Backing up CD-ROM games for personal use

[Samurai Ghost]

Hey guys, I have a question for you that might sound stupid but I just want to double-check.
I have a few CD-ROM units which have been refurbished to play CD-Rs perfectly. Now while I've never downloaded a PC Engine CD-ROM ISO (I have a big enough collection of CD games, trust me!), there are a few games I own that I don't really like taking out and using all the time, exposing to every day wear and tear (looking at you, practically brand-new copy of Dracula X). I'm anal about these kinds of things, and I tend to be clumsy with expensive stuff. So to avoid everyday abuse of a few collectable games, I was thinking about making some CDR backups to play instead.

Would this just involve popping the CD into my computer, making a straight copy with Nero Burning ROM, and burning on a low speed onto a high quality CDR? Any other settings or anything that I should mess with?

Again, sorry if this is a stupid question, I just want to be sure!

[bartre]

honestly you could probably just find a download of the iso if you looked online.
especially with the more popular games like drac x, i remember having no problems finding that one.

[Arkhan]

That will work fine, Samulai Ghost.

get some diamond silverback or taiyo yuden discs, for maximum quality.

[BigusSchmuck]

These are what I use:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817130023
Haven't had any problems yet, at least on my Duo-R...

[Arkhan]

holy christ you are overpaying for that.

[A_Locomotive]

holy christ you are overpaying for that.

If you want discs that will last though gold archival discs are what you want seeing as they don't oxidize so no risk of disc rot ever which is fantastic if you are storing something you absolutely don't want to loose like photos or documents. As for how they are for games, beats me I have yet to try a burned game in my Duo-R.

[Arkhan]

The silverdiscs are legit too.

[Opethian]

greenbacks are the worst

[Arkhan]

Yeah, damn turtles.

[jperryss]

I have a few CD-ROM units which have been refurbished to play CD-Rs perfectly...

Can you explain that part? Many of us have units that play CD-Rs with no issue.

And please don't say "Your Duo is gonna die because CD-Rs ruin the lenses of mere mortal Duos."

[SignOfZeta]

Rather than buying NASA-grade CD-Rs, I think it makes a lot more sense to just download ISOs of every game and burn them on the shitter discs as needed.

Or just learn to not scratch your originals. I've been collecting PCE for 19 years now. All my CDs play perfectly. It's not like CDs wear out or anything.

[jperryss]

Or just learn to not scratch your originals. I've been collecting PCE for 19 years now. All my CDs play perfectly. It's not like CDs wear out or anything.

That's pretty much it. Take a look at any CD that you bought new, played once, and never touched. See how nice and scratch-free it is? There's no reason your commonly-played discs can't be like that, seeing that you can remove and insert by touching only the outer edge, and only the inner edge gets touched by the drive. Just gotta treat them with baby-hands.

[BigusSchmuck]

holy christ you are overpaying for that.

Not when I use my newegg business account ^^ I think the only problem I have had so far on my Duo-R is that sometimes things don't load (like the ending in Ys 3), but a reset usually fixes that. Might be time to send this one off to the shop to get the caps replaced as well.

[spenoza]

You should note that there is no standard currently for archival digital media. Anyone can call their media archival as there is no standards body to certify or enforce this as there is with paper, microfilm, traditional film, etc...

Also, any CD, even pressed CDs, can have a far shorter lifespan than advertised. Whatever you do, plan on replacing discs.

[RegalSin]

thoughts about inserting disc into computer.

1. Don't do it, because you will damage the CD in the process, and thus ruin the cd for future generations. Your probably thinking about physical break down, but this occurs naturally to all things exposed to light and oxygen, and being exposed to various chemicals.

Their is no true alternative for backup. All computer data is temporary and must be backed up and stored
ever generation or so. newer computers also suck at this.

3. Also the entire PCE library is up and about online.
Because some r-tard inserted their disc in a computer.
Even if you make a direct copy, and burn it back to disc. There is a chance their will be a lock up,
or freeze in the gameplay, never ever be like the original disc. A complete waste of money, like a blow-up doll.

4. Backup data is not considered archival data because you are dealing with a physical product. If you just need a copy of the game, their are plenty of places to download from.