dvdisaster is a free open-source data recovery tool for optical media (CD, DVD, Blu-ray). It creates error correction data (Reed-Solomon codes) to recover unreadable sectors from damaged discs.
Core Concept
Works at the image level (ISO) independent of file system. Even if file system metadata is damaged, data can be recovered if ECC data exists.
Protection Modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| RS01 | Separate error correction file (.ecc). Stored on different medium. Obsolete. |
| RS02 | Appends ECC data to ISO file. Burned directly to disc. Supports adaptive reading. |
| RS03 | Supports both separate files and augmented images. Faster on multi-core CPUs. More robust. |
How to Use
Workflow
- Create image:
dvdisaster -d /dev/cdrom -i disc.iso -r - Generate ECC:
dvdisaster -i disc.iso -e disc.ecc -c(RS01) ordvdisaster -i disc.iso -mRS02 -n DVD -c(RS02) - Recover:
dvdisaster -i damaged.iso -e disc.ecc -f
Common Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
dvdisaster -d /dev/cdrom -s | Scans medium for read errors |
dvdisaster -i image.iso -e ecc.ecc -c | Creates ECC file |
dvdisaster -i image.iso -e ecc.ecc -t | Verifies image integrity with ECC |
Important Notes
- ECC data must be created before disc is damaged. Cannot repair without it.
- Free and open-source (GPL).
- Cross-platform: Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Unix-like. Windows versions no longer maintained.
- Original project archived. Active community fork on GitHub: https://github.com/speed47/dvdisaster
- Alternative URL: https://dvdisaster.jcea.es/