Strange behaviour reading multi-session DVDs to image file

[bj.8.trades]

When I read Nero Backup multi-session (2, in this case) DVDs to an image, the resulting file contains the first session, followed by the first session again, then the 2nd session.

 

Here's the appropriate snippet of a log file, in case it's of any use...

 

I 20:04:56 ImgBurn Version 2.5.0.0 started!

I 20:04:56 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 20:04:56 Total Physical Memory: 2,096,344 KB - Available: 1,663,984 KB

W 20:04:56 SPTD can have a detrimental effect on drive performance.

I 20:04:56 Initialising SPTI...

I 20:04:56 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 20:04:56 Found 4 DVD-ROMs, 2 DVD±RWs and 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 20:15:18 Operation Started!

I 20:15:18 Source Device: [2:0:0] HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62N CL00 (V:) (ATA)

I 20:15:18 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD+R) (Disc ID: CMC MAG-E01-00) (Speeds: 4x, 8x)

I 20:15:18 Source Media Sectors: 2,284,880 (Track Path: PTP)

I 20:15:18 Source Media Size: 4,679,434,240 bytes

I 20:15:18 Source Media Volume Identifier: 18 Tryouts 31_3

I 20:15:18 Source Media File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 20:15:18 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / 8x

I 20:15:18 Hardware Read Error Retries: 2

I 20:15:18 Destination File: G:\Temp\D0422 Backup_3.img

I 20:15:18 Destination Free Space: 132,635,914,240 Bytes (129,527,260 KB) (126,491 MB) (123 GB)

I 20:15:18 Destination File System: NTFS

I 20:15:18 File Splitting: Auto

I 20:15:18 Reading Session 1 of 2... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 723407)

I 20:15:18 Reading Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 723407)

I 20:17:19 Reading Session 2 of 2... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 1561471)

I 20:17:19 Reading Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 723408 - 2284879)

I 20:22:50 Image MD5: f75296fa0a4e159568a59302b13df10e

I 20:22:50 Exporting Graph Data...

I 20:22:50 Graph Data File: G:\Temp\D0422 Backup_3 R_HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62N.ibg

I 20:22:50 Export Successfully Completed!

I 20:22:50 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:07:27

I 20:22:50 Average Read Rate: 10,223 KB/s (7.4x) - Maximum Read Rate: 17,959 KB/s (13.0x)

 

There's no indication of anything unusual in the log file, of course. The operation takes some time beyond when the progress-bar hits 100%... getting that extra session copy processed, I guess. ;-)

 

I thought maybe this is behaviour is specific to Nero-created (or just Nero BackItUp in particular, vs. Burning ROM, etc.) discs, or even multi-session on DVD+R media. I ran another test, using Roxio CD-Creator to burn 2 UDF/ISO9660/Joliet data sessions to a DVD-R. Same results.

 

I also burned a multi-session CD -- that one ImgBurn read just fine, no duplication of tracks.

 

It's notable that both Nero and Roxio warn that multi-session on DVD (presumably, since I'm pretty sure you don't get the warning burning multi-session CDs) recordable media may be unreadable to the OS. And while the OS seems to have no problem with the discs themselves, I've only found 2 products so far that can make fully functional images from them: IsoBuster (which reads it's images fine but, when they're mounted by virtual-disk products, only the 1st session "comes through"), and DaemonTools.

 

I prefer making images with ImgBurn, because an MD5 is calculated on the fly, and the graph files are sometimes interesting.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

To be honest, I've never made a multisession DVD and never attempted to read one - so it doesn't surprise me that it doesn't work correctly.

 

Any chance you could post the text from the disc info panel on the right when you're in read mode?

[bj.8.trades]

To be honest, I've never made a multisession DVD and never attempted to read one - so it doesn't surprise me that it doesn't work correctly.

 

Any chance you could post the text from the disc info panel on the right when you're in read mode?

 

Here 'tis:

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62N CL00 (ATA)

Current Profile: DVD+R

 

Disc Information:

Status: Incomplete

Erasable: No

Sessions: 3

Sectors: 2,284,880

Size: 4,679,434,240 bytes

Time: 507:47:05 (MM:SS:FF)

 

File System Information:

Sectors: 2,284,880

Size: 4,679,434,240 bytes

Time: 507:47:05 (MM:SS:FF)

 

TOC Information:

Session 1... (LBA: 0)

-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 723407)

Session 2... (LBA: 2296280)

-> Track 02 (Mode 1, LBA: 723408 - 2284879)

-> LeadOut (LBA: 2284880)

 

Track Information:

Session 1...

