dbminter

Just installed and am trying out the free Macrium partition imager. Wow, it's considerably faster than True Image. I may just switch over to using this for my backup needs. I wish it had a verify/validate function in it like True Image does, but, that's a minor thing I can live without.

Actually, I discovered Macrium the same day I downloaded the trial for True Image Home 2011. I've not installed it yet, but, I do have the free version sitting in my download directory to remind me to try it out someday. I was using TI 11 before I decided to give TI 2011 a try. Can't begin to tell you how many times over on the Acronis forums I've said TI 11 instead of 2011. TI 11 was the last "working" version. The 2009 and 2010 versions had a fatal flaw in the rescue recovery CD modes: external USB drives would "disappear" after a restore operation was attempted. So, you could load an image set to recover, the recovery operation would then delete the existing partition as per its operational function, but then the external USB drives would "disappear" from the software, resulting in a failure to restore. My main beef with TI 2011 is they obviously apparently released the software without a major key part of it working. Backups to optical drives don't work, either partition or file backups. The backup operation always says to insert the last media of the backup even though the backup never actually runs. Selecting Retry just causes the same dialog to open and only Cancel does any good. I posted on their forums about it and have yet to get a response. Which just reinforces my theory that they released the software without that part working. Without an option to give the full blown Macrium a try, I doubt I'll buy it THEN try it, given how many times I've paid for software before without it working. No offense to the Macrium people, just I've been burned too many times before. However, it sounds exactly like the function I'm looking for that WAS in TI 11. I always split my archives into 4 GB chunks for exactly the reason you stated. In case I ever want to move them off to single layer DVD's.

In addition to the DVD player supporting both formats, I believe the TV also needs to be able to display both formats in order for it work.

I need a good file backup program. Not a partition backup program, but, a file program. I tested True Image 11 and its backups to optical drives don't appear to work. So, that, my old solution, is no longer a viable one. What I'm looking for is something with a reasonably good interface, which is a relative opinion, I know that will backup files to optical drives. I'd prefer something that's free, but, I'll try anything with a trial prog and see if it's good. Thanks!

The "degradation" of data on a recordable DVD depends on the quality of the media you use. Things like Vanguard discs would die on me after only a year. CMC Magnetics often times won't even finish a burn, let alone allow for testing how long the data lasts. Unfortunately, DVD's are like everything else. The data will eventually be lost at some point in the future. So, there's nothing you can really do to prevent it. The laws of thermodynamics. But, a good quality DVD should last you a few decades, at least. Supposedly, the tests reveal that a DVD lasts 100 years. I doubt it, though, because CD's were supposed to last 30 years and we're now into those 30 years and some of the CD's, I believe, aren't holding up to the 30 year guarantee.

I had a bad experience with the 7241. My 7241 died after only 4 months of use. Normally, Optiarc drives have been very good for me and usually lasted 2 years. The 7241 didn't. I got a 7261 to replace it as that was all the online store I shop at had. I hope the 7261 performs better.

I definitely don't recommend the Sony/NEC/Optiarc AD-7241S! That's the one that died on me after only about 5 months. Usually had good 2 year runs with Sony/NEC/Optiarc drives. Hopefully, this new 7261 will hold up better than the 7241.

Sony Optiarc 7261s. I believe the one I had previously was the 7241 or 40.

It seems I set a new record when it comes to ruining my drives! I only just had the last drive for 4 months before I started getting errors writing Verbatim DVD-R and DVD+R DL. So, I decided to replace the drive since a newer version of it was only $20.99, with free shipping. I've been using the new drive for a while now and haven't gotten any errors. I could always get them, though.

I once thought about asking for some functions like IFO extraction, etc. from the other software. But, I never did because of the reasons already listed here in this thread and also that they don't belong in something called ImgBurn. Only functions related to burning images, like creation of cue sheets, would be in the software.

Just had a chat with tech support of Acronis over two of their products. They had me download some rescue media ISO's and recommended ImgBurn to burn it with. I replied back that I was a beta tester of ImgBurn and they wrote back they like and recommend the software all the time for burning their rescue media with.

I couldn't find any CD-R's from Verbatim that were marked Datalife Plus like the DVD recordable media I had purchased. As for losing credibility, companies don't really care. The bottom line is the dollar/pound. If they can successfully sell a cheaper cost product at a profitable price, they'll do it in a heartbeat. As for me, I will only purchase Verbatim DVD-R and DVD+R DL as long as its Datalife Plus with MID's of MKM or MCC. Should Verbatim change manufacturers with those, then, all Verbatim media will go on my shit list. I did the same to Optodisc when they switched to CMC and I'll do it at the drop of a hat for Verbatim, too, if they do that.

