just to add another not working drive to the list:
* LiteOn DH-20A3P
26 2021-09-21 09:52:27
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
27 2021-09-18 15:21:10
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
scsi_wuzzy wrote:
I assume by 100% rip you're referring to having a "proper" DIC image of the disc as opposed to just audio tracks..
no, by 100% rip, I mean one that has 100% correct hashes of the tracks and that is for sure.
So, maybe it was lost in my long posts here, but until now (at least I cannot find any such confirmation made in the past), there was no way to confirm that a track ripped from Cactus disc is proper, i.e. if a drive can read the disc that what you get is really proper data with protection bypassed - for example "AOpen CRW2440A" can read such discs, but Hashes of the Tracks are totally wrong - of course, you can tell that only if you know the real Hash. So, what made the breakthrough for me and allow me to test and confirm for sure was the following:
matura713 wrote:
I have the same disc protected with "CDS 200.5.11.90" (according to ClonyXXL tool) and 1 year later reissued without a protection. So, the unprotected disc can be read with any drive and that's how I know the Correct Hash ("Test CRC") of each Track. So, if a drive is able to read the Cactus protected one, then the Hash of each Track matches the Hash of the unprotected one. That's how I am testing and know for sure how good a drive performance is.
So, build "5.11.90" is one of the latest of the Cactus protection (CDS200, aka Cactus Data Shield 200) and thus is one of the hardest to overcome. It's real luck that there is disc with it and the same one reissued without the protection - that gives the sole ability to test a drive and be sure that test is correct. Also, if a drive can read one of the latest "CDS 200.5.11.90" revisions (in fact the latest at least that I know), you can be sure it can do older version of the protection, as well.
As far as DIC image is concerned - all those discs are Multi-Session and DIC supports such Multi-Session discs only with Plextor DVD drives - I don't currently own working one to test it. So, the only way to get DIC image is if Plextor DVD drives can handle the protection like PX-5224 can do it.
It was long journey for me, because initially my PX-5224 cannot do it (as I mentioned above, now I believe the laser needs some hours of work to awake up) and I don't know, if it's bad luck or it's that rare, but none of the tens of other drives I tested and listed here was working, except that lucky find of NEC ND-3530A, which I don't believe is an ordinary NEC ND-3530A, because firmware update for NEC ND-3530A doesn't recognize it due to its very strange 1.E0 firmware version.
Anyway, currently, the open question for me is - can Plextor DVD drives really overcome CDS200 protection, because that's the only case in which DIC image will be possible.
28 2021-09-18 10:08:00
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
sarami wrote:
Change the retry count -> /mr 100 or /mr 150 or more
i set it at 500, but it's the same "Cache is short. Retry 500/500", logs attached.
sarami wrote:
It needs a login.
thanks, I see, I guess I need to elevate my forum credentials somehow. That probably explains why I get so many dead links in the database as well. Anyway, I will reread the forum rules and faqs, maybe, i can figure out what i have to do...
29 2021-09-17 20:18:51
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
@sarami
because you requested BW-16D1HT logs in the other forum thread, I have one - I don't know if it helps, but currently it's the only CD that failed for me in BW-16D1HT using DiscImageCreator. so, the log is attached. basically, it says "Cache is short. Retry 45/50" and at the end fails.
sarami wrote:
If we get BCA on PC, we need to get Wii optical drive emulator like 3k3yRipper of PS3.
maybe that's the case... BTW, I cannot get the link to your "PS3Auth" from your signature to work for me:
Bad request. The link you followed is incorrect or outdated.
It's like 10 years ago, I made such tool for myself that authenticates PS3 drive in Windows using as base the Linux source code or I don't clearly remember, maybe it was 3k3yRipper .NET code I reversed-engineered, but I guess yours do the same anyway...
30 2021-09-17 19:09:20
Re: Do TS-H353B or TS-H353C drives work to dump GD-ROMS? (3 replies, posted in General discussion)
I don't where you located, but I bought on Ebay "SH-D162C" recently for a buck. I've just checked and there is one more auction that ends in an hour - again for a buck. So, the trick is not to search for "SH-D162C", but for "SH-D162" and look the label on the pictures, that it's "Revision C".
