hello people i think this might be the best place to post this in so I'll begin
I've been into cd/dvd media for some time now since the first drives appeared
what im confused about as time goes by is the following things.

nearly all CD Writers will make a perfect 1:1 copy of a disc in most cases.
but you cannot make a perfect 1:1 copy of a DVD why is this? and since this
problem has been around for so long why hasn't any manufacturers actually
looked into this issue and made it possible just like they do with CD Writers.

Next is What exactly stops a backup copy of a disc from running in a drive
for instance the "please place the Correct CD-ROM in the drive?
what im trying to find out is if there is a disc in the drive a complete backup
or copy of the original with the same data burned on it why cant it find the
the CD? if the protection is built into the .exe whats the difference
it's burned that .exe to the backup / copy disc so whats the deal?

Next is the biggest question i can't get my head around...
how does Making an Image and using emulation Software actually
get passed all this Copy Protection whats the difference its still acting
as a CD-ROM but a virtual one, so why would emulating work any differently than a real CD-ROM ide or Sata

Also would emulating work without selecting a copy-protection profile?
like alcohol/daemon tools is this why a virtual drive works because of the
built in profiles to generally fool the protection?

Please can someone give me an in depth answer on all the above as
i would really like to understand the difference why you can make a 1:1cd
but you cannot make a perfect 1:1dvd, if they let you do it with cd why not dvd

i hope this isn't too long winded and who knows it might help others too.

o come on 28 + views and not 1 single reply i take it that you people
don't know either then?

Tut tut a bit impatient aren't we.

The answer is so simple it is staring you in the face.
CD's are single layer and although pressed can be cloned just about exactly and being older technology are not as sophisticated.

DVD's on the other hand are or can be dual layer so that if you try to copy the contents to a single layer it's not going to fit.

As to games DVD's it's the protection used to stop copying that causes the message asking for the original disc. However most but not all can be copied successfully if you do the research on the web and follow the instructions from those who have gone before and achieved success.
This may be not what you are looking for but if you are patient some one else may give a further insight.

Blank CD and DVD media have information on them that indicates they are a CD or DVD recordable type disc. Some software will refuse to play/run if it detects that the media is of a recordable type (obviously not the original). Emulation software can help hide this information.

CD (being a very old technology) will allow you to read full sector data (2352 bytes). CD burners also allow you to write in 2352 byte mode. DVD is more controlled and it is not as easy to read full sector data (2064 bytes). Even if you can read the full 2064 byte data from a DVD, burners are not designed to let you burn the extra data. You normally can only burn the user data part which is 2048 bytes.

Virtual drives can hide the fact that the media is a recordable. Also, some emulator software can fool the software to make it think that the copy protection being looked for is indeed present.

I don't think DVD drive manufacturers are allowed to include RAW type writing in their firmwares. This would probably violate the DVD forum spec and then the manufacturer would not be allowed to sell drives that claimed DVD support. They all must follow rules so this is probably why we have not seen any drives come out that can make 1:1 copies.

That's my understanding but maybe I'm wrong.

okies Weed thank you for being 1 who's tried to help and reply but the part you
mentioned about a dvd being dual layer i don't think has anything to do with it.
from what I've read and i might be wrong its because dvd writers cant write RAW data
or something to that effect so my question still remains after all this time why has no
writer manufacturers actually seen this as an advantage to blow competition out the water?

Also no ones even attempted to answer about the virtual drives yet lol
i thought i'd of had 100's of people replying with technical knowledge on all this.

Edit: this post was wrote before i seen the 2nd reply sorry

I edited my post too after you probably read it.

RAW DVD writing is even not allowed nor welcomed because of the industry "standards" that don't allow REAL 1:1 copies.

i cant see how they can actually stop it from being designed since they support
many many other options for writing im sure some brand somewhere ignores this
stupid silly regulated rule.

can anyone expand on how emulating is treated by windows different than
a real cd/dvd drive, after all all a virtual drive is, is fooling windows its a real drive
so im still finding it hard to get my head around why a virtual drive can play a image
or a backup disc you made from a legally protected disc but yet a copy from a legal bought disc wont play in a real dvd drive.

You forget one VERY important point!

There is copy protection scheme on almost ANY pressed DVD these days and you cannot burn a copy-protected DVD with an ordinary dvd burner.

This would be possible ONLY with an AUTHORING burner with AUTHORING media.

Think of it this way... If LG decided to write a firmware that would allow you to write these 1:1 DVD discs, they would violate the spec. If they do this, they can not sell the drive as a DVD burner, DVD reader, etc.... This is because it does not follow the DVD spec. So, what would they put on the box that the drive comes in? Maybe 'Disc reader/writer'? This would not work very well with consumers. Also, they would lose their DVD license and not be allowed to make any real DVD drives in the future.

That's how I understand it.