PlayStation
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What do I need Exactly to Copy a PlayStation Game?
I hear this question all the time.
It is a easy one, so I'll quickly explain.
1. a Computer. Mac or PC, from a cheap E-machine, to a top of the line computer.
You will also need at least 800 Mega Bytes of free space on your Hard Drive. Even though a PSX CD will be no bigger than 650 MB's. This is because most programs add MB's to build the Image. So a disc that is 600 MB's might appear as 700-730 MB's etc, after you make a Image. Or show you the disc is way bigger than it is when you Explore the CD on a burning program. It shows you this because it is pre-calculating the Image size.
Don't worry it will lose the extra MB's after you burn it and everything will fit fine on a 650 MB CDR.
2. a CD-Recorder. No not the CD-ROM Drive that comes with just about any old computer. But a Drive specially made to extract data, and write it to a Blank CDR Disc.
A CD-ROM Drive cannot write info to a disc, they can only extract it to your Hard Drive.
A CD-Recorder gives better extraction's though. They are made to read slower & with more definition, while most CD-ROM's read data quickly and without regards to definition. However I will say that newer drives made by trusted company's can read data as well as a CD-Recorder.
Yes the CD-Recorder Drive will still let you listen to music and do all the usual stuff you use your current CD-Drive for.
Feel free to have both drives set-up, & use your normal CD-Drive to listen to music.
But still I recommend only using your CD-Recorder. For both reading & writing when burning CD's.
Get a recorder that can copy CDROM. Write both TAO & DAO. Modes 1 & 2. CD-DA. CD-I. CD-Extra. VCD. Multisession. (Read & Write RAW Data is always a plus but not necessary) etc, etc.
(It will say what the drive is capable of on the side of the box).
I recommend these brands of CD-Recorders.
Plextor. Yamaha. Hewlett Packard.& SONY (Ironic eh?)
(Note; other company's buy & package drives and sell them under their own name. You might see a HP drive for $200. and see some no-name Acme brand drive for $150. that actually contains the same HP Drive, minus the HP name on the box & the HP Software. So ask what drive the box contains, if its a being sold by a company that isn't on this list)
3. Blank CDR Media. You will need to go buy blank CDR Discs. No, you cannot copy over silver bottom music cd's, or other discs you have laying around.
Those are made with ' Press Machines', not ' CD-Recorders'. Totally different. (one cost $800,000-$1,000,000. The other costs $200-$300. You figure out which one you have out of those two, o.k?)
CDR's are one time use. If you make a bad burn, you are left w/ a drink coaster. You can never record over them again.
Unless you leave the disc open to adding more files to the disc later. But we don't do this w/ PSX games, we close the disc.
(I am not going to go into CDRW Drive options, or CDRW Media. why? because they are so reflective, after time, they will burn out your PlayStations laser. Keep Away,...keep away)
Also, PlayStations (especially older models 100x-50xx), are very picky on what type of CDR they like.
Bad CDR's can give you discs that don't boot. Or discs that skip on Audio & FMV (Full Motion Video).
I recommend these brands.
SONY (Ironic again eh?). Verbatim.& TDK. (PNY is also O.K)
The 80 minute 700MB Versions of these CDR's are also perfect for PSX Games, although you don't need to ever use them, as no PSX is over 650 MB's.
Most don't even come close to 500 MB's.
4. a CD-Recording Software. CD-recorders will not just copy stuff by itself. You need a program to extract & burn. All CD-Recording Software is Different. Each has their limits.
Just because you cannot back-up all your PSX games with 1 software program doesn't mean you can't copy it.
You may be using the wrong settings on the program. Or you just might need another program plain & simple.
Different CD-Recording Programs tweak your CD-Recorder to do different things.
Some Only let you use but a few of the neat options your burner has, never letting you see the full capabilities it can offer.
These crappy programs usually come with your Burner, (aka AdaptCrap)
The good Stuff is usually found on the net and cost a great deal of money for the serials if you are Honest/Stupid enough to pay it.
Here's a list of Programs that I feel are must have for recording PSX Games...
1. CDR-Win (lets you patch PSX games & copy just about anything. Drawbacks are it can only write in DAO (Disc At Once) So folks with TAO (Track At Once) Drives can only make a image, not burn it w/ CDR-Win).
2. Clone CD (Can copy Copy Protected CD's, but your drive must be able to read & write RAW Data).
3. Nero 5x (Good for PSX games, but is a bit slow).
4. EZ CD Pro 95 (Lets you copy psx games by Track. So you can switch audio tracks to your own. And get around 2-second gap problems in psx games).
5. Win on CD (WinonCD 3.7 power edition). (Good for just about any psx game. Especially 2 Track games like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, Tomba 2, also great for VCD's that are multi track etc).
6. Disc Juggler 2.0 (The best for copying the DC Boot CD. And just about anything else!).
5. PlayStation Games. Yes, if you are going to make a PSX Back-up you will most likely need a PSX disc.
Unless you have a DSL Modem or some other High-Speed Internet, then you can download psx games without ever touching the original disc you little pirate!
However this Info is not for you to make Illegal Copies! You can only make 1 back-up of your original disc for protection etc.
As always....... good luck with your burns.
Nikone
Please Read Page 2, It will show you how to configure your PC so that you get the best results when burning CDR's