Windows 7 - Unable to read CD on XP that was made on Windows ME

Asked By PaulaGorsk

26-Jul-07 10:30 AM

I made backup CDs on my old computer that had windows ME of pictures and my
documents. I no longer have the old computer. Now on my HP XP media center
computer I am unable to read any of the CDs that were made on the old one.
The pictures and some of the other documents can't be replaced. Can someone
please tell me what I can do to get the pictures and documents off of the
CDs. The computer shows the Cds are full of data but can't read it.

26-Jul-07 10:53 AM

Did you use the Windows Me Backup program found in System Tools to create
the backup? Or did you simply copy the files to a CD?

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

26-Jul-07 11:00 AM

Hi Paula.

Try accessing the files from another computer. If this is successful, burn
the files to another brand CD that the new computer likes, or move them to
another form of media such as a thumb drive or external drive.

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

26-Jul-07 11:43 AM

The possibility that you used "Packet Writing" to copy the files comes
to mind.  How *exactly* did you copy the files?  What software and what
method did you use to copy them?  Did you perchance use a "Drag & Drop"
method?

John

27-Jul-07 02:54 PM

Forgot the name of the program I used to copy the files, but it was a drop
and drag program to get it to the CD. I did not use the system tool program to
back up.

27-Jul-07 02:58 PM

I tryed 3 different computers to try and look at the files and could not, but
the all had windows XP on them.

27-Jul-07 03:37 PM

Hi Paula,

This does not sound good. What application did you use to write the files to
the CD's?

I would suggest looking here also.
CD-Recordable FAQ - section 4
http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq04.html

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

27-Jul-07 05:18 PM

Then you probably need to install the same drag and drop (UDF) program, or
reader, onto the XP computer. You should at least find out what the software
was that you burned the discs with so you can get hold of its equivelent to
use in XP.

Be aware that installing this kind of software can cause some nasty
compatibility issues with the existing CD burning software on your XP
computer. Check into that first.  Also check if you are able to reinstall
your existing CD burning software. Since these pictures are important to you
it would not be unreasonable to uninstall the current CD burning software
from XP first, Then install the UDF software and recover your pictures onto
the harddrive. Remove the UDF software again and reinstall your original cd
burning software. Then burn the pictures onto normal DATA CDs for archiving
(can be read in any computer).
Data DVDs are an option too.