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Verifying a Burn or File Comparing

PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2004 6:09 pm
by Rich
Hi, I did a search for verify burn and file compare and it didn't seem to be on the topic so I'll ask this.

First what I'm working with:
toshiba laptop 1415-s115
cardbus-USB-2 adapter
Memorex 52x24x52x inside an ADS drive enclosure (Usb2)

I have both Roxio 5.1 Platinum and Nero 5.5 which came with the drive.

:: I think my problem is padding ::

My problem is that when burning large backup files made by Aconis True Image of Win XP the verify doesn't work after burning. It has errors. On both Roxio and Nero, on both the Memorex and the internal (Panasonic) burner.

I also tried using cdcheck.exe and it has errors.

I tried fc.exe on the hd vs cd-rom and it has errors.

I have had success (though not my most recent burn) by copying the file back into a sub-directory from the original file and using fc.exe.

I just looked at the output from a failed fc.exe and it was showing the end of the file with the file copied back from the cd having about 8-10 extra bytes.

Is there a better way to verify a burn?
How can I tell if these cd's are/not coasters.

I did recently use the laptop's burner to just let Acronis burn right to the cd's and it restores fine so I think the burns are really ok, they just don't verify and that is scary.

Thanks, Rich

PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:51 pm
by robertb
Have a look in this section on 9th feb 2004

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=14879

It has a few posts on this subject

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 12:27 am
by Rich
Thanks Robert,

I read that and downloaded the Beyond Compare and tried it. I think it said the 2 files were the same. It's so darned timid as far as making you aware that it even finished. It still leaves me wanting to know why Roxio's, Nero's, FC.exe, and cdcheck all give errors.

I saw a thread somewhere in linux about padding causing comparison errors. Also I ran across a mention of conflicting ASPI's. I do have Roxio and Nero installed, could they be conflicting?

Anyway thanks for your link. I just hope I can find a clear description of what's going on. For music it's not a biggie but for System Backups, they gotta be right.

Thanks again,

Rich

Interesting breakthrough?

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 12:47 am
by Rich
Hi,

I just did a google search for '+"windows xp" +cd +fc.exe +errors' and hit on a Universal Commnd Guide - Microsoft Cross-Reference which mentioned 'comp' vs fc.exe.

Shoot I grew up (I'm 51) on comp.(com or exe I forget) in dos 3.3 - and up.

I remember the bump in Win 95 in changing to FC. Shoot I've been still using it.

Well now I just tried comp on the original and a copy that was copied back to a sub folder and it was fine.

Next I tried fc again and it failed.

I looked at 'comp /?' and 'fc /?' and saw a binary switch on fc and so:

Next I tried 'fc /b ...' and it succeeded!

Now I have a 'comp ...' going directly to the file on the CD and here come the results ...... it says 'Files compare ok.'

Maybe that's it. Maybe either the fc /b or the comp will do it for me.

More testing tonight.

Later, Rich

Success

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:24 pm
by Rich
Well the comp.exe or fc.exe /b did it. I've tested 4 disks already burned, and just made 4 more and they all tested fine.

On the one test I gave it Nero verified it as well. Perhaps Roxio, fc.exe, and cdcheck were the only ones failing.

Anyway, big sigh of relief.



Thanks again, Rich

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 4:29 pm
by dodecahedron
what was the error message CDCheck gave you?

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 5:06 pm
by Rich
dodecahedron wrote:what was the error message CDCheck gave you?


'compare mismatch'

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 5:08 pm
by dodecahedron
obviously, but what i had meant was - any more detail?
how many files mismatched etc?

it's a data CD, yes?
how many and what kind of files?

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 8:06 pm
by Rich
dodecahedron wrote:obviously, but what i had meant was - any more detail?
how many files mismatched etc?

it's a data CD, yes?
how many and what kind of files?


Oh, Sorry.

It (they; I tried several) was a Data CD with 1 file made by Acronis True Image.

Such as: Interum 9-1.tib = a 645 meg backup segment.

Acronis will make it in one file like on a Hard disk or it will make pieces any size you specify.

Or, it will burn them right onto the CD.

I was makeing segments on the Hard drive so I could restore from there and also burn them to CDs.

So, when burning one of these puppies it would go to the very end and then give an error. I used list.exe (old dos prg) and looked at the end of the file and saw the output from fc.exe which shows the bytes. They were the same but the file copied back off of the CD-rom had 9 extra bytes on the end, which I believe is padding and the problem.

roxio's verify, and cdcheck would just error. All cdcheck would say was compare mismatch and only by being in dos with fc.exe could I see the error. That Beyond Compare I think showed it too.

By turning on fc.exe's binary switch '/b' it said the files were the same.
Also comp.exe would say they were ok too. I figure those likely read up to the end of file marker and stopped there instead of reading to the end of the file on disk.

Just guessing there.

But anyway it was just one big file that I was burning and testing.

Both comp.exe and fc.exe /b work.

If I can get a success message I feel very comfortable.

I see it as easily possible to have a file checker error saying files don't match when they actally do.

However, I find it practically impossible to believe that pair of unmatching files could be shown as matching.

Thanks, Rich

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 8:31 pm
by dodecahedron
i find it very strange that CDCheck would report the files different if they are the same.

but from your words i understand that one was padded a bit, so they're not identical in size.
can you check that in Windows Explorer? File->Properties, and check the file size in bytes.

if you use the beta version of CDCheck it also tells you, in addition to how many bytes (in %) were the same, where the first mismatch is.
so if file 1 is X bytes, file 2 is Y bytes big (Y>X) and first mismatch is at X+1, that means they're identical up to the addition in file 2.

i'd appreciate it if you checked this out.
TIA

______________________

http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/
http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/download.php
http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/bCDCheck.zip

PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 10:24 pm
by robertb
I forgot I made a post about Beyond Compare in that link and I know what you mean.
It's still not an answer to your problems but another file comparer with some muscle is "No Clone". Even if you don't use it for this you might find it interesting
http://noclonegroup.brinkster.net/?from=exe
good luck

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 12:17 am
by Rich
dodecahedron wrote:i find it very strange that CDCheck would report the files different if they are the same.

but from your words i understand that one was padded a bit, so they're not identical in size.
can you check that in Windows Explorer? File->Properties, and check the file size in bytes.

if you use the beta version of CDCheck it also tells you, in addition to how many bytes (in %) were the same, where the first mismatch is.
so if file 1 is X bytes, file 2 is Y bytes big (Y>X) and first mismatch is at X+1, that means they're identical up to the addition in file 2.

i'd appreciate it if you checked this out.
TIA

______________________



http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/
http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/download.php
http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/bCDCheck.zip

I don't have the beta cdcheck. In the file properties they show as the same size, which was strange. It seemed to be deeper in the file system I guess.

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 12:18 am
by Rich
robertb wrote:I forgot I made a post about Beyond Compare in that link and I know what you mean.
It's still not an answer to your problems but another file comparer with some muscle is "No Clone". Even if you don't use it for this you might find it interesting
http://noclonegroup.brinkster.net/?from=exe
good luck


Hi Robert,

I downloaded that no clone but now I'm happy with comp.exe and fc.exe.

I'll check it out tonight.

later, Rich