can't restore backups..

[joechapoli]

Ok...so I wanted to make some backups and I have a kind of old copy of Nero on a cd...but when I tried to install it, I kept getting the same error, "file could not be found." The disc is a little bit dinged up and I figured maybe that caused the error. So I went to the nero site and dloaded the latest version and backed up my files...at the time I didn't realize it was just a trial version, since I don't really know much about nero or burning in general.

Later, when I went to restore my backups it said "your demo version has expired." So now it seems like I am stuck unable to restore my backups. I was wondering if anyone could help me on solving this problem. Thanks in advance if you can help.

[steve2713]

One solution is to burn the backups with DVD Decryter, it is free and does a great job. Only hurdle is that it only burns ISO images, so you may have to convert to ISO images if you want to go this route. You can use DVD Shrink to create ISO images, as well as other programs.

Does it tell you specifically what file is 'missing'? It is probably unable to extract the file from the disc, as you suggested. Also, what version of Nero is it? Maybe someone can help you if you know what file you need specifically. Also, some of the older versions of Nero did a poor job of burning compliant DVDs, so that'd be another reason to consider DVD Decrypter.

[joechapoli]

Well, as luck would have it my friend had an extra copy of nero and let me use his serial number. However, when I went to restore the backups I kept getting the same couple errors, "corrupt zip file" and another one, something about bad data or something. So I was only able to restore about 3/4 of the files I had backed up. But I guess there is nothing I can do about it since the files are already corrupt or whatever. Anyway thanks for your help steve.

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. Your friend is not allowed to "loan" you a serial number. They do make legit demos/trials for testing purposes. You could just as easily have tried another version. Or contacted Nero (Ahead) for some advice. A nearly-no-win situation, but rules are rules.
/ Moderator lordsmurf

[lordsmurf]

You may have just used cheap media. And the burns were bad, you just did not test.

[joechapoli]

Well, I tested the first backup I made and it was fine, but I didn't bother to check the rest (so far I have only restored 1 disc and it was the last one I burned). I kind of thought that verifying part at the end of the burn checked to see if it was a good burn or not. I am using Memorex media so maybe that is not the best.

[lordsmurf]

Verifying is no good. Use Nero CD-DVD Speed, DVDInfo Pro, etc to do a SURFACE SCAN of the media for good/bad blocks. Like a hard drive test.

For good media, see www.nomorecoasters.com

"Memorex" is a brand and means nothing.

[blinky88]

To test, verify or not, difficult to understand why it is necessary.

I have never verified or tested any disc I have burnt, to me it is absolutely, positively, a fruitless exercise, a complete waste of time. Simply put your disc into your DVD player and if it plays thought to the end without problems, you would have to think you have created a good backup. If you are unable to create a good backup and unable to backup the backup if the occasion arises, perhaps you should start examining:

1. The manner in which the blank media is handled.
2. Bad media.
3. Multitasking whilst actually doing the backup.
4. The software you are using.
5. The background processes you have running whilst the backup is being produced.
6. Burning faster than the recommended speed

There are many reasons why problems occur, perhaps you should look at developing a better method to create your backups.

The only software you need to successfully backup a DVD movie is 'DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink' and both applications are FREE.

There does seem to be a growing number of people around the globe, wasting a lot of their time verifying and testing. Surely, when you stick the backup into your DVD player and plays through to the end without error, that should be sufficant proof the backup is OK.

[jyn999]

Well, as luck would have it my friend had an extra copy of nero and let me use his serial number. However, when I went to restore the backups I kept getting the same couple errors, "corrupt zip file" and another one, something about bad data or something. So I was only able to restore about 3/4 of the files I had backed up. But I guess there is nothing I can do about it since the files are already corrupt or whatever. Anyway thanks for your help steve.

I think that you used Nero to burn a data disc which included video files. If you were making movie "backups" (in the sense that most people are familiar with), you would have used DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink and there wouldn't be error messages about "corrupt zip file".