Tag Archives: CD

Burn Your CDs/DVDs With Free CDBurnerXP

image If you’re looking for value in a CD/DVD burner (and what can be better than free), then CDBurnerXP (last updated November 24, 2010), is definitely a significant freeware application.

The fairly simple interface makes it a breeze to use for even the most inexperienced user, although it should be said that some users have mentioned that the interface has some confusing aspects.  Hmm, I don’t see it.

I have burned dozens of CDs/DVDs in the last year using this free application, and in every case, CDBurnerXP did the job flawlessly.

If you’re looking for a free CD/DVD burner application to do what it says it will do, with an easy to work with interface, then CDBurnerXP could be the program you’ve been looking for.

The following screen captures illustrate just how “one click simple” it is to burn an ISO for example, using CDBurnerXP.

image

image

image

Now, how hard is that?

Quick facts:

Burn audio-CDs with, and without gaps between tracks

Burn on the fly (you don’t have to image the disc in advance)

Rip Audio-CDs to a Hard Drive

Obtains track-information (ID3-tags) from the Internet

Burn and create ISO-files

Create bootable discs

Drag-and-drop

Multilanguage interface

Customizable with many settings

Data verification after burn,

Simple cover printing

Supports most IDE, USB, FireWire and SCSI drives

Free – (for both personal and corporate use)

No adware, malicious components, or restrictions

System Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Win 7 (64 bit compatible)

Additional Requirements: .NET Framework 2.0

Download at: Cdburnerxp

Bonus: A portable version of this application is also available. Click on “more download options”, on the download page.

If you found this article useful, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

2 Comments

Filed under 64 Bit Software, CD/DVD Tools, downloads, Freeware, New Computer User Software Tools, Portable Applications, Software, Utilities, Windows 7, Windows Tips and Tools, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Bad CD or DVD? Recover the Data with Free CD Recovery Toolbox

image How many coasters do you have that started life as critical backup CD/DVD’s, or the CD/DVD’s that you entrusted to store a lifetime of photo memories? Well if you’re like most of us, you may have more than one.

As a long term file storage medium, CD/DVD’s are, in effect, all-purpose, durable and, generally inexpensive. The difficulty in relying on this storage medium however is; they aren’t always as reliable as we sometimes seem to think. Hint: Check your backups from time to time, to ensure they can still be read.

Recently, I experienced CD failure when testing a system using a special boot CD called, “The Ultimate Boot CD”, which ironically failed to boot despite the decisiveness of its name.

There I was stuck with an unreadable CD; but being the “geeky” kind of guy that I am, and having been through similar situations in the past, I’ve learned to double up on all my diagnostic tools. Later, I confirmed that the unreadable CD had not been burned correctly – the deadly “bad burn”. So you’re not alone in turning what you may consider to be, unusable/unreadable CD/DVD’s into expensive coasters.

But there is a solution that can help you to recover damaged data that you may have considered unrecoverable. Stepping into the picture is CD Recovery Toolbox (last updated May 12, 2010), a free CD/DVD file recovery tool.

image

This small, free application was designed to recover damaged files on CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-Ray disks. It can recover files that have been lost as a result of physical damage to the disk, (scratches, chips, and so on), or as a result of a bad or, inaccurate recording.

The program scans damaged CD and DVD disks and produces a listing of files and folders on the media, which it can recover. Be aware however, that depending on the degree of damage, there may be files that the application cannot recover.

cdrecovery_page03normal

In testing this product’s file recovery ability on a severely scratched and chipped disk, I’m happy to say, that it recovered 934 files out of a total of 936, that Windows could not read, and it did this in less than 2 minutes

Data recovery is generally a complex process, but even beginners will have an easy time with this application based on it’s step-by step wizard, which makes the use of the tool very simple and convenient.

Quick facts:

Recovers files/folders from CD and DVD’s

Recovers files larger than 4 GB

Detects lack of free space on the designated storage hard drive

System Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista.

Download at: Download.com

If you found this article useful, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

11 Comments

Filed under CD/DVD Recovery Tools, CD/DVD Tools, downloads, Freeware, Software, Utilities, Windows Tips and Tools, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Free Paragon Backup and Recovery – Incremental Backup Included!

Popular guest writer Rick Robinette, has a knack for finding great free applications. Paragon Backup and Recovery, one of Rick’s latest finds, is a highly inclusive free backup and recovery application which even includes incremental backup, something that’s rarely found in a free application. This application is a “must have”, for average computer users.