31 2021-09-17 19:03:07
Re: ASUS and LG Drive Audio Tracks / Positive Offset Testing (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
ssjkakaroto wrote:
... and there's no guarantee they're in good condition. My 760A is useless now (Servo failure with all discs) and both my Premium and 708A are only reliable with slow speeds.
totally agree, as newbie here, recently I bought 708A, 712A and 716A : all of them are with dead laser in different stages, i.e. 708A and 712A the laser is completely dead (it cannot read neither CD, nor DVD, actually 712A was able only once to read one particular CD, but obviously the laser is very very weak) and 716A cannot read CDs, still good for DVDs (but that's more or less useless).
However, at least for 708A and 712A there are replacement lasers available from China - in 1 month or so I will be be able to give feedback and tell if the replacement laser is as good as original, i.e. if they can read my favorite test CDs - those with Cactus protection, i.e. many C1/C2 errors pressed at factory.
So, bottom line, I wouldn't recommend buying 716A at all - as there are no replacement lasers for them. Currently, BW-16D1HT beats PX755/760 in most cases, because of the aforementioned in previous posts firmware bug. So, I guess, only safe bet are 708A and 712A, but if you're willing to replace the laser plus for me it is still an open question if the replacement laser is as good as the original. I ordered mine, but shipping from China takes forever...
Also, Plextor PX-5224 I bought has a fault:
http://forum.redump.org/post/94515/#p94515
luckily I found way to workaround its fault, but not how to fix it. So, at least for me, so far it turned it's kind of impossible to find second hand Plextor that in 2021 is actually still in fully working order.
32 2021-09-17 15:03:26
Re: ASUS and LG Drive Audio Tracks / Positive Offset Testing (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
bikerspade wrote:
with a PX-716UF and it threw many unrecoverable C2 errors
as far as I know there was at least one batch of PX-716, especially those used in USB enclosures, that had some issue with the laser on CDs and eventually they stop reading CDs altogether even after very light use. also, at the end of the post here:
http://forum.redump.org/post/95189/#p95189
I documented how PX-5224 that was reporting hundreds of C2 errors on the same discs after some more hours of use started to work, i.e. probably the laser "wake up" from the use instead die.
33 2021-09-17 11:23:59
Re: ASUS and LG Drive Audio Tracks / Positive Offset Testing (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
scsi_wuzzy wrote:
Unfortunately, there are several sectors that the Premium can't read (i.e., have ECC/EDC errors) even after several hundred retries. In contrast, the BW-16D1HT doesn't even report any C2 errors, and the ECC/EDC match after the first try.
I believe that is the bug in Plextor firmware, already discussed many times, I believe the first time reported and confirmed as such, was in the following series of posts:
http://forum.redump.org/post/91255/#p91255
So far it was reported only for PX-755/760 and other Plextor DVD drives like PX-716/712 were reported as fine, but maybe the Premium has such (or similar) bug as well. BTW, I found even earlier discussion of such problem:
http://forum.redump.org/post/72520/#p72520
where @sarami suggested to rule out DiscImageCreator bug to use combination of cdtoimg.exe (d8 hacked) and descramble using Descramble_CDDA.exe:
http://forum.redump.org/post/72549/#p72549
scsi_wuzzy wrote:
I hope for that reason alone we can get all the kinks worked out with the ASUS / LG drives. They seem to be better readers. That might just be because they're less aged and worn, but I suspect it's also just because they're newer technology.
actually, my BW-16D1HT (and it's brand new, no any wear) is terrible reader when it comes to real tough C1/C2 errors. I think so, because on Cactus protected discs - those are intentionally pressed at the factory with incredible amounts of C1/C2 errors - on one early version of the protection, DicsImageCreator counted about 8000 C2 errors alone:
http://forum.redump.org/topic/39461/how … ular-lbas/
and BW-16D1HT cannot even touch them:
http://forum.redump.org/post/94578/#p94578
to be honest only drives (at least that I own) that can do it are PX-5224 and surprisingly NEC ND-3530A (later NEC like ND-4550A failed very badly on my tests and ND-3520A fails as well. so, it's really possible ND-3530A and potentially the model after it - ND-3540A are the only working one. Those are actually the last NEC, the next ND-4550A is Sony-NEC on the label).
