[Techtalk] Input/Output Error when reading from CD-RW

[TechChiq]

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 16:24:12 +0100, Hamster <hamster at hamsternet.org> wrote:

>> Please don't tell me the CD-RW is toast! I really can't replace the data
>> on it (I know I should have put it on CD-R instead, where I KNOW I can
>> read and get the files from it)...

> Hmm, Its not looking good I'm afraid. Have you tried reading it in 
> another machine?

I don't have another machine and I'm not going to try and get my 
boyfriend's computer here again. Last time he brought it over, it was here 
almost 2 weeks (ok, so I was overhauling his Winblows OS - and if he 
brings it again, I might just "accidentally" put Linux on it ;) I guess I 
could reformat the HD again and put Windows on temporarily to see if that 
would read it...

I should have KNOWN though... the "RW" part of this CD-RW hasn't worked 
great even in Winblows (note to self to get another CD-RW burner).

> If I understand correctly from your email, if you mount the cd manually
> (mount /dev/<cdrom device> /mnt/cdrom) an ls will work, but trying
> something cp <some_filename> will fail?

Exactly. I can even attempt to copy some of the file even, but then the 
rest of it won't copy - stops in the middle of copying and won't anymore.

> I'd be curious to see what happens if you after you mount the cd and you
> try doing a "raw" copy using dd. Something like dd if=/dev/cdrom 
> of=~/cd.iso

Ok, I'll try that - I never knew about the 'dd' and hoped someone here 
would have an incantation I oculd try. ;) I read another post where I have 
more suggestions to try. I was thinking of trying to get raw data but I 
didn't know how. This might at least work a little enough to get the more 
important stuff off the CD! :) I hope...

Will post my results a bit later. And thank you. :)

TechChiq