-> Track 01 (LTSA: 0, TS: 721360, LRA: 0)

Session 2...

-> Track 02 (LTSA: 723408, TS: 1561472, LRA: 0)

 

Disc Control Blocks Information:

SONY DW-D26AJWS6

 

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):

Disc ID: CMC MAG-E01-00

Book Type: DVD+R

Part Version: 1

Disc Size: 120mm

Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified

Number of Layers: 1

Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)

Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit

Track Density: 0.74 um/track

First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608

Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711

Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

 

Hmm... interesting how the "Session N... (LBA: N)" lines don't show a begin-end range, and the 2nd session indicates a LBA* way at the end of the disk. Compare to the info from the small test CD mentioned earlier...

 

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62N CL00 (ATA)

Current Profile: CD-R

 

Disc Information:

Status: Incomplete

Erasable: No

Sessions: 3

Sectors: 13,097

Size: 26,822,656 bytes

Time: 02:56:47 (MM:SS:FF)

 

File System Information:

Sectors: 12,841

Size: 26,298,368 bytes

Time: 02:53:16 (MM:SS:FF)

 

TOC Information:

Session 1... (LBA: 0 - 941)

-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 941)

-> LeadOut (LBA: 942)

Session 2... (LBA: 12342 - 13096)

-> Track 02 (Mode 1, LBA: 12342 - 13096)

-> LeadOut (LBA: 13097)

 

Track Information:

Session 1...

-> Track 01 (LTSA: 0, TS: 940, LRA: 0)

Session 2...

-> Track 02 (LTSA: 12342, TS: 753, LRA: 0)

 

ATIP Information:

Disc ID: 97m31s07f

Manufacturer: Ritek Co.

Start Time of LeadIn: 97m31s07f

Last Possible Start Time of LeadOut: 74m45s01f

 

* This poster needs an English/grammar lesson: should it be, "a LBA", or, "an LBA"? The first doesn't sound right, unless you read it as, "a Logical Block Address."

Edited October 26, 2009 by bj.8.trades

[LIGHTNING UK!]

I find it easier to read when it's 'an LBA' - each to their own!

 

CD and DVD have to use different TOC commands, that's why there is a difference in the reported data.

 

It's the lack of any sort of gap between the two session/track entries that'll be throwing it off. I guess I need to get burning a multisession DVD+R so I can fix the issues.

 

If you ignore the following line, everything looks ok in your initial log.

 

I 20:17:19 Reading Session 2 of 2... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 1561471)

 

Just exactly how screwed up is the image file? The actual 'Reading Track' entries are more important and they appear correct.

 

Thinking about it, I'm fairly sure there's no multisession MDS creation support within ImgBurn, so even if the image file itself is fine, there's no way you'd ever be able to get at anything beyond the first one.

 

What type of files does IsoBuster create for this disc?

[bj.8.trades]

Just exactly how screwed up is the image file? The actual 'Reading Track' entries are more important and they appear correct.

Let's put it this way: if I copy the "screwed up" image (which is 6,160,973,824 bytes in this case) to another image file, skipping the first session by starting at offset LBA 723408, the resulting copy will be perfect: session 1 followed by session 2, just as if I did a raw sector-by-sector of the disc itself... like IsoBuster does...

 

What type of files does IsoBuster create for this disc?

A .cue file:

FILE "D0422 Backup.iso" BINARY

 

REM ORIGINAL MEDIA-TYPE: DVD+R

 

REM SESSION 01 ; Not supported by other applications (*)

TRACK 01 MODE1/2048

INDEX 01 00:00:00

REM MSF: 00:00:00 = LBA: 0

 

REM SESSION 02 ; Not supported by other applications (*)

TRACK 02 MODE1/2048

INDEX 01 160:45:33

REM MSF: 160:45:33 = LBA: 723408

 

REM (*) SESSION directives are unfortunately not properly supported

REM 'out there'. IsoBuster however supports them !

Incidentially, this is more-or-less just like what ImgBurn would create for a multi-session CD. Wish there was a virtual-drive package out there that could use it -- nice and simple (for this particular purpose, anyway.)

 

Also incidentially, IsoBuster can create such .cue files from a quick scan of the physical disk, without having to write an image. Wouldn't that be a great feature to have around for other files like .ccd, .mds, etc. Then you could replace a lost control file without having to re-rip the whole disc (well, if it's a "simple" one, anyway.)

Edited October 28, 2009 by bj.8.trades