I've got around 30 DVD-Rs that were created about 20 years ago from old VHS home movies, but now I'm struggling to get the data off them. They look great physically, but my external DVD drive can't read most of them. I've had some success with a few, but about 75% just won't cooperate. I've tried using Handbrake, which managed to grab some clips, but it's hit or miss. I also noticed the discs have these annoying stick-on labels, and I'm worried they might be causing the issue, but I really don't want to risk making things worse by trying to remove them. I'm devastated at the thought of losing these videos forever, and I'm open to paying a reasonable fee for someone else to extract the content if that's an option. I'm looking for any advice or guidance on what I can do here!
5 Answers
It sounds like you could be facing "disc rot." It’s a real thing and can affect media over time. Many older CDs and DVDs I've had have succumbed to it. You might want to check the brand of your DVD-Rs too. Some brands just don’t last as well as others.
It's probably not scratches or dust causing the issue. The chemical composition of the discs can break down over time, especially if they were not stored properly. If they weren't archival quality, they might not last beyond a decade or so.
It’s tough, but even if those discs look good, the dye layer might have degraded over time. You could give ISOBuster a shot—there's a trial version to test if it can retrieve anything before you commit to buying. Also, how old is your DVD drive? If it’s been sitting unused, that might be part of the problem. Sometimes, newer drives can read old discs better. They’re pretty cheap nowadays too!
Try adjusting your ripping software to rip at a slower speed, like 1x. It can sometimes help with those tricky reads. I get that you're just trying to copy the raw data and not convert it yet, but a slower speed can be worth a shot!
Sorry to say, you might be out of luck. Sometimes those older DVD-Rs just aren't reliable for the long haul, especially if they’re from brands that aren’t known for durability. The good news is there are data recovery services that might help, though they'll likely charge a fee.
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