34 2021-09-17 11:23:05
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
@scsi_wuzzy
thanks for the suggestions!
what you're saying for Plextools - that option with hidden session is useful for another protection "Key2Audio", but that is perfectly handled by ExactAudioCopy too.
So, using things like CUERipper/CUETools is not an option, because the whole goal is to have 100% rip, not approximations.
In fact I believe I am the first one that really confirmed there are drives, that can no just read such Cactus protected discs, but read them 100% correctly, i.e. bypass the protection. That is due to very lucky coincidence, as I mentioned in the previous posts, that i happen to have the same CD protected with one of the latest (and thus hardest to break) revisions of the Cactus 200 protection and that same discs re-issued few years after without the protection. That allowed me to know the exact correct Hashes of the tracks, because the unprotected CD can be read perfectly by any drive. So, if when I read the protected CD the Hash doesn't match - then the drive cannot do it.
BTW, at least in the UK, almost all discs in 2001-2004 period were protected with Cactus...
Anyway, see the update I wrote in the post above.
35 2021-09-17 11:07:45
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
OK, update - I purchased (used from eBay, but again as mine in perfect shape - no any nasty scratches or any visible scratches, etc) another copy of my test disc protected with Cactus 200 revisions "5.10.090". So, lets call my own disc "TEST_DISC_MINE" and the one I've just purchased "TEST_DISC_USED". Here are the results:
* NEC ND-3530A:
---> TEST_DISC_MINE : Cannot read Track15
---> TEST_DISC_USED : Cannot read Track03
in both cases my NEC ND-3530A really fails with those tracks, i.e. hard fail, no matter how many times try to reread, etc.
in both cases though, I can get full content of the disc properly thanks to the (lucky) coincidence that my Plextor PX-5224 can do both Track03 and Track15 without any problem. In any case the performance of NEC ND-3530A is mind blowing to me, because it doesn't struggle at all - no noise, no desperate motor movement, etc and on 2 discs it's always do over 90% of the content.
Now, the biggest surprise - my Plextor PX-5224, which I purchased with the fault I described here:
http://forum.redump.org/topic/39467/rep … -to-close/
and I guess, because of that fault wasn't used for many many years, before I bought it, Initially it was really struggling with Cactus discs - very noise (like vacuum machine level), very slow at times, desperate motor movements back and forth and as result it was able to do only like 60% of the tracks on Cactus discs, it really looked like 2nd class citizen on those discs compared to my NEC ND-3530A.
However, yesterday, like magic, completely sudden, my Plextor PX-5224 starts working 100% on Cactus discs - the only explanation I have is that the laser "wake up" after it wasn't used for so long. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I believe Plextor PX-5224 problems with Cactus is due to disc aging and 15-20 years ago it was able to do such disc when they were fresh, but now it seems the laser of my Plextor PX-5224 needed to work some time to wake from all those years in the drawer.
So, both NEC ND-3530A and Plextor PX-5224 amazed me in their own way. Even now I can get 100% dumps two different ways:
* my preferred one: NEC ND-3530A and use Plextor PX-5224 only on tracks that ND-3530A cannot do, as well as on the last track, because ND-3530A has no Lead-Out read and positive offset (see my comment at the end - it's possible Plextor PX-5224 is even more wrong on LeadOut, than no LeadOut at all with ND-3530A).
* use Plextor PX-5224 for the whole discs
Still those dumps are not DiscImageCreator approved, because all Cactus discs are Multi-Session and DiscImageCreator supports only Plextor DVD-drives for Multi-Session discs, because apparently on Plextor CD-drives, Lead-Out reading is not correct for Multi-Session discs.
36 2021-09-14 21:11:46
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
just to add few more drives I tested and are totally not working:
* Sony CRX230EE
* LiteOn DH52R2P
* Hitachi GD-7000
* Yamaha CDR200t
So, I don't keep count, but it feels that I already tested over 20 drives and only ND-3530A and Plextor PX-5224A can do the job, but together - none of them alone is able to extract all the tracks. However, ND-3530A is very close to be able to do all the tracks. Basically, ND-3530A is like over 90% of the disc and Plextor PX-5224A is like 50-60%.
