For music I like EAC (Exact Audio Copy) or Easy CD-DA Extractor 6.2 I really like DVD Shrink& CloneDVD for dvd backups. Shoey _X_X_X_X_X_[small]Certified Computer Technician http://www.afterdawn.com/general/legal.cfm Mobo: MSI KT4VL-6712 CPU: AthlonXP Barton 2500+ Ram: 512 SD-DDR (PC-2700) nVidia GeForce4 MX440-8x Maxtor ATA\133 80 gig hd DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD 165H DVDRW: LiteOn LDW-411S(4[/small]
I personally like CloneCD, every since I first used it to successfully archive my Diabo II Lord of Destruction discs. That was verion 4.2.0.7, I believe, and it, along with ClonyXXL and Profiler, really made the job easy. I still prefer CloneCD's interface over Alcohol 120%. The latter just "looks" more complicated. And I guess all the extra options doesn't make that much of a difference if you didn't list it as one of your preferred products. You say you prefer BlindWrite 5 (and does that include the latest - 5.0.2.113?) for copying SecuROM 4.8+ discs. Does this mean I can probably make a single working copy of Warcraft III The Frozen Throne that both installs and plays using ONLY BlindWrite, and not have to go through all the hoops of merging files with TwinPeak and reburning with CloneCD? I'll also list, as it seems to be important to the successful copy process, my two CD drives: My DVD-ROM drive is a Toshiba SD-M1502, firmware version 1808. My CD-RW drive is a Mitsumi CR-48X5TE, firmware version 1.8A. Thanks for your valued opinions...M8. TomKey
I havnt had time to play with the new BW5 (didnt like the interface so I went back to 4.57) but 'traditionally', SafeDisc/SafeDisc2 games were best done with Alcohol and SecureROM left to BlindWrite. CloneCD picks up the leftovers BW5 negates the need for the BWA because it performs all the topolofgy crap for you anyways. You got CloneCD to do D2-LOD??? Hehe, I never could hehe, oh well.
I'll have to give BlindWrite 5.0.2 a shot the next time I come across a SecuROM 4.8+ disc. I'll see if I can talk my friend into letting me borrow his original WC3 disc and try it. I'd really like to have just one disc that installs and plays. Maybe I just got lucky, but I was able to copy D2-LOD the first time using CloneCD, in conjunction with ClonyXXL which created the profile. CloneCD was, in fact, recommended on several D2 sites I had gone to looking for information. Now to make a working copy of Monopoly Tycoon for the wife...! TomKey
TomKey, I was chosen not long ago to be a BlindWrite 5 beta tester before the program was released to the public. I have much experience using BlindWrite Suite for SecuROM backups. Personally I prefer the newer BlindWrite 5 over BlindWrite Suite 4.x. I too own a Toshiba SD-M1502 DVD-ROM and easily backed up Reblic: The Revoultion(SecuROM 4.8.4) and Unreal Tournament 2003(SecuROM 4.8.3) using BlindWrite 5. What I dislike about BlindWrite 5& Alcohol is the fact that "autoplay" is embedded in the program. You can go to options using Alcohol 120% and disable (I highly recommend) as well as BlindWrite 5 by using BlindWrite Tweaker. If you use BlindWrite Tweaker you can disable autoplay and topology measurement(bwa file for non SecuROM protected cd's), a very handy tool. ConeCD has no autoplay embedded in the program. The reason I mention FireBurner is simply becuse some "2 sheep burners" are a "hit& miss" backing up Safedisc 2.5-3.1 using CloneCD but by creating cuesheet and burning with FireBurner, the backup plays flawlessly. Shoey _X_X_X_X_X_[small]Certified Computer Technician http://www.afterdawn.com/general/legal.cfm Mobo: MSI KT4VL-6712 CPU: AthlonXP Barton 2500+ Ram: 512 SD-DDR (PC-2700) nVidia GeForce4 MX440-8x Maxtor ATA\133 80 gig hd DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD 165H DVDRW: LiteOn LDW-411S(4[/small]
I think I am a bit confused as to what you mean by "autoplay". From my understanding, autoplay is that feature in Windows that automatically starts a program when the CD is inserted into the drive, and I cannot understand why you'd want that disabled. There must be another meaning to the term "autoplay" when referring to copying CD's that I am not familiar with. BlindWrite Tweaker? Sounds like some third-party tool and NOT part of BW itself, right? Shoey, you mentioned "sheep" in regards to burners, and I've seen the term used throughout the forum. Sounds like some rating system devised by Elby back when they made CloneCD, as I've noticed all the links to a listing of burners and their "sheep" rating point to Elby's web site, but are now defunct. Therefore, I cannot find out any information regarding my poor little Mitsumi burner. I'm almost afraid to ask, but how many "sheep" does my burner rate? TomKey
Um.... I went to http://www.mitsumi.com/indexusa.html and tried to look up the Mitsumi CR-48X5TE but I couldnt find it, do you mean the Mitsumi CR-48XETE? In either case, I think the only 2-sheeper is the CR-485CTE (2002 07 01)
According to Microsoft's WINMSD, my drive is a Mitsumi CR-48X5TE, but accoring to Mitsumi, it's a CR-48[bold]0[/bold]5TE drive. I guess the "X" is a variable like in algebra. :S TomKey
I'm a noob when it comes to backing up SecuRom 4.8 and I'm not even at the point yet where I feel comfortable even trying it. I'm still in the info-gathering stage and I'm trying to pick up and learn as much info as I can. With that being said, I've seen that a lot of people seem disenchanted with newer versions of Blindwrite because evidently it fails to create a true 1/1 backup, since you need BW emulation and the program installed on your pc in order for the backup to run. Uninstall BW and the backup won't work anymore. I've seen a lot of recommendations for Blindwrite 4.2.5 to make true 1/1s as it employs a process similar to the CloneCD/Twinpeak method, with an earlier version of Twinpeak built into it that patches the file "on the fly."