Paragon, a software development leader for over 15 years has available for non-commercial use (at home) a powerful disk imaging (backup) and recovery package (for FREE), called Paragon Backup and Recovery.

“Smart people backup; Backup & Recovery is smart backup.”

With Paragon Backup and Recovery, you can create a backup image of an entire hard disk (including GPT-discs!), or system partitions, to guarantee the operating system’s working capability.

The “cool factor” with this application is its ability to perform a differential backup that will only archive changes since the last full sector-based image, thus saving backup storage space.

In other words once you have made a complete backup image of your PC (preferably to an external drive), you can perform (select) subsequent differential backups that will only backup the changes from the initial full backup; thus saving time and drive storage space.

As with most disk imaging applications, make sure you create a recovery disk that can be used to boot up your system in the event your computer is no longer booting into Windows. With Paragon Backup and Recovery, you will have the option to create a bootable  USB Flash drive, CD or DVD to recover your PC on demand.

As you continue to read, you will notice that Paragon Backup and Recovery is loaded with numerous features that you typically do not see in other FREE comparable disk imaging applications.

If you currently do not have a backup or disaster recovery plan in place, Paragon Backup and Recovery is a great option.

If you want to learn more, I encourage you to take a look at the User’s Manual [ HERE ] that provides in-depth and detailed instructions on “how to” use this software.  These instructions are also a great starting to place to learn about disk imaging software.

Fast facts:

    • New Cyclic Backup – complete infrastructure for establishing a self-acting data protection system, fully compliant with the set-and-forget backup policy
    • NewSupport for the latest hardware as well as hard disk partitioning schemes.
    • NewSupport of all present day techniques to store backup images
    • Disk backup to save not only all on-disk information but also the system service structures. It is ideal for making a backup image of an entire hard disk (including GPT-discs!) or system partitions to guarantee the operating system’s working capability
    • Differential backup  to a sector image to only archive changes since the last full sector-based image, thus considerably saving the backup storage space. To restore this kind of backup you will require a full image and one of its differentials
    • Restore an entire disk, separate partitions image
    • Restore with Shrink to restore a backup amount of actual data of the image
    • Create bootable USB Flash drive, CD or DVD to recover your PC on demand
    • Differential Partition Backup (Create a differential image of a partition)
    • Recovery Media Builder: builds a new “recovery media” to boot from in case of an unbootable system
    • Check Recovery Discs: checks the recovery media for integrity and boot ability
    • Graphical representation of the data to gain a better understanding
    • Comprehensive wizards to simplify even the most complex operations
    • A context sensitive hint system for all functions of the program
    • Previewing the resulting layout of hard disks before actually executing operations (so-called virtual operations)
    • Create Partition
    • Format Partition
    • Delete Partition
    • Assign/Remove Drive Letter
    • Hide/Unhide Partition
    • Mark Partition as Active/Inactive
    • Modify: change volume label,Test Surface
    • Check File System Integrity
    • Add an archive to the database
    • Delete the archive from the database
    • Restore from the selected archive
    • Restore File From Archive
    • Differential backup
    • Check Archive Integrity
    • Mount/Unmount the archive
    • Backup Features
    • Restore Facilities
    • Advanced Backup Tasks
    • Supplementary Tools
    • User Friendly Fault Minimizing Interface
    • Partitioning tools
    • Operations with Archives

    System requirements: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP Professional SP2 (32/64-bit), XP Home SP2, Windows 2000 Professional SP4

    Download at: Paragon Software Group

    This is a guest post by Rick Robinette, who brings a background as a security/police officer professional, and as an information technology specialist to the Blogging world.

    Why not pay a visit to Rick’s site at What’s On My PC. Like me, you’re sure to become a frequent visitor.

    If you found this article useful, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

    18 Comments

    Filed under Backup Applications, Backup Tools, downloads, flash drive, Freeware, Guest Writers, Hard Drive Cloning, Hard Drive Imaging, Software, USB, Utilities, Windows 7, Windows Tips and Tools, Windows Vista, Windows XP

    Handy Backup Contest – And the Winners Are…..

    image

    I’m happy to announce the 2 winners of a free license for Handy Backup, a  superior backup application that is easy to setup, customize and run, for both less experienced and expert users alike.

    Congratulations to the winners:

    Susan – entered the contest on October 29, 2009.

    Marie Elena – entered the contest on November 14, 2009.