BTW, mine ND-3530A has very strange firmware version 1.E0 and it refuses to be recognized by any of the ND-3530A firmware updates available online. I don't know if that is relevant, but my NEC ND-4550A is totally not working with Cactus (even some claim ND-4550A should work) and that ND-4550A is recognized by all available firmware updates available online. So, I don't know, but maybe my ND-3530A strange firmware is causing the big difference.
37 2021-09-12 14:09:08
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
matura713 wrote:
* make small tool using SPTI Windows interface... that tries only to read the BCA
OK, I coded the test tool, the source code is attached. it should not be considered fully finished, i.e. some (small) modifications could be necessary in order to be fully functional, but it contains the essential portion of the necessary code.
P.S. One open question, at least to me, is how GC/Wii "dvd" structure in CleanRip code corresponds to "Cdb" in SPTI Windows interface, especially which parameter defines the "layer" to read.
[EDIT] more or less the code is working, because I tested it with changing "sptd.Cdb[7] = 0x03" to "sptd.Cdb[7] = 0x04", i.e. reading the Manufacturer (instead the BCA) and I can read:
Nintendo NNGC Diskon Nintendo discs. Unfortunately, even on PC drives that works for getting the "Manufacturer", I cannot get the BCA on any disc. So, it's still open question, if there is PC drive that can read the BCA...
38 2021-09-12 10:19:28
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
sarami wrote:
28h, A8h are general commands. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCSI_command
D4h, D5h are old NEC drive commands, AFAIR.
I see, I was thinking they are Plextor special commands only because of CacheX, source code:
https://github.com/xavery/cachex/
since with Plextor it outputs:
Supported read commands: BEh A8h(FUA) 28h(FUA) D4h(FUA) D5h(FUA) D8h(FUA)sarami wrote:
I know some 90's drives of sony, pioneer, etc also support it.
according to CDParanoia source code, some NEC and Sony for sure have 0xd8:
http://www.acquerra.com.au/personal/bir … nterface.c
the nec drive expects d8 to be 10 bytes, and a 12 byte version (Sony) crashes the drivebut as obviously from that comment, they use different bytes number passed to 0xd8: respectively 10 bytes and 12 bytes. I don't know Plextor how many bytes requires, i.e. is it Sony-like or NEC-like or neither, i.e. it's Plextor-like.
sarami wrote:
Please try to use cdtoimg_d8
it fails and I wonder if the reason is what CDParanoia code mentioned, i.e. 10-bytes versus 12-bytes D8h command:
cdtoimg.exe f: test.iso 6
Drive type is recognised as CDROM/DVD.
Sending SPC1 Test Unit CDB6 command..done.
Returned good status.
Sending read TOC command..done.
Total user tracks : 1
Total sectors : 27807
Sending MMC1 CD speed command (read: 1058kbytes (6x)write: max speed)..done.
Reading sector 0 to 26 (total: 27807, progress: 0.1%)
Sense data, key:ASC:ASCQ: 05:64:00
Aborting process.
Could not create image from drive f.sarami wrote:
Perhaps, BCA data of the Nintendo disc is stored in another place?
Cleanrip code
thanks, I will investigate further by myself, my plan is:
* make small tool using SPTI Windows interface, e.g. called "bca_test" that tries only to read the BCA with the Cleanrip code
* test that on few DVD-RAM discs I have - their BCA is not empty for sure, because that is where CPRM information is stored and they all mentioned on their box/cover they are CPRM licensed and support it
I don't know if that is good plan for such a test, but I will report back here when I have any result to share, plus will have some (nerdy) fun, while doing (trying) the above plan.
