DVD Disc Repair
The subject of this page is DVD disc repair software, tips and tricks, the kind of information you may need when things have not exactly gone to plan! All of the software mentioned here will perform DVD burning, editing, copy or conversion functions exceptionally well. The real reason they are here is because they specialize in repairing DVDs with existing DVD errors or repairing damaged DVDs.
If your interest is purely for DVD copying software, conversion to another format or for a good reliable DVD burning software then take a look at the DVD Copying Software page.
Again, the real purpose of this page is not for standard DVD software but to repair DVD errors or even repair scratched DVDs.
First a little background. DVDs created by video camcorders, home video recorders or on the DVD burner of your computer tend to create DVDs with higher levels of error rate than the norm. This is because of the laser "burning" process they use. Commercially produced DVDs are actually pressed not burned.
Secondly, playback software in DVD players or in your computer have built in correction algorithms to compensate for errors and in most cases you wont notice anything being wrong.
The quality of the software comes into play at that point and good software may be able to just "invent" what it "thinks" should be there and keep going. Bad software will result in skips and jumps or even macro blocking (big squares on the screen) because it has tried for too long to keep reading the damaged area and has fallen behind or, has made a bad guess as to what the missing information is.
Second, internal disc errors. These fall into two categories. Errors in the actual burn of the disc where the laser has failed to correctly place an impression on the burning surface of the disc (not the outer surface as described above). Or, errors in the actual file structure and references within the DVD folders and directory whereby some part or parts of the file structure refer incorrectly to other parts of the file structure.
When you are importing from DVDs for any purpose what you really need to have is the best possible original information. This means that when you import the contents of a DVD on to your computer you are also importing the errors already existing on that DVD.
The software I have listed below, each in their own way, form the better part of my "DVD arsenal" because they handle DVD data exceptionally well and have either inbuilt or user operated correction features.
Recovery Tips for DVD Disc Errors, Damaged DVDs or Unfinalized DVDs.
The following procedures can be tried in the event of you having an unfinalized DVD, a damaged DVD or a DVD that has not been burned correctly by the video camcorder or recorder and has some corrupt data. Also the answer to the dreaded DVD drive error messages may be here.
DVD Drive Error
Ok, now I am not going to list out every possible cryptic and unintelligible message that various software kicks out at you when something goes wrong with the DVD drive! Even if you or I could understand what they meant it would most likely move us no closer to a solution because they don't accurately inform you as to exactly WHERE the problem is.
Check to see if the media (brand and type) are compatible with your DVD burner/reader. Check other discs in the drive to see if it is this DVD or all DVDs. Once you are certain that you have an unsuccessfully finalized DVD or a corrupt DVD you can get started.
One final step you can take at this point is to use Nero CD/DVD Speed Utility to test the DVD itself. Obviously if the DVD cannot be read this is unnecessary but if it can you may at least get an idea of the severity of the corruption. It is a free download and you can get it here. It is a handy tool anyway.
Repair Scratched DVDs
A simple visual inspection of the surface of the disc will tell you straight away whether your first problem is physical damage to the disc. If you can see a scratch or scratches on the surface then this may need to be addressed first.
I say "may" because personally I use DVDFab to check to see if the disc will copy before I embark on any other course of action. DVDFab can read through a lot of surface errors because of its superior algorithms so I always take the lazy route and see if I can simply make a new copy.
Now failing that you could go online and buy some expensive DVD scratch repair kit. Or you could do as I do and go to your local hardware store or even your own garage! All you will need is a bottle of any neutral colored (clear) car polishing product. Turtlewax happens to be the one I use.
Take a VERY soft cloth (NOT paper towel), apply a little polish to the surface of the disc and GENTLY (remember, it's not a car!) rub the disc. Use straight strokes from the centre of the disc to the outer edge and continue to do this until you can see the scratch either disappear or reduce noticeably.
Then using the same motion and fresh cloth buff the disc back to its original shine. Now try it with DVDFab or your particular DVD software. If you are still unsuccessful repeat the process until you can be certain, again by visual inspection, that the problem is now not coming from a damaged disc surface.
NOTE: There are some sites on the internet that recommend the same procedure using toothpaste and other furniture cleaning products. I would strongly recommend against these as they are based on the concept of "filling" the scratch. This is just not logical as filling the scratch would in no way improve the laser's ability to read through the transparent plastic down onto the disc surface itself. The whole point of using the car polish is to actually remove the scratch altogether and return the disc surface to as close to original as possible.
DVD Data Recovery
The software you will need for this are DVDFab or 1Click DVD Copy (mentioned at length below), Nero 9 (trial) and Isobuster. In the case of Isobuster you can try the free features first but failing that the full featured version may need to be purchased. The three links will take you to the website of each so you can download them.
| · | DVDFab (trial version) |
| · | 1Click DVD (trial version) |
| · | Isobuster (hopefully the free features!) |
| · | Nero 9 (trial version) |
Put the problem disc in the DVD drive of your computer then:
1. DVDFab or 1Click DVD Copy.
Try to use DVDFab or 1Click DVD Copy first, as they have the best algorithms for reading anything on a DVD including how they integrate with the DVD drive, honestly sometimes I think they would read a bagel if you put it in there!