    The winners have been notified by email. If you weren’t one of the lucky winners, you can test drive this great application for 30 days by downloading Handy Backup at Download Handy Backup.

    After reading the following review of Handy Backup, which has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of backups”, I’m sure you’ll agree, this is a backup application worth checking out.

    Handy Backup Review:

    image Your computer setup is a reflection of you. Sure, everyone has their documents folder, their pictures folder, their office applications – but that’s where most similarities end. Think about it, your Photoshop settings, IM tweaks, browser preferences… everything is set up just the way you like it.

    Most backup software treats your data like big, faceless chunks of memory. They perform brute backups of your hard drive without regard to the fact that you did, really, truly, have things just the way you liked them!

    Handy Backup includes plug-ins for all of the popular programs (such as Outlook and Windows Mail), and if you don’t see what you need, you can actually create your own plug-in (as an XML specification) for that special app.

    Out of the box, Handy Backup is ready to go to work safeguarding your data, documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and email messages – either in a run-once situation, or as scheduled event. Your options include the ability to backup to local media, such as a CD, or to offsite storage on a secure FTP site.

    image

    As if backing up to local media, local servers, and offsite locations weren’t enough, all users of Handy Backup can also take advantage of the Novosoft Remote Backup Service. Think of it as super-duper-remote-always-on backup, with unlimited storage in a highly secure web server that’s fortified against technological and natural disasters, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Handy Backup lets you:

    Perform run-once and scheduled backups of your entire hard drive or selected directories.

    Use free plug-ins that backup and restore the unique profile settings of the most popular applications.

    Backup to local media, local servers, offsite servers, or the Novosoft Remote Backup Service.

    Who Needs Handy Backup? You do if you’ve ever:

    Had to recover data from backup, but then had to manually reset all of the settings for your applications.

    Wanted to take advantage of the larger storage capabilities of DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD media.

    System requirements: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP

    You can download a full-featured 30-days trial by clicking the following link:

    Download Handy Backup

    Stay tuned – in the next few weeks we will be reviewing the enterprise version of this application – Handy Backup Server. At that time, a free license (retail value $599), will be offered in a similar contest give away.

    Update – November 16, 2009: The winners have responded as follows

    Maria Elena – Gotta be a joke or scam cause I am 62 years old and never won a thing in my life!  If not thank you ever so much.

    Susan – Wow! Fantastic news! Your blog is extremely valuable all on its own, so this is truly icing on the cake.

    Another comment from Maria Elena – 🙂 :p Thank you thank you thank you. I really could use this as I have never been able to back up my system with the back up that is on the computer. I hate formatting my hard drive. Thank you my first prize!

    If you enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

    11 Comments

    Filed under Backup Applications, Backup Tools, downloads, Online Backup, Software, Software Trial Versions, Utilities, Windows 7, Windows Tips and Tools, Windows Vista, Windows XP

    6 Days Left for Handy Backup Professional – Free License Giveaway!

    image As part of our recent “backup your data, crusade”, we have arranged with Novosoft, the developers of  the award-winning backup application Handy Backup, to give away  2 licenses (retail value $99), for the Professional home version of their award-winning backup software. There are now only 6 days left until we pull the names of the lucky winners, but you still have time to get your name in – so, go for it!

    To enter the contest, simply add a comment at the end of this article. On November 16, 2009, all comments will be added to the online List Randomizer, and the first 2 names that come up, will win a free license for this terrific backup application.

    After reading the following review of Handy Backup, which has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of backups”, I’m sure you’ll agree, this is a contest worth entering.

    You don’t need to write a paragraph – “enter me in the contest”, or similar, is enough. Good luck!

    Handy Backup Review.

    image Your computer setup is a reflection of you. Sure, everyone has their documents folder, their pictures folder, their office applications – but that’s where most similarities end. Think about it, your Photoshop settings, IM tweaks, browser preferences… everything is set up just the way you like it.

    Most backup software treats your data like big, faceless chunks of memory. They perform brute backups of your hard drive without regard to the fact that you did, really, truly, have things just the way you liked them!

    Handy Backup includes plug-ins for all of the popular programs (such as Outlook and Windows Mail), and if you don’t see what you need, you can actually create your own plug-in (as an XML specification) for that special app.