39 2021-09-12 00:32:50
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
RibShark wrote:
found a single drive that could get this data
very curious which is that single drive that can read the BCA on Nintendo discs, because I very recently had issue exactly with that:
40 2021-09-12 00:23:22
Re: ASUS and LG Drive Audio Tracks / Positive Offset Testing (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
reentrant wrote:
Looks random and happens from time to time like 1/15
if it occurs so rare, then if dump 2 times and the two dumps match it should be correct dump.
my problem with BW-16D1HT is that it cannot handle Audio CDs with very common protection, i made thread about that here:
http://forum.redump.org/post/94578/#p94578
that protection was really common on discs in 2001-2004 period. In any way, IMHO, BW-16D1HT is still useful drive to have.
P.S. currently from 20-30 drives I have tested, only NEC ND-3530A is working for that audio protection, but it's not supported by DiscImageCreator plus it cannot do LeadOut, i.e. it cannot do the last track properly, but at least is 100% with all other tracks - beats the 2 Plextors I have big time.
41 2021-09-11 14:33:47
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
Today, I found Yamaha CDR200t drive in my storage, it supports 0xd8 reading and I wanted to try dump with it and compare against Plextor, but DiscImageCreator outputs:
This drive doesn't define in driveOffset.txt
Please input drive offset(Samples): +733
This drive supports [OpCode: 0xd8, SubCode: 0]
Failed to get write-offset
This drive supports [OpCode: 0xd8, SubCode: 1]
This drive supports [OpCode: 0xd8, SubCode: 2]
Failed to get write-offset
Retry 1/10 after 10000 milliseconds
This drive supports [OpCode: 0xd8, SubCode: 2]
Failed to get write-offset
BTW, regarding the offset - I assumed it's +733 as all other Yamaha drives from that era - it's almost sure that is the correct offset. In any way, if the above DiscImageCreator error is fixable and it can work with DiscImageCreator, then I will burn with ExactAudioCopy test offset disc to confirm the offset for sure and we can add it to "driveOffset.txt" file.
[EDIT] CDR200 can be modified to CDR400 with just 1 resistor removed - that's according to the following article:
https://www.nickles.de/artikel/html/7.htm
however, CDR400 firmware file "40010g.exe" needed for that modification seems is no longer available for download even on archived copies of yamaha website. in any way, i believe it's interesting information...
[EDIT2] I found the aforementioned CDR400 firmware, not the latest, but at least it's something:
https://web.archive.org/web/19970816224 … 40010g.exe
[EDIT3] It reads the LeadOut and considering the offset is positive, then if the above DiscImageCreator error is fixable, then I guess it will be able to make proper dumps.
42 2021-09-11 09:18:57
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
a little off-topic, but i want to ask just out of curiosity, what is the exact difference between 0xd8 used by DiscImageCreator and other special Plextor read commands: 28h, A8h, D4h and D5h?
43 2021-09-09 20:09:45
Re: How to skip (fake) C2 errors with DiscImageCreator for particular LBAs (1 replies, posted in General discussion)
I found a drive that works:
http://forum.redump.org/post/94917/#p94917
it's not supported by DiscImageCreator, but at least you can get the essential data from such disc.
44 2021-09-09 20:05:37
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
OK, a little progress... I found some more drivers in my storage, collected over the years. So, I further tested:
* Pioneer A03S : completely fails to read the Cactus protected disc, i.e. recognizes it as data instead of audio disc
* Optiarc AD-7850S : cannot overcome the protection, struggles and goes down to 0.1X speed and generates errors
* LG GSA-H30N : cannot overcome the protection, struggles and goes down to 0.5X speed and generates errors
* NEC ND-1100A : similar to Pioneer, see above
and the Big Surprise:
* NEC ND-3530A: It was able to read 93% of the disc properly, beats in that regards PX-W5224, it failed to read only the last Track (probably due to disc aging). Amazing result and completely unexpected!
It's also the first time I get result consistent with the review here:
https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/nec-nd-3530a?page=6
where they say ND-3530A is the first NEC model that is able to deal Cactus, because the previous ND-3520A and ND-3500A fail to overcome the protection.
Now, the most interesting thing is that my NEC ND-4550A drive (see my first post) is really the worst drive I have on Cactus and I get nothing close to the review here:
https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/nec-nd-4550a?page=4
It's possible my NEC ND-4550A drive is faulty, i.e. the laser is worn out or something, but I really don't know. In any case ND-3530A demonstrates unbelievable performance!! I cannot believe it beats PX-5224 in regards to Cactus.