Try to use DVDFab or 1Click DVD Copy first, as they have the best algorithms for reading anything on a DVD including how they integrate with the DVD drive, honestly sometimes I think they would read a bagel if you put it in there!
Select "DVD to DVD copy." DVDFab or 1Click DVD Copy will now try to read the contents of the disc and, if it can, write the contents to a folder on your hard drive. It is as simple as that. It is either going to work or not! If it does do it then the copy you now have on your hard drive will be fully repaired and you can then burn a new copy.
2. Isobuster.
Using the free functions try to make a disc image file of the corrupt DVD and burn to another DVD.
Using the free functions try to make a disc image file of the corrupt DVD and burn to another DVD.
If Isobuster has created the file (note where it was going to put it first!) you will have to re-name the extension to .iso. Use the disc image file to burn a new DVD disc. At this point, if you now have a new disc, you need to check that new one carefully. There is always the possibility that Isobuster has just made a perfect copy of your faulty disc! So now you have a brand new faulty disc!
Failing that:
You will need to pay for the full version of Isobuster but ONLY buy it if you got this far. If Isobuster free couldn't even read the disc then don't bother.
You will need to pay for the full version of Isobuster but ONLY buy it if you got this far. If Isobuster free couldn't even read the disc then don't bother.
From this point forward the best you can hope for is the extraction of the MPEG video files or data files on the disc. You ARE, most likely, going to lose the video menus and you may lose some of the video or data.
| a. | Start Isobuster then load the disc. |
| b. | When Isobuster has detected the files on the disc run the "Find Missing Files and Folders" option under the "File" menu. |
| c. | You will now have an entry on the left hand column of "files and folders found by their signature." |
| d. | Select that, then go to "File," "Files found via their signature" then "Extract files found via their signature." Choose a location and let it run. |
Now you will have all the files where you selected them to go. The ones with the extension .VOB are the MPEG files from your disc wrapped in the VOB container. They can then be imported into a video editing program using the "Import DVD/VR" function or can be read by most DVD burning software.
Nero 9 (Trial version)
This is suited to unfinalized discs only.
This is suited to unfinalized discs only.
Hopefully you now have a fully finalized disc that is readable.
Well hopefully somewhere on this page you found how to effect a DVD disc repair or managed to achieve a full DVD recovery from the dreaded but cryptic "invalid DVD navigation structure" message or something even less helpful like, "no disc" or disc error!" If not hit the "contact" button and I will try to help you in any way I can.
| · | Place the unfinalized disc into the computer DVD tray. Open Nero 9 StartSmart. |
| · | Click "create and edit" at the top of the screen. |
| · | Click "author, edit and capture video." NeroVision will start. |
| · | In the option box that appears choose "no menus" and let it run. |
If not we still have one more shot at it!
From within Nero:
From within Nero:
| · | Open Nero Recode. |
| · | Select "Recode an entire DVD to DVD." Make sure the "DVD Video Files" button is selected and the "Fit to Target" button is checked and showing 4.7gig. |
| · | Select "Import DVD." Recode will now read the contents of the disc and, if it can, write the contents to a folder it will automatically create in My Documents called "Recode." |
| · | If Recode completes the above task navigate to "My Documents" and you will find that Recode has created a new folder called "Recode." Inside that folder you will find the normal ifo, bup and vob files you would normally see in a DVD video folder. Rename the "Recode" folder to VIDEO_TS exactly as I have typed it. |
| · | Open your video editing program and use the "Import DVD/VR" function to navigate to the newly created VIDEO_TS folder and import from there. |
If have been successful the VIDEO_TS folder can now also be used to make a new copy of your problem disc as well.
Copyright© 2008 Flourish Group Taiwan.
For loads more information on DVD repairs and software you can check out our other site that is more specific to DVD Disc Repair.
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The types of error that may occur are quite simple to understand:
First, physical damage to the surface of the disc itself. This results in the DVD reader (player) having to go back over the same area of the disc repeatedly in an effort to "see" what is on that part of the disc. At some point the software running the reader has to make a decision as to whether it has time to keep doing that or whether to skip it and move on.
If you then burn a new DVD from the copy, the new DVD will have the original errors PLUS it will now have additional errors that are the inevitable result from the new burning process. This effect snowballs every time you repeat the process.
It could be a problem with the drive itself, the DVD in the drive, the firmware of the drive, the software, the operating system or even other unrelated software or hardware. Worst of all it could be a problem caused by one, more, or all of the above interacting incorrectly!
First of all try to keep it simple, consider possible causes of what appear to be DVD drive errors such as a dirty disc surface or a dirty lens in the DVD reader. Check to see your DVD burner has the latest firmware by going to the manufacturers website.
Isobuster has three alternate methods of dealing with data corruption. It can replace the corrupted area with nothing, with fake data or with a series of zeros. It will give you the choice and just select them in order to try each until one works. Isobuster will not create the disc image file unless it knows it will be successful.
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