DVD Disc Repair

DVD Disc Error Repair / DVD Data Recovery

To start with we are going to go with the software that will not only give you your best shot but also gives the widest range of choices in how to recover from the DVD errors within one software solution.

If you haven't already, it may be a good idea to go to the Home page of this site and run through the checklist of things that could possibly be causing you to have to try a DVD disc repair in the first place. Once you are certain that you don't fit in to any of those situations you can get started here.

On data DVD discs you will get failures to read the data or even detect the presence of the disc itself.

DVD burn errors create the same effect with the data not recorded correctly on the burning surface of the disc and throwing confusion into the situation. The software spits a silly error message at you in the hopes that you will go away!

DVD Errors - No Disc - Disc Error

1. Scratches, marks or physical damage to the surface of the DVD disc.

2. DVD disc data errors.

On video DVD discs this will cause skipping, jumping or macro blocking (big squares on the screen) as a result of the software trying for too long to re-read the difficult section. You may also get a total failure of the DVD reader to detect the disc or begin playback.

Data errors occur when the file structure on the DVD was originally put on he disc. Incorrect references within the DVD folders and directory can be created leaving some part or parts of the file structure referring incorrectly to other parts of the file structure.

There are basically two types of error.

Boy, if I had a dollar for every nonsensical DVD disc error message I have seen or been told about then I would have...ok about $20 or $30...but that's not the point!

The REAL point is that none of them really give you much to go on as far as where to begin a DVD disc repair. So beginning on this page I will try to take you through as close to a logical step by step of DVD disc repair as I can.

Nero is our first software cab off the rank. It has an excellent DVD burning engine and, as a result of that, has very good ability to read from damaged discs or DVD discs with errors regardless of the cause.

So regardless of what is causing the problem, provided it is not something covered elsewhere on this site, what we first need to do is to get the data off the disc. We cannot manipulate or change the DVD data while it is still on the disc.

If you don't already have a copy then go to this link Nero 9 or Nero Back It Up and Burn and download the software.

Warning! DVD Disc Repair requires patience! Very often the software will be trying a number of different strategies for reading a damaged disc or a disc with internal errors. At times it may seem that nothing is happening. Before you go hitting buttons or whatever, go out and make a coffee, relax, give it plenty of time.

What you do next depends on the type of DVD disc repair you are attempting. If you have a troublesome Video DVD Disc then we need to get the contents off the disc, if possible, keeping the original DVD file structure and folders intact. If you have a Data DVD Disc then that is easier because all we need to do is get the data.

Simply follow the on-screen instructions and select the type of media (DVD / CD etc) and then try the "Fast Scan" first. Usually with data DVDs this "down and dirty" scan will be enough for Nero 9 or Back It Up and Burn to identify all the files on the disc.

Once the scan is complete there will be a window for you to see what files Nero RescueAgent has found. Check through the list. Anything marked yellow is damaged but may be recovered. Anything in red is badly damaged and may not be recovered.

Select the files you want to recover and where you want them to go and let it run.

That's it!...I hope.

If that didn't work re-scan the disc using Nero "RescueAgent" only this time choose "Deep Scan." Be prepared for a wait as this will take some time. Check to see if Nero has come up with better results and if it has extract the newly discovered file pieces.

DVD Disc Repair Continued next page.

Open Nero "StartSmart" and go to the "Toolbox" section. Select Nero "RescueAgent." This is a totally cool little application they have just introduced with Nero 9 and for me has resulted in at least three of my other pieces of software specific to DVD disc repair becoming obsolete. Dang!

If you still haven't recovered the data don't worry, we haven't finished yet but the next steps can only be done with Nero 9, not the cut down version Back It Up and Burn.

Go back to Nero "StartSmart" and choose to open "Recode." Nero Recode is a totally separate module within Nero 9 so has a different set of strategies for reading discs. We are going to use that to our advantage.

With the problem DVD loaded in the DVD tray and "Recode" open, select "Recode an Entire DVD to DVD." A new window will open which we need to set up correctly.

If you have a Data DVD keep reading this page.

For a Video DVD Disc repair go to this page: DVD Disc Repair Part Two!

Data DVD Disc Error Repair / DVD Data Disc Recovery

a.	On the top tab make sure that "DVD Data Files" is selected.
b.	On the bottom right hand side select "Fit to target."
c.	Below that is a box showing the disc size of the "target" so make sure it is the same as the disc you have loaded.

Still no joy? Click on the link below and pick up the procedure from the point headed DVDFab.

If you are lucky the result of this process will be fully repaired DVD files now sitting on your hard drive.

Now select "Import DVD," navigate to the disc in your DVD tray and import. Recode will now copy the contents of the disc across to the hard drive. It will place those contents into a folder in your "my Documents" folder called "Recode."

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Since I first wrote this page Nero have released a chopped down version of their Nero 9 DVD Burning Suite. This version has the burning abilities of Nero 9 and also contains the data recovery module they call RecueAgent. It leaves out various other features so I will leave it to you to decide which version will suit you.

DVD Repair Tips Home

DVD Disc Repair
DVD Disc Repair P.2
DVD Disc Repair P3
Fix VTS Tutorial

Repair Scratched DVDs
Repair Scratched DVDs P.2
CD DVD Disc Repair Machines

DVD Copying Software
DVD Recovery Software
DVD Burning Software
Best DVD Software
DVDFab Review
Nero 9 Review

Merge Combine DVDs
DVDRemake Pro Tutorial

Unfinalized DVDs

What is DVD?