So, ND-3530A cannot read the Lead-Out and even if it was able to break the protection for the last track (which it failed to do) still probably the end of the track won't be correct, but on my test disc PX-5224 can do the last track. However, since Cactus disc are multi-session and Plextor CD drives cannot really do the Lead-Out for multi-session discs, probably PX-5224 end of the track is not totally correct too.
In any way, currently for me ND-3530A is the way to go and try with PX-5224 only on the tracks on which ND-3530A fails.
Last, but not least, even I already explained in my previous posts, why I am sure I am doing proper testing, but to mentioned it again:
I have the same disc protected with "CDS 200.5.11.90" (according to ClonyXXL tool) and 1 year later reissued without a protection. So, the unprotected disc can be read with any drive and that's how I know the Correct Hash ("Test CRC") of each Track. So, if a drive is able to read the Cactus protected one, then the Hash of each Track matches the Hash of the unprotected one. That's how I am testing and know for sure how good a drive performance is.
[EDIT] just found another drive:
* LineOn SOHR-5239V: cannot overcome the protection, struggles and goes down to 0.2X speed and generates errors
[EDIT2] found 2 more drives:
* Teac CD-W54: it's exactly like Pioneer A03S - completely fails to read the Cactus protected disc, i.e. recognizes it as data instead of audio disc
* LG GTC0N : cannot overcome the protection, struggles and generates errors
[EDIT3] found 1 more drive:
* Asus E612 : cannot overcome the protection, struggles and goes down to 0.8X speed and generates errors
[EDIT4] found 1 more drive:
* Toshiba SD-M1502 : cannot overcome the protection, it struggles so much when reading such disc that it freezes the whole computer!
45 2021-09-07 14:59:42
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
Neon Beast wrote:
Hi, how can I fix my DiscGuard discs? Thanks.
my understanding based on what @reentrant is saying is that you need:
1. identify the "weak bytes", i.e. those bytes that are different on every dump due to the protection
2. try to "guess" what is the correct value of each "weak byte"- in case of @reentrant dump it was looking like 00000XX00000 and so it was easy to guess that XX=00
however, in your case it could be not that easy to guess the "weak byte" value.
46 2021-09-05 02:56:43
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
sarami wrote:
matura713 wrote:on Nintendo disc with DiscImageCreator I get:
fixed. https://www.mediafire.com/file/eq80y20l … st.7z/file
But Nintendo disc dumping is extremely slow. If you merely want to dump the iso, use RawDump or cleanrip on wii.
thank you! I confirmed - it works now and the ISO is the same hash as the one made with RawDump. BTW, it still shows:
LBA[000000, 0000000]: [F:ReadDiscStructure][L:1505]
Opcode: 0xad
ScsiStatus: 0x02 = CHECK_CONDITION
SenseData Key-Asc-Ascq: 05-24-00 = ILLEGAL_REQUEST - INVALID FIELD IN CDB
Failed to read BCA. cdb: ad, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 03, 00, c0, 00, 00
but I guess that's for information, not to indicate any actual error, because the dump made is no doubt proper.
47 2021-09-03 03:40:33
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
Wow, it's crazy, when the conditions are extreme, the difference between drives becomes so huge and really night and day - on the disc from the post above here are how 3 drives do:
* Plextor PX-5224 : 8 out 16 tracks, 100% properly read (and that 100% for sure, because they have the same Hash as those track from later unprotected release of the disc). The most amazing think is that those 8 tracks it can properly read it's really very fast like 20X speed. The other 8 tracks it can read, but with errors
* Plextor PX-4824 : 5 out 16 tracks, 100% properly read, but contrary to Plextor PX-5224 it cannot read anything from the other 11 tracks. Those 5 tracks it can read properly the speed is like 10 times less than Plextor PX-5224, i.e. maybe average speed of 2X
* Asus BW-16D1HT : complete failure, it reads with 0.3X speed, really straggles, cannot read any track properly.