    Out of the box, Handy Backup is ready to go to work safeguarding your data, documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and email messages – either in a run-once situation, or as scheduled event. Your options include the ability to backup to local media, such as a CD, or to offsite storage on a secure FTP site.

    image

    As if backing up to local media, local servers, and offsite locations weren’t enough, all users of Handy Backup can also take advantage of the Novosoft Remote Backup Service. Think of it as super-duper-remote-always-on backup, with unlimited storage in a highly secure web server that’s fortified against technological and natural disasters, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Handy Backup lets you:

    Perform run-once and scheduled backups of your entire hard drive or selected directories.

    Use free plug-ins that backup and restore the unique profile settings of the most popular applications.

    Backup to local media, local servers, offsite servers, or the Novosoft Remote Backup Service.

    Who Needs Handy Backup? You do if you’ve ever:

    Had to recover data from backup, but then had to manually reset all of the settings for your applications.

    Wanted to take advantage of the larger storage capabilities of DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD media.

    System requirements: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP

    You can download a full-featured 30-days trial by clicking the following link:

    Download Handy Backup

    Stay tuned – in the next few weeks we will be reviewing the enterprise version of this application – Handy Backup Server. At that time, a free license (retail value $599), will be offered in a similar contest give away.

    If you enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

    9 Comments

    Filed under Backup Applications, Backup Tools, Contests, downloads, Free Full Versions, Hard Drive Imaging, Software, Software Trial Versions, Windows Tips and Tools

    Handy Backup Professional – Free License Giveaway!

    image As part of our recent “backup your data, crusade”, we have arranged with Novosoft, the developers of  the award-winning backup application Handy Backup, to give away  2 licenses (retail value $99), for the Professional home version of their award-winning backup software.

    To enter the contest, simply add a comment at the end of this article. On November 16, 2009, all comments will be added to the online List Randomizer, and the first 2 names that come up, will win a free license for this terrific backup application.

    After reading the following review of Handy Backup, which has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of backups”, I’m sure you’ll agree, this is a contest worth entering.

    You don’t need to write a paragraph – “enter me in the contest”, or similar, is enough. Good luck!

    Handy Backup Review.

    image Your computer setup is a reflection of you. Sure, everyone has their documents folder, their pictures folder, their office applications – but that’s where most similarities end. Think about it, your Photoshop settings, IM tweaks, browser preferences… everything is set up just the way you like it.

    Most backup software treats your data like big, faceless chunks of memory. They perform brute backups of your hard drive without regard to the fact that you did, really, truly, have things just the way you liked them!

    Handy Backup includes plug-ins for all of the popular programs (such as Outlook and Windows Mail), and if you don’t see what you need, you can actually create your own plug-in (as an XML specification) for that special app.

    Out of the box, Handy Backup is ready to go to work safeguarding your data, documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and email messages – either in a run-once situation, or as scheduled event. Your options include the ability to backup to local media, such as a CD, or to offsite storage on a secure FTP site.

    image

    As if backing up to local media, local servers, and offsite locations weren’t enough, all users of Handy Backup can also take advantage of the Novosoft Remote Backup Service. Think of it as super-duper-remote-always-on backup, with unlimited storage in a highly secure web server that’s fortified against technological and natural disasters, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Handy Backup lets you:

    Perform run-once and scheduled backups of your entire hard drive or selected directories.

    Use free plug-ins that backup and restore the unique profile settings of the most popular applications.

    Backup to local media, local servers, offsite servers, or the Novosoft Remote Backup Service.

    Who Needs Handy Backup? You do if you’ve ever:

    Had to recover data from backup, but then had to manually reset all of the settings for your applications.

    Wanted to take advantage of the larger storage capabilities of DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD media.

    System requirements: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP

    You can download a full-featured 30-days trial by clicking the following link:

    Download Handy Backup

    Stay tuned – in the next few weeks we will be reviewing the enterprise version of this application – Handy Backup Server. At that time, a free license (retail value $599), will be offered in a similar contest give away.

    If you enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

    15 Comments

    Filed under Backup Applications, Backup Tools, downloads, Free Full Versions, Hard Drive Cloning, Hard Drive Imaging, Software, Software Trial Versions, Utilities, Windows Tips and Tools

    Handy Backup – Complete, EXTENSIBLE Backup Solution

    image Your computer setup is a reflection of you. Sure, everyone has their documents folder, their pictures folder, their office applications – but that’s where most similarities end. Think about it, your Photoshop settings, IM tweaks, browser preferences… everything is set up just the way you like it.

    Most backup software treats your data like big, faceless chunks of memory. They perform brute backups of your hard drive without regard to the fact that you did, really, truly, have things just the way you liked them!

