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General discussionCreating ISOs(11 posts)(11 posts)
(11 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 31, 2020
Evening all,

I have a collection of physical games that I would like to create ISO versions of but I seem to be having an odd issue with certain games in my collection.

For example I have both NOLF games and both install fine (albeit I need to use a 64bit installer for NOLF1)

Using Infraburner I was able to create ISOs of NOLF2 but when it came to creating an ISO of NOLF one I get read sector errors. What is odd is that I am able to install NOLF1 from disc and copy all of the data from the disc to a folder on my hard drive and have no erros with any of the files so I am not sure what the hell is going on!

Is it possible there is some protection on some games that prevent me from creating an image?
Posted March 31, 2020
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Retroman88: Evening all,

I have a collection of physical games that I would like to create ISO versions of but I seem to be having an odd issue with certain games in my collection.

For example I have both NOLF games and both install fine (albeit I need to use a 64bit installer for NOLF1)

Using Infraburner I was able to create ISOs of NOLF2 but when it came to creating an ISO of NOLF one I get read sector errors. What is odd is that I am able to install NOLF1 from disc and copy all of the data from the disc to a folder on my hard drive and have no erros with any of the files so I am not sure what the hell is going on!

Is it possible there is some protection on some games that prevent me from creating an image?
The ISO format has certain limitations, especially regarding copy protected games, which is most of them. I backed up all my physical games to .mds / .mdf format.
See here for more info:
https://superuser.com/questions/203356/difference-between-iso-mds-bin-cue-disk-image-formats
Post edited March 31, 2020 by SCPM
Posted March 31, 2020
Some discs have deliberate errors on them as some form of copy protection.
Posted March 31, 2020
Try using another one, like imgburner, to see if the same occurs there (I don't know infraburner). Reading at a very low speed is also a trick.

One of the biggest problems with iso is its inability to handle multitrack (like Carmageddon and Descent 2 has), so bin or mds is better yes.

On some game disks you might need a cd protection emulator that intercepts and bypasses the lock; if you can find a good copy of the old DVD-decryptor or deamon tools 4 it can help you with that, like safedisk, securom and some others.

Daemon tools is perfectly legal; http://www.oldversion.com/windows/daemon-tools/

Omitting copy protection is strictly regulated, so now a days you can also use Alcohol or CloneCD, but these are licensed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Compact_Disc_and_DVD_copy_protection_schemes
Post edited March 31, 2020 by sanscript
Posted March 31, 2020
Well I tried a trial version of Alcohol which is restriction free (except for the amount of virtual drives you can use) and interestingly enough that also complained. I spoke with my old man and we came to the conclusion that SafeDisc was the culprit and now looking at what you guys are saying it's starting to add up. The good news is that Alcohol will deal with it but it's taking a very long time even with quick skip enabled

It's such a shame that its this difficult to make a backup, video game preservation I feel is important, I remember when I was growing up being shown the wonders of the C64 and what my old man played growing up. Part of the reason I am doing this is because I'd like to be able to do the same one day!
Posted March 31, 2020
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Retroman88: Well I tried a trial version of Alcohol which is restriction free (except for the amount of virtual drives you can use) and interestingly enough that also complained. I spoke with my old man and we came to the conclusion that SafeDisc was the culprit and now looking at what you guys are saying it's starting to add up. The good news is that Alcohol will deal with it but it's taking a very long time even with quick skip enabled

It's such a shame that its this difficult to make a backup, video game preservation I feel is important, I remember when I was growing up being shown the wonders of the C64 and what my old man played growing up. Part of the reason I am doing this is because I'd like to be able to do the same one day!
There are DRM free copies of NOLF and NOLF 2 online already, released by one of the original developers. It's not LEGAL per se, but if you own copies, I would have zero moral ambiguities picking it up as a back up copy.
Posted April 01, 2020
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paladin181: There are DRM free copies of NOLF and NOLF 2 online already, released by one of the original developers.
Where'd you hear that from? I was under the impression that fans of the game did that, not anyone involved with it from a development end.
Posted April 01, 2020
So I have given up waiting for the copy to finish,

I do have another idea though. I am able to copy the entire contents of the disc to my hard drive and recreate the iso (I am not sure if I can create an MDS/MDF file). I am aware that by doing this my "iso" will fail disk checks but 9 times out of 10 I have to use a different executable anyway.

Excuse my ignorance on this but is there any reason this would not be a good Plan B?
Posted April 01, 2020
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Spectre: Some discs have deliberate errors on them as some form of copy protection.
Dark Reign....

Actually it has the TOS F*ked up so the 600Mb disk to copy would be like 8Gb and then fail at the last moment regardless...
Post edited April 01, 2020 by rtcvb32
Posted April 01, 2020
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Retroman88: So I have given up waiting for the copy to finish,

I do have another idea though. I am able to copy the entire contents of the disc to my hard drive and recreate the iso (I am not sure if I can create an MDS/MDF file). I am aware that by doing this my "iso" will fail disk checks but 9 times out of 10 I have to use a different executable anyway.

Excuse my ignorance on this but is there any reason this would not be a good Plan B?
Do you know what the purpose of "cracks" are in this context? To have a working copy.
Find a (safe) working crack = plan A-Z.
Posted April 01, 2020
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Retroman88: So I have given up waiting for the copy to finish,
As others have said, many old discs have deliberate errors as part of copy protection. I own both NOLF 1 and 2 on disc and I can confirm both are "portable" in that they just need unzipping rather than properly installing. Unless the game has issues I don't even bother with ISO's anymore and just 7-zip them all up by default.

Or as others have said, if you legally own them on disc, then don't feel guilty about visiting NOLF Revival.
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General discussionCreating ISOs(11 posts)(11 posts)
(11 posts)