I really think 15 years ago with those discs without aging and in top shape, Plextor PX-5224 will read 100% of the tracks - the fact that it do so well on disc with latest strongest revision of the protection, but at the same time that disc is less older, i.e. less aging.
48 2021-09-03 03:09:57
Re: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
Hmm, I wonder is it disc aging and that 15 years ago the tests and results from the reviews in my previous post were actually valid?
I believe that's valid hypothesis, because I found disc that is protected with one of the latest Cactus 200 revisions of the protection "5.10.090" and thus it's probably the newest I have (i.e. 2-3 years less aging than the other discs) - that disc even it's stronger protection, my Plextor PX-5224 can read consistently (always matching "Test CRC" Hash) on about 50% of the Tracks (other 50% of that tracks PX-5224 cannot read).
Even more interesting and important finding:
I have that same disc later release without Cactus protection. Of course, that unprotected disc can be read by any drive I have without any problems. However, the important finding is those same Tracks from the Cactus Protected disc that my Plextor PX-5224 can read property have the same Hash ("Test CRC") as the Tracks on the Unprotected disc.
So, that means (actually proves) on those tracks that Plextor PX-5224 can read consistently it really beats the protection and there is no any loss of quality or something (i.e. errors in the data). I wonder if that disc wasn't 15 years old, maybe Plextor PX-5224 can fully read it. Very interesting... at least it's some progress, but I've never read any confirmation that if you can read Cactus disc the data you get are guaranteed 100% good - that lucky coincidence of that disc I found having both protected and unprotected release confirmed that.
49 2021-09-02 23:33:22
Topic: I am lost how to deal with my Cactus protected discs (24 replies, posted in General discussion)
OK, after no one replied to my question here:
http://forum.redump.org/post/94503/#p94503
I decided to research myself and found this article:
https://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Review … cleId=5095
where they praised "AOpen CRW2440A" as most capable to read such discs from long list of drives they tested including some very reputable brands like Yamaha, Plextor, etc.
In fact they achieved to get the exact same Hash ("Test CRC") on all, but only 2 tracks on the disc.
So, I have the same disc they tested and decided to try and reproduce their test - I was lucky and I found and purchased "AOpen CRW2440A" for only a buck (I must say it's in perfect, really like new condition, the original warranty seal wasn't broken and when I opened it - there was no dust inside or signs of use. I think it was hardly used if at all).
Long story short - I cannot reproduce their results with the same drive and the same disc and the exact same settings of which they included screenshot in the article - Every time I get different Hash for each track and not just that, but I've never get any of the Hashes ("Test CRC") they got and published in that article!
Later on, I found newer article by the same site, where they tested NEC ND-4550A drive:
https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/nec-nd-4550a?page=4
in that article they claim:
CDS200
Ripping process completed, EAC reports no problems, Read&Test CRC comparison successful for all tracks
I remembered I had NEC ND-4550A in my storage, I found it and tested - it's the worst of all drives on Cactus I've tested so far (which are Plextor PX-4824TA, Asus BW-16D1HT, Samsung SH-D162C, LG GDR-8164B and of course the aforementioned AOpen CRW2440A). It not just cannot get the same TestCRC twice, but it reads such disc slower and with more difficulties than any of my other drives. One more time I get nothing close to their test results.
I don't know how that's possible, but at this point, I don't trust any review on that "cdrinfo" website.... It cost me nothing, practically nothing, as I had the same disc they used for testing, I had NEC ND-4550A and I found and bought AOpen CRW2440A for a buck, but the main point is that their test results just cannot be reproduced and how they got them at the first place I really don't know, because I am using 2 of their exact setups and getting nothing even remotely close. Anyway, I just wanted to share in case someone else is mislead by those reviews...
Still, I have no any solution what to do exactly with those discs or just trash them as garbage.
[EDIT] just to add that all of the above was with the earliest version of the protection with discs having newer revisions of the same protection is many many times worse.
50 2021-09-02 21:52:57
Re: DiscImageCreator (3,497 replies, posted in General discussion)
on Nintendo disc with DiscImageCreator I get:
Failed to read BCA.
and that's it, but the same disc dumps successfully with RawDump 2.0, I am attaching the logs. Am I doing something wrong?