    Handy Backup includes plug-ins for all of the popular programs (such as Outlook and Windows Mail), and if you don’t see what you need, you can actually create your own plug-in (as an XML specification) for that special app.

    Out of the box, Handy Backup is ready to go to work safeguarding your data, documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and email messages – either in a run-once situation, or as scheduled event. Your options include the ability to backup to local media, such as a CD, or to offsite storage on a secure FTP site.

    image

    As if backing up to local media, local servers, and offsite locations weren’t enough, all users of Handy Backup can also take advantage of the Novosoft Remote Backup Service. Think of it as super-duper-remote-always-on backup, with unlimited storage in a highly secure web server that’s fortified against technological and natural disasters, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Handy Backup lets you:

    Perform run-once and scheduled backups of your entire hard drive or selected directories.

    Use free plug-ins that backup and restore the unique profile settings of the most popular applications.

    Backup to local media, local servers, offsite servers, or the Novosoft Remote Backup Service.

    Who Needs Handy Backup? You do if you’ve ever:

    Had to recover data from backup, but then had to manually reset all of the settings for your applications.

    Wanted to take advantage of the larger storage capabilities of DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD media.

    System requirements: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP

    You can download a full-featured 30-days trial by clicking the following link:

    Download Handy Backup

    And now for some extra special news:

    Regular readers are familiar with the free application licenses we occasionally give away here on Tech Thoughts. Once again, we are in a position to do just that. Novosoft has generously provided us with 2 licenses (retail value $99), for the Professional home version of their award-winning backup software.

    To enter the contest, simply add a comment at the end of this article. On November 16, 2009, all comments will be added to the online List Randomizer, and the first 2 names that come up, will win a free license for this valuable backup application.

    You don’t need to write a paragraph – “enter me in the contest” is enough. Good luck!

    Stay tuned – in the next week or so, we will be reviewing the enterprise version of this application – Handy Backup Server. At that time, a free license (retail value $599), will be offered in a similar contest give away.

    If you enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

    10 Comments

    Filed under Backup Applications, Backup Tools, downloads, Software, Software Trial Versions, System Security, Utilities, Windows Tips and Tools

    CD Recovery Toolbox – Recover Damaged CD/DVD Data

    CD Recovery Toolbox, a free CD/DVD file recovery solution that can help you recover damaged data that you may have considered unrecoverable.

    damaged_cd So how many coasters do you have that started life as critical backup CD/DVD’s, or the CD/DVD’s that you entrusted to store a lifetime of photo memories? Well if you’re like most of us, you may have more than one.

    As a long term file storage medium, CD/DVD’s are, in effect, all-purpose, durable and, generally inexpensive. The difficulty in relying on this storage medium however is; they aren’t always as reliable as we sometimes seem to think.

    Recently, I experienced CD failure when testing a system using a special boot CD called, “The Ultimate Boot CD”, which ironically failed to boot despite the decisiveness of its name.

    There I was stuck with an unreadable CD; but being the “geeky” kind of guy that I am, and having been through similar situations in the past, I’ve learned to double up on all my diagnostic tools. Later, I confirmed that the unreadable CD had not been burned correctly – the deadly “bad burn”.

    So you’re not alone in turning what you may consider to be, unusable/unreadable CD/DVD’s into expensive coasters. But there is a solution that can help you to recover damaged data that you may have considered unrecoverable. Stepping into the picture is CD Recovery Toolbox, a free CD/DVD file recovery tool.

    cdrecovery_page03normal

    This small, free application was designed to recover damaged files on CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-Ray disks. It can recover files that have been lost as a result of physical damage to the disk, (scratches, chips, and so on), or as a result of a bad or inaccurate recording.

    The program scans damaged CD and DVD disks and produces a listing of files and folders on the media, which it can recover. Be aware however, that depending on the degree of damage, there may be files that the application cannot recover.

    In testing this product’s file recovery ability on a severely scratched and chipped disk, I’m happy to say that it recovered 934 files out of a total of 936, that Windows could not read, and it did this in less than 2 minutes

    Data recovery is generally a complex process, but even beginners will have an easy time with this application based on it’s step-by step wizard, which makes the use of the tool very simple and convenient.

