Burning DVDISO to Blank DVD without .MDS file

[blacklash123]

Hi there. I have several ISO files that were cloned from DVDs using a cloning software, not being ImgBurn. I wasn't aware of ImgBurn at the time and was curious about what I've read up on dual-layered DVDs. I've read that MDS files are usually created by ImgBurn when cloning dual-layered DVDs, and contain various pieces of information that include layer breaks. I've searched almost everywhere on the web, but none of the threads gave a straight answer about this matter. If anyone has a lot of knowledge on this topic, or is an expert in this field, I would humbly offer my thanks to your replies. What I would like to know are the following:

 

1) If I were to burn the ISO file to a blank dual-layered DVD using ImgBurn without a corresponding MDS file, would it be able to auto-detect layer breaks at the exact same places as the physical authentic DVDs? I would redo the whole cloning process with ImgBurn, but sadly, I got rid of some DVDs that are apparently out of print now years ago.

 

2) I also read others on the forum talking about creating a MDS file from the ISO files:

 

1) With virtual drives; something like Daemon Tools

 

OR

 

2) creating one under "Tools -> Create DVD MDS File" with ImgBurn?

 

I would like to know what good would come from creating MDS files with both these methods, and if that would produce a MDS file that is identical to the actual physical DVD disc. If I do decide to burn my ISO files to discs, I would like to make a copy that would be flawlessly identical to a genuine disc that I got rid of years ago, but worried about the dual-layer breaks (MDS) side of things.

 

3) Is there also a way to save the original meta data of the authentic disc and have it burned over with the ISO and MDS file as well?

Edited May 19, 2017 by blacklash123

[LIGHTNING UK!]

1 & 2.

If the source DVD was an otp style disc, there's a good chance ImgBurn will be able to locate a possible location for the layer break to go. If it can't, it'll tell you. You'll have to pick where it actually ends up via the selection box the program presents you with.

 

PTP style discs often have layer sizes that aren't compatible with the OTP DVD dl discs we can buy/burn. In those cases, you may need to mount the ISO in a virtual drive, then rebuild the file system and ultimately the image file using Build mode. Again, you'll have to pick the layer break position from a list of options.

 

The 'create mds file' feature won't help you here.

 

3. Meta data such as what? The program will try to copy the volume label from the virtual drive when building the new image, but that's it.

[blacklash123]

1 & 2.

If the source DVD was an otp style disc, there's a good chance ImgBurn will be able to locate a possible location for the layer break to go. If it can't, it'll tell you. You'll have to pick where it actually ends up via the selection box the program presents you with.

 

PTP style discs often have layer sizes that aren't compatible with the OTP DVD dl discs we can buy/burn. In those cases, you may need to mount the ISO in a virtual drive, then rebuild the file system and ultimately the image file using Build mode. Again, you'll have to pick the layer break position from a list of options.

 

The 'create mds file' feature won't help you here.

 

3. Meta data such as what? The program will try to copy the volume label from the virtual drive when building the new image, but that's it.

Thank you for replying.

 

Can ImgBurn tell where the layer break occurs if I have the physical, authentic DVD in my DVD drive? If I know the exact sector the layer break occurs, will I be able to create a MDS file that tells my burner to layer break when it reaches that specific sector? Does ImgBurn also have the ability to tell what disc style (OTP/PTP) my authentic physical DVD is if I have it in my DVD drive?

 

When I asked about meta data, I mean copy the exact details of the authentic disc like original burn date, applications used to do so, and etc. VSO Inspector was able to show me all that on the original disc. I'm not entirely sure what other data comprises of the MDS file, but does it include any of that sort of information as well?

Edited May 20, 2017 by blacklash123

[LIGHTNING UK!]

ImgBurn lists the physical layer break and OTP/PTP info in the disc info box on the right when you're in Read mode. If you want to use that info and make yourself an mds file , you can do.

 

That metadata is part of the file system and therefore part of the ISO itself.

[blacklash123]

ImgBurn lists the physical layer break and OTP/PTP info in the disc info box on the right when you're in Read mode. If you want to use that info and make yourself an mds file , you can do.

 

That metadata is part of the file system and therefore part of the ISO itself.

 

Thank you for following up and helping me out so far.

 

 

As you know, I got rid of some DVDs I once had, meaning it would be impossible to pinpoint the exact sector that the layer break occurs at. Here's the detail in Read Mode for one of the DVDs I still have:

 

Disc Information:

Status: Complete

State of Last Session: Complete

Erasable: No

Sessions: 1

Sectors: 3,219,725

Size: 6,593,996,800 bytes

Time: 715:31:50 (MM:SS:FF)

Supported Read Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x

Current Read Speed: 2.4x - 6x, 6x - 2.4x

 

File System Information:

Sectors: 3,219,725

Size: 6,593,996,800 bytes

Time: 715:31:50 (MM:SS:FF)

 

TOC Information:

Session 1... (LBA: 0)

-> Track 01  (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 3219724)

-> LeadOut  (LBA: 3219725)

 

Track Information:

Session 1...

-> Track 01 (LTSA: 0, LTS: 3219725, LRA: 0)

 

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded - L0):

Book Type: DVD-ROM

Part Version: 1

Disc Size: 120 mm

Maximum Read Rate: 10.08 Mbps

Number of Layers: 2

Track Path: Opposite Track Path (OTP)

Linear Density: 0.293 um/bit

Track Density: 0.74 um/track

First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608

Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 16,346,988

Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 1,923,279

 

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded - L1):

Book Type: DVD-ROM

Part Version: 1

Disc Size: 120 mm

Maximum Read Rate: 10.08 Mbps

Number of Layers: 2

Track Path: Opposite Track Path (OTP)

Linear Density: 0.293 um/bit

Track Density: 0.74 um/track

First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608

Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 16,346,988

Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 1,923,279

 

Layer Information:

Layer 0 Sectors: 1,726,672 (53.63%)

Layer 1 Sectors: 1,493,053 (46.37%)

 

 

Am I looking at the correct places indicate in red? The authentic DVD is OTP style with the layer break at sector 1,726,672? Is what I have on the picture below correct and exactly what I need in order to create a MDS to burn and layer break at the exact same places as the authentic DVD?

 

 

 

I would like to know what "Preserve Full Pathnames" does, and if this option will write any information in  and saved as part of the MDS file. I would also like to know if "Add To Write Queue When Done" is only meant for burning, and that it plays absolutely no role in the creation of the MDS file, meaning it does not affect the MDS file in any kind of way in terms of written content for when it is created.

 

Another question, I would like to ask if it's possible to open the MDS file and read it, like in text. Also, what's the difference between saving MDS in Ansi and Unicode? Would it not be more beneficial to always save in MDS Unicode in case there are special characters (like characters in different languages)? Or could MDS files saved in Unicode cause problems for other programs that uses it like DAEMON Tools? If I don't intend to use any other program with the MDS file, is it safe to say that I can keep saving as Unicode and still burn without problems? Sorry for troubling you so much with all these questions.

 

Last question. I promise. Can ImgBurn tell me addition information about the DVD? For example, the ISO File System (Volume Label, Creation Date, Publisher, Application) and the UDF File System (Volume Label, UDF Version, Recording Date, # of Directories, #of Files). Cross outs mean the ImgBurn already does that, but cannot be copy and pasted like the box on the right in Read Mode. It would be nice if there was a feature to save the information in Read Mode without having to copy and paste to notepad, but I don't really mind, since this program is already so extraordinarily good.

Edited May 24, 2017 by blacklash123