Answer Line: Rescue Files Trapped on a CD-RW Gone Bad

I had to abort copying a file to a CD-RW disc recently (using Adaptec's DirectCD 3). I'd transferred several important files to the disc before the copy interruption occurred, and now they're gone. Is there any way to retrieve my data?

Heidi Meiswinkel, Itasca, Illinois

The data is probably still somewhere on your disc. The trick is finding it.

First, three points of caution: Don't write additional data to the problem disc until you've successfully retrieved the files. Also, CD-RWs are too unstable for long-term storage of important files, so use CD-R discs for that purpose. Finally, never keep only one copy of an important file, no matter what media it's stored on.

So much for the lecture. Now let's get to work restoring those files.

DirectCD's ScanDisc utility (not to be confused with Windows' own ScanDisk) diagnoses and fixes bad CD-R and CD-RW discs. In DirectCD 3, you launch ScanDisc by selecting Start, Programs, Adaptec DirectCD, ScanDisc (your path may vary). This version of ScanDisc does not closely examine the entire disc, however, so don't expect miracles.

The ScanDisc version that comes with DirectCD 5 does a much better job, but to acquire it you must buy and install Easy CD Creator 5, which contains DirectCD 5. Roxio lists Easy CD Creator at $99, though I've seen it for as low as $69. To launch ScanDisc in DirectCD 5, double-click the DirectCD icon in your system tray and select CD Utilities.

If you're happy with your current version of DirectCD and you just need a better version of ScanDisc, consider CD-ROM Productions' $50 CD-R Diagnostic utility (see Figure 1). Instead of trying to restore a damaged disc for reuse (as ScanDisc does), CD-R Diagnostic copies the files to another location. You can download a demo version from our Downloads library.

If the software approach doesn't work, you can send your disc to a data-recovery service. I know of two companies that recover data from CD-R and CD-RW discs, and other companies probably offer similar services. I suggest you try AcoDisc first, because that company will evaluate your disc free of charge (except for shipping). Ontrack charges $100 just to look at the disc. Both companies will inspect the disc and tell you whether a restoration is possible before estimating the cost of that operation, which can range from $29 to $1000. Both companies also read, but do not alter, the damaged disc.

Once you've retrieved the needed data, throw the damaged disc away. Don't entrust more files to suspect media. Besides, CD-RW discs wear out over time as data is written and rewritten to them.