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Test CD or DVD Readability by Running Surface Scan and File Test

Posted By Raymond In Category: Computer

Jul
16
2009

After waiting for more than a month, I finally collected the videos taken during my wedding. It consists of 2 DVDs and the videographer gave 3 sets which is to be given to my in-law’s, my parents and another one for me. I had no problems watching the first DVD disc but when it comes to the second disc, there was a part somewhere in the middle where my DVD player couldn’t read because it was jerking and I had to fast forward to skip that part. Even my in-law’s complained that both disc had the same problem.

I checked and there are no fingerprints nor scratches at the bottom of the DVD disc. Since there are 2 DVD players that had problems playing the DVD disc, I suspect that the videographer somehow burn the disc wrongly or maybe used the fastest burning speed. Before I call up the guy to complaint on the problem, it is best that I first test the DVD disc and see whether it is the disc or player problem. As far as I know, there is an option to verify the files after burning a disc with Nero, but I couldn’t find a way just to verify a disc. After doing a little research, I found that VSO Inspector can test medias such as CD and DVD.


VSO-Inspector is a free software to report various information about your hardware configuration. Using this freeware, you can check the listed cd and dvd readers and writers connected to your computer, check the firmware used. The details about the media used and the speed supported by a given writer with this media. Also you can scan a burnt media for read errors and be confident about the readibility of your fresh backup.
test cd and dvd readability
The good thing about VSO Inspector is it scans your DVD or CD using two methods which is the surface scan and file test. Surface scan is to make sure that every sector on the disc can be read and the file test is to make sure that the file is intact and not corrupted. If VSO Inspector doesn’t show any problems or errors during scanning, your disc is definitely a good one.

So far I’ve scanned 4 DVDs using VSO Inspector and found no problems with it. Now I know it’s not the problem on the disc but on the player. What I can do now is to try burning another copy using a better quality DVD disc and also with a slower speed. Burning a disc with a slower speed helps a lot in giving the disc a better compatibility and readability.

[ Download VSO Inspector ]


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    • Ninja Ricer

      Heh. Mind uploading a copy of your videos for us all to see? =D Be sure to use Verbatim discs. Very good media for burning.

    • AlienForce1

      But how will you manage to read the discs if you previously have errors reading them on DVDplayer – you expect to read them without problems on your computer ?

    • vasek608

      VSO Insp is nice… I also recomend to take a look at CDCheck, small utility by Mitja Perko for check/compare disks.
      Actually it is more universal, it checks/compares the drivers/files/directories/mapped drives..
      All kinds of checksums supported (create/compare)

      excellent tool, thumbs up!
      the util is unlimited shareware (or registerware, i dont know). Mine says “Unregistered, 30day eval period”, and its been like that for several years..

      if somebody knows something similar (but freeware), pls mentione it here in discussion, a tip for usefull free tool is always handy/welcomed…

    • gaurav

      Thanks Ray … this article is very useful as usual. I will definitely try it.

    • shan

      thanks for this ray
      a lot my CD are getting stuck.

    • name

      did you try actually playing the dvd on your pc?

      also, i wouldnt trust the software 100% as it doest have a copy of the original files. just because it thinks the disk burned correctly, doesnt mean the files didnt get corrupted somewhere along the way.

    • roy raay

      Nice one you got there mate, thanks and +1 for
      Ninja Ricer!

    • Firas

      Thanks Ray nice tool :-)

    • Chris

      Hey Raymond,

      I use Nero’s CD-DVD Speed. The software came with my Nero 6 load. One tab in Nero CD-DVD Speed is ScanDisc. This performs a surface scan of the media.

      Thanks for your tip.

      Chris

    • webcadre

      very usefull informations.

      thanks ray! :)

    • delta55

      great utility.

    • Sp

      yeah,Nero CD-DVD Speed does also test disc scans & quality test! Came as default with my burner!!

    • http://neato4u.wordpress.com neato4u

      use powerdvd if play from PC. it eliminates the jerks and works better than WMP or MPC

    • http://www.mp33pm.co.uk FaeGiN

      Interesting information there but I have to agree that you cannot trust the software 100% as it has no original files to use as a reference point. therefore it is only scanning the surface and will obviously be able to tel you if there is an inconsistency or scratch, mark etc. If the files are not readable because of some file system or other corruption then the software isn’t really helping much although it will also show you this error, as you point out, be doing a test on the files.
      One thing about that though – if the files are not readable or copiable then you wouldn’t need to run a program to tell you that would you?! Seems like a waste of time to me.
      also Raymond, I’m not sure why you took the results of the software and then leaped to the concluson thatthe problem must be with the DVD players?!
      DVD Players have a much greater margin for error and so, in many cases, the DVD player will work through errors on discs.
      I would be more inclined to take the results of your testing to lead me to the conclusion that the burner was the problem..or the actual video he made is glitched itself…
      Hope you get those fixed
      ;)

    • DizzyBoyDizzy

      …..Did it work??

    • TCzzz

      the good thing about VSO Inspector also is that you can load a video filein it and it will tell you if you have the right codecs too play it.if for some reason you dont it will take you too google and locate the codec for you.
      it has many uses apart from what ray has posted and is worth the download in my view.

    • Deejam

      gr8 effort… can u tell me how do u backup ur DVD’s, as a ripped one or any other way ?
      if possible mail me

    • Mark

      Thank you Ray!

      I needed one of these =]

    • http://www.woollenfelt.com wool felt

      my dvd is not working properly, it sometimes reads and sometimes doesnt….

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