I purchased some Taiyo Yuden media for the first time. 100 cake stack of CD-R's. Imgburn returns the Manufacturer field as Manufacturer: Taiyo Yuden Co. The shrink wrap label on the cake stack has the JVC label, since JVC recently bought up Taiyo Yuden. It also says Victor Advanced Media Co. Ltd. joint venture of Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd. and Victor Company of Japan Limited. The label also has Made In Japan on it, along with Part #: J-CDR-WPY-SB, UPC code 0 46838 04098 6, and for Professional Use on it. My question is are these good Taiyo Yuden CD-R's? As I said, I've never had Taiyo Yuden before and I got burned last time buying CD-R's when the Verbatims I got were made by CMC Magnetcs. Thanks!

I was confused by the line that says Manufacturer. I just inferred it was an MID like was present on DVD recordable media. But, what do I know, especially about CD's?

Well, I'm adding Verbtaim CD-R's to my don't buy list. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get a decent product. It's not like I purposefully purchased Memorex. I don't know about these Pastel Disc ones. Do they even sell them here in the US? I did a search on Amazon.com for Verbatim CD-R and pastel and there were no pastel hits in the returned results. I've already gone ahead and ordered some Taiyo Yuden CD-R's. Is there an MID for those I should look for or one to avoid?

Yeah, I decided to make my next order Taiyo Yudens. This was my first time trying Verbatim CD-R's. I just thought since they used good quality dyes on their DataLife Plus DVD-R's, that they'd be a good go for my CD-R needs, too. Well, Verbatim CD-R's are now on my shit list.

I ordered some Verbatim CD-R's. When I got them, I put in one in my optical drives to check the Manufacturer ID. It was CMC Magnetics Corporation! First, years ago, Optodisc betrayed me by switching to CMC for their useless DVD-R's and now Verbatim has dipped into the poisoned pool of CMC media.

Because I'm quite, quite anal. Actually, it's because the bump annoys me. When the manufacturers make the layer break on a DVD, they make it where it will be less noticeable. So, usually not during dialog or music. I first noticed it in The Bride Of Frankenstein at a moment where some of that movie's wonderful musical score is playing when the monster enters the castle just before he's given a drink by Dr. Proetorius. I knew then I had to reburn most of them or I could never live with myself. The episodic discs didn't need reburning because the layer breaks usually occurred before the start of an episode. The sad thing about Memorex is at one time they used to make a quality product. I still have CD-RW's from Memorex that still work today, even now 10 years later. And they appear to make DVD+R discs with a high quality manufacturer. But, the rest of the stuff is junk. DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD+R DL. The industry screwed me over royally once. Back when Optodisc made a quality product, they were my DVD-R of choice. Then, they switched to CMC Magnetics. However, this was before I learned about CMC from the forums. So, I was thinking it was my stand alone DVD recorder, so, I replaced it for $500. Then, I thought it was the DVD PC burner, so, I replaced it for $200. This was after I'd spent like $400 on 2 100 disc cake stacks. #39;( Depends on where you're from. I get my media from either Amazon.com or NewEgg in the United States.

The seamless option can only be a problem with DVD players that don't support seamless layer breaks. So, there's very little chance your particular player will be affected by checking the option as the problem would mostly only be with older DVD players that don't support seamless layer breaks. The seamless option won't affect burn performance, though. Basically, Verbatims are still the best DL's to go with. I avoid Memorex products across the board because of how cheaply made they usually are. The Manufacturer ID is usually CMC Magnetics, which is bottom of the barrel media. And, yes, the bump in the video and audio you're experiencing is the layer break without the seamless option checked. I had to reburn about 100 discs because I forgot to set the seamless layer break option on them. #39;(

Even if you have gotten Memorex DVD+R DL's to burn in the past, I would recommend you check the Manufacturer ID on them. If it says CMC, avoid using those. If you're getting LBA errors on the Verbatims, then, it may be your drive needs replacing. My experience has been my burners need replacing about every 2 years. But, I work my drives to death, pretty much. I also get mine from NewEgg.

I did try that, yes. I swapped the connections for the two optical drives connection to the mobo. It just swapped around which drive wouldn't boot. First it was one, then the other after the swap.

Actually, one thing you may have mentioned that I didn't try was disconnecting ALL the SATA cables. I only tried the two leading to the optical drives. The two for the 2 HD's were never swapped, like they appear to have been by the tech.

So, basically, each song is its own separate track? That makes sense, if that's the case given that I believe the software does say analyzing track and verifying track for each "song." Actually, I think I do have a 1 track CD. It's of a 1950's radio program of Donovan's Brain with no separate "songs" breaking it up. It's one long track.

Well, I'm no expert on audio CD's!

Now that I think about it, I believe I did reset the BIOS options to the factory default at one point to test that. I remember it required one of the function keys to do it, so, I must have done it.