I've tried backing up a program that I recently bought. I've tried Nero and Clone CD neither gives me a good working backup. Any suggetions?
Most of PC program and games are protected, i.e. the executable looks if the original CD is in the disk unit and, if not, they don't work. The original disk is burned in a particular way (=protection measure used, like Safedisc, Laserlock, SecuROM...) that makes the original CD very difficult to duplicate. You can detect which protection your original CD has by scanning it with A-Ray scanner (make a Google search for it). Having a working backup is very difficult: - either you make a 1:1 backup of the original disc (veery difficult: you need to use very sophisticated burning programs like Clone CD or DiskJuggler or Alcohol 120%... (Nero is unable to do so) telling the program which type of protection they need to backup - and your CD-R drive can be able to copy it - read and burn - 1:1), or - you have a patch which allows the 'patched' exacutable to run without the CD-check. Those patches are legal: provided you own the original disc, it's a right to avoid risking scratching it, and having a backup copy is a good protection measure. To prevent illegal copies most of the installers also have a 'serial' code to insert, when you install the application/the game. Sharing and/or looking for this stuff is illegal, since anyone which has an original copy has one, and the one who looks to this stuff wants to illegally use a copy. Is it clear, now, why your backup didn't work?
I checked my disk and it is protected by Safedisc version 2.9 I believe. Any idea which program is best for safedisc? Or a forum that might educate me on how to get around safedisc?
For Safedisc you need the application I wrote above. The problem is that you need a CD drive capable to support a function like Alcohol 120%'s 'fast error skip' or you'll lose many hours dumping the disc image. The CD-R drive must also be able to 'burn' all the bad sectors which are the protection. Again, you'll have the bother to insert the backup CD when you stert the game, so it can make all the checks which are needed. Another way is to find a patch (or an already cracked executable) which disables the protecton and to copy only the 'valid' sectors which are on the disk. WinISO is a good application for this (Action___Add sectors (all) and Add directoryes again, all of them) then Save ISO).