TomKey: as far as I am aware, the CR-485CTE (2002/07/01 & 2002/09/04) is the only Mitsumi 2-sheeper (all their previous ones were 1-sheep). You can always do a self-test for determining sheep-count: http://clone.cd/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6 Madcapper: BW4.25 is nice indeed (I have moved on to 4.57) and I hear glowing reviews of BW5 -- the only thing keeping me from moving to BW5 is I just didnt like the interface
The only burners that can make true 1:1 backups of SecuROM 4.8.x is the Plextor Premium (52\32\52x)& Plextor PX-708A. Why? These lex burners have a "special" write method called VariRec. In short, the backup of the SecuROM 4.8.x protected cd is labeled "install\play" disc. All other burners have to create an additional "install disc".Example, I make a backup of Republic: The Revolution (2 disc set)then I create 3 backups. 2 labeled "install disc& 1 labeled "play disc". The Plex Premium only needs to create 2 backups, 1 labeled "install\play disc, the other "install disc". This is why the Plex Premium& the Plextor PX-708A are the elite burners at present for backing up pc\audio protection. BlindWrite 5 seems to be the more stable program for backing up SecuROM 4.8-5.0. If you're going to use BlindWrite Suite 4.x, then go with version 4.25<--- Best for backing up SecuROM 4.83-5.0. Shoey _X_X_X_X_X_[small]Certified Computer Technician http://www.afterdawn.com/general/legal.cfm Mobo: MSI KT4VL-6712 CPU: AthlonXP Barton 2500+ Ram: 512 SD-DDR (PC-2700) nVidia GeForce4 MX440-8x Maxtor ATA\133 80 gig hd DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD 165H DVDRW: LiteOn LDW-411S(4[/small]
Technically it is simply because there are "roms" on the market that can't read sub-q channel data, a must for backing up SecuROM 4.8-5.0. The "twinpeak" write method requires to create an additional backup of SecuROM 4.83-5.0 cd. 1 backup= just a true image backup(install disc), the other the aid of a bwa file (play disc). The Plextor VariRec write method eliminates the need of creating a additional disc. This is the closest we can get for backing up SecuROM 4.8-5.0. (1:1) Shoey _X_X_X_X_X_[small]Certified Computer Technician http://www.afterdawn.com/general/legal.cfm Mobo: MSI KT4VL-6712 CPU: AthlonXP Barton 2500+ Ram: 512 SD-DDR (PC-2700) nVidia GeForce4 MX440-8x Maxtor ATA\133 80 gig hd DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD 165H DVDRW: LiteOn LDW-411S(4[/small]
Praetor, I hate you! Not only did I have to download and install yet another piece of software (Nero), but I learned from following your link to those test files that my poor little Mitsumi burner doesn't even rate [bold]one[/bold] stinking little sheep! Oh well, it was as I suspected. I guess one of these days I'll have to break down and buy a better burner (a butta cutta?) if I wish to keep up with the advancing protection methods. (sniff) Speaking of pieces of software, when I went to BlindWrite's site and downloaded their latest version, I also saw an additional download called Patin-Couffin. It sounds French, so I'm already skeptical. (wink) What is this and is it necessary? TomKey
That comes as no surprise. The only 2-sheep burner Mitsumi makes i noted already, all their other burners are 0-sheep.