    Quick facts:

    Recovers files/folders from CD and DVD’s

    Recovers files larger than 4 GB

    Detects lack of free space on the designated storage hard drive

    System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/2K/XP/2K3/Vista

    Download at: Download.com

    1 Comment

    Filed under CD/DVD Recovery Tools, CD/DVD Tools, Free File Recovery Applications, Freeware, Software, Utilities, Windows Tips and Tools

    Free CDBurnerXP – Burn Baby, Burn!

    image If you’re looking for value (and what can be better than free), CDBurnerXP is definitely a significant freeware application.

    The fairly simple interface makes it a breeze for even the most inexperienced user, although it should be said that some users have mentioned that the interface has some confusing aspects.

    A disadvantage for some potential users may be the necessity to download and install .Net Framework 2.0, which is a 22.4 MB Microsoft application (280 MB on install), that will take at least an hour to download over a dial-up Internet connection. Contrasting with that is the approximately ten minutes, or so, download time on even a slower cable Internet connection.

    I have burned, at least, several hundred CDs in the last year using this free application, and in every case CDBurnerXP did the job flawlessly.

    If you’re looking for a free burner application to do what it says it will do, with an easy to work with interface, then CDBurnerXP could be the program you’ve been looking for.

    image

    Quick facts:

    Burn audio-CDs with, and without gaps between tracks

    Burn on the fly (you don’t have to image the disc in advance)

    Rip Audio-CDs to a Hard Drive

    Obtains track-information (ID3-tags) from the Internet

    Burn and create ISO-files

    Create bootable discs

    Drag-and-drop

    Multilanguage interface

    Customizable with many settings

    Data verification after burn,

    Simple cover printing

    Supports most IDE, USB, FireWire and SCSI drives

    Free – (for both personal and corporate use)

    No adware, malicious components, or restrictions

    System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

    Additional Requirements: .NET Framework 2.0

    Download at: Download.com

    5 Comments

    Filed under CD/DVD Tools, Freeware, Multimedia Tools, Productivity Software, Software, Windows Tips and Tools

    Recover Damaged CD/DVD Data – Free CD Recovery Toolbox

    damaged_cd So how many coasters do you have that started life as critical backup CD/DVD’s, or the CD/DVD’s that you entrusted to store a lifetime of photo memories? Well if you’re like most of us, you may have more than one.

    As a long term file storage medium, CD/DVD’s are, in effect, all-purpose, durable and, generally inexpensive. The difficulty in relying on this storage medium however is; they aren’t always as reliable as we sometimes seem to think.

    Recently, I experienced CD failure when testing a system using a special boot CD called, “The Ultimate Boot CD”, which ironically failed to boot despite the decisiveness of its name.

    There I was stuck with an unreadable CD; but being the “geeky” kind of guy that I am, and having been through similar situations in the past, I’ve learned to double up on all my diagnostic tools. Later, I confirmed that the unreadable CD had not been burned correctly – the deadly “bad burn”.

    So you’re not alone in turning what you may consider to be, unusable/unreadable CD/DVD’s into expensive coasters. But there is a solution that can help you to recover damaged data that you may have considered unrecoverable. Stepping into the picture is CD Recovery Toolbox, a free CD/DVD file recovery tool.

    cdrecovery_page03normal

    (Click pic for larger)

    This small, free application was designed to recover damaged files on CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-Ray disks. It can recover files that have been lost as a result of physical damage to the disk, (scratches, chips, and so on), or as a result of a bad or inaccurate recording.

    The program scans damaged CD and DVD disks and produces a listing of files and folders on the media, which it can recover. Be aware however, that depending on the degree of damage, there may be files that the application cannot recover.

    In testing this product’s file recovery ability on a severely scratched and chipped disk, I’m happy to say that it recovered 934 files out of a total of 936, that Windows could not read, and it did this in less than 2 minutes

    Data recovery is generally a complex process, but even beginners will have an easy time with this application based on it’s step-by step wizard, which makes the use of the tool very simple and convenient.

    I have read a number of unrealistic complaints from some users, who have noted this application is “slow” at recovery. Instead of being thankful that a free application such as this can in fact recover what would normally be unrecoverable, and perhaps irreplaceable data, they whine and complain. Here’s some advice for those users – give your head a shake, and learn to be thankful!

    Quick facts:

    Recovers files/folders from CD and DVD’s

    Recovers files larger than 4 GB

    Detects lack of free space on the designated storage hard drive

    System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/2K/XP/2K3/Vista

    Download at: Download.com

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    Filed under CD/DVD Recovery Tools, CD/DVD Tools, Freeware, Geek Software and Tools, Software, Utilities, Windows Tips and Tools