Here's a start, G@M3FR3@K and I will add them as fast as we can, but read this first

Q Why am I unable to create images if Easy CD Creator v4/v5 are installed?

A Version 4.X and version 5.0 of Easy CD Creator auto-installs a faulty DOS-based backup utility called Take Two®. This faulty program was removed from Easy CD Creator 5.1 and higher and is no longer supported by Roxio. If this utility is installed, burning programs may show the following message when you start the back-up imaging process:

"Cannot create the image of the logical drive because it is currently in use by running applications. Please close all other applications and try again."

Generally, the whole PC just freezes. We recommend that you either upgrade your Easy CD Creator to version 5.1 or higher and/or uninstall Take Two® completely. More info please see:
http://www.roxio.com/en/support/roxi...t/taketwo.html

NB!
If you are playing from a burner, you must enable Hide CD-R Media in the System Tray Icon; then you won't get Five Working Backups, will you ChrisP?

Starting from Scratch

Q When do I use "Hide CD-R Media"
A "Hide CD-R Media" is required for SafeDisc v2.4+ (Max Payne official patch and games onwards) and SecuROM *new* from V-Rally 2 onwards. All writers including DVD/Writer combinations will require it.

Q My CloneCD key/serial does not work
A This arises every now and then; it's a matter between you and Elby; start by ...looking here...

Q I'm new to CloneCD. Do I need to use a protection scanner and custom profiles to copy games?
A Generally, no. Just use the default Game CD profile which Olli has provided in the program. Olli has done the work for you and the Game CD profile will work in well over 95% of cases where your writer is capable of copying the CD at all. It is only in the rare case where the GameCD profile fails that you will need to use a protection scanner and a custom profile.

Q Are there any games that can't be copied with CloneCD?
A Yes, but fortunately not many. Any game protected with Tages, StarForce or ProtectCD 5 cannot presently be copied successfully. In addition, the latest versions of securom (v.4.8x) can't be copied without some outside help but see this thread for how to copy securom 4.8x protected cds with CloneCD.

Q I have checked the CloneCD website (elby.ch) and found that my writer has 2 sheep in the EFM column. Should I use AWS when copying SafeDisc 2 protected games anyway?
A No. If you have a 2 sheep EFM writer you don't need AWS and, what's more, if you use AWS when you don't need it, you may well get a coaster. If you have a 2 sheep EFM writer, you should disable AWS permanently from the writer settings page which you can access by right clicking on the name of your writer on the write page when using the program.

Plextor RAW Mode SimulationAmplify Weak Sectors

Q I can’t see Amplify Weak Sectors anywhere!?
A Unlock AWS and Hide CDR Media in USA/Japan...G@M3FR3@K - I got a great tip from someone which will make a lot of people very happy:Comments here

How to install two versions of CloneCD

Protection Scanners

YaPS and Scout (it's in English)

English Clony Comments here

CD Technology
CD-ROM -- An extension of the CD audio standard
Other disk formats of interest


DVD Technology Start here

Digital Audio
Start here (Intermediate)

Professor Kelin J. Kuhn
Audio Compact Disk - An Introduction
Audio engineering - an introduction
Links to most pages
Audio Compact Disk - Writing and Reading the data

Settings

Q Are there any tested, proven and custom profiles?
A G@M3FR3@K - Yes! CloneCD 4 Custom Profiles

Q Any info here about Settings?
A FutureProof - there's a guide to v3 here, but the principles remain the same

Q I'm new to CloneCD. Which ‘settings’ are better to copy with...the Setting ClonyXXL automatically makes when you scan or the profiles that were put up in the CloneCD Forum?
A The CDFreaks profiles are customised for each protection and tested, they work for supported burners. If you are confident about the protection you’ve encountered, then use them. If not, then just use the default profiles ‘out of the box’.

Version 3 Settings explained

Errors

Q Help I get an error in CloneCD…
A Well? WTF is it? Please tell us

Q ILLEGAL REQUEST: INVALID FIELD IN CDB (5:0x24:0x00) - aarrgghh!
A LighteningUK - An error in the Command Descriptor Block usually means that your writer is not compatible with CloneCD or some of the settings, at least, are incompatible. Try changing some of the settings like ‘laser calibration’, ‘simulate burning’ or Write Method’. Are you sure your writer is compatible?

Q When I start CloneCD I get this error: