Mini/Maxi images in mdf/mds format won't work

[Dominator86]

Hello!

I have the problem that mini or maxi images won't work for me with Deamon Tools Lite. I've tried many versions without success.

When I try to mount such an image, it's not accessible. Windows says only something about corrupted data...

What I've seen so far, this happens only with mds/mdf images, because I have many iso images, that actually are working.

I already tried to post this in the Daemon Tools forums, but my post never got approved by a moderator - maybe because mini/maxi images are primarily used for pirated games. :(

Does someone know, what actually causes this problem?
If there is no solution, is there maybe a way to convert them properly into iso format?

[TippeX]

not accessible is NORMAL..
the mini images contain (usually) NOTHING except the protection signature...
so, mount, do NOT click the drive in explorer, or try and access it...
just run the game exe and all should go well (optionally running yasu or whatever to bypass blacklisting...)...

and iso format is useless for protected disks...

you didn't somehow think you could download a mini image and manage to install the game from it did you?...

i suggest you read the faq... and finish registration too...

[Dominator86]

I'm sure only the files shouldn't be accessible, but not the WHOLE drive. :confused:

I've already heard, that the iso format is useless for mini images...

I know, that I can't install games with mini images ;)

BUT, every game won't recognise that there's a CD/DVD in the drive when I mount mini images, so I think it's NOT normal that the whole drive isn't accessible.

Sorry, I know that this isn't the right forum for DT troubleshooting, but I won't get support over at the DT forums, so I posted here, because there is a big chance of finding someone knowing why mini images won't work for me.

Edit: OMG, I didn't notice, that there actually is a "CD/DVD Copy Protections & Utilities" forum. Would be great if a moderator could move my topic there. Thanks!

[TippeX]

I'm sure only the files shouldn't be accessible, but not the WHOLE drive. :confused:

some mini/maxi images wipe out the sector 16 contents, making the drive 'inacessible' in explorer etc, however the protections still 'find' the signature they're looking for on the drive usually...

it really depends on how the mini/maxi image was made, and also (possibly in your case) any filter drivers you may have installed...

as a general rule of thumb, just mount the mini image, and leave it alone (dont click drive in explorer etc..) and just run the game exe and hope for the best...

i'll also try and move the thread.. if its still here, i was unsuccessful ...

perhaps give a link or whatever to what image you're actually trying and i can see if i get the same inaccessible warning etc... i think it is heavily dependant on (1) who made the image and (2) how it was made..

[Dominator86]

perhaps give a link or whatever to what image you're actually trying and i can see if i get the same inaccessible warning etc... i think it is heavily dependant on (1) who made the image and (2) how it was made..

Most mini images I was trying to use were made by Poseden, if that helps, but I can't get any mini image to work.

Every game just says, that I should insert the CD or DVD.

Last image i've tried to use: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts [GERMAN] No-DVD/Fixed Image (http://m0008.gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_company_of_heroes_opposing_fronts.shtml#Company %20of%20Heroes:%20Opposing%20Fronts%20[GERMAN]%20No-DVD/Fixed%20Image)

[TippeX]

"The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable."

[I] Init cd/dvd sector scan for Drive O
Failure Retrieving Cd/Dvd geometry.. aborted
[!] Disc appears to have no protection or is using an unknown protection
- Scan Took : 0.984 Second(s)

(from protection id - sector scan)

i can only agree with you on this, that image is a very bad one...
(mounted in daemon tools advanced.... dont think that matters though)..

it does however have sector 16, containing safedisc (from the looks of it) data.. however there is also NO table of contents... at best the disk has a signature, so if it works it just means safedisc is worse than i thought (most protections at least try and get the volume information / disk geometry... which would fail in this case)...

my honest opinion is that getting this image to work is probably more hassle than its worth, and making your own mini image might be the best alternative, from the looks of things poseden in this case patched far too many bits out...

/me is going to update protection id now to 'assume' a typical sector geometry if the geometry check fails...

hmm, correction .. looks like it was securom (should have checked the top of the url in the link you supplied...)

and i scanned the wrong damned drive last time (Q and O look so similar when you're half asleep)...

I] Init cd/dvd sector scan for Drive Q
[!] Disc Protection: SecuROM Signature v 4.85/5/7 (or higher) (DVD)
- Scan Took : 0.828 Second(s)

so the sector information is readable, however the disk itself isn't accessible in explorer, command prompt etc..
and if i click it in explorer i get the 'please insert disk...' messagebox...

so the protection check might work, no toc on the disk, so its anyones guess really... if it works successfully
and every time i'd be very very surprised...

the problem is not everyone can check these mini/maxi images and some people report it works for them, when
it doesn't work for others... and we can't exactly 'validate' their claims :(

[Dominator86]

I see, but isn't it strange, that I can't get ANY mini image to work?
Maybe I should add, that I didn't have any problems with mini images with my previous computer. (R.I.P. :( )

Btw. which tool are you using to check images?

[TippeX]

protection id is what i use to check the images...
you can also use hex workshop to access the drive but its not as simple :)..

hmm, some mini images should work, indeed i used some when developing some portions of protection id...

some can fail if you have other drivers installed, filter drivers for example and such, or in some (rare) cases, a different os...

are there any critical differences between your current pc and the dead one ? (excluding processor, ram, hdd space and so on?)..

[Dominator86]

Hardware is completely new/replaced.
Software is Windows XP Pro SP3, DT 4.12.2 and YASU 1.4.

I don't really know what a filter driver is, but I had to install a DVD-RAM driver for my drive to be able to access and burn DVD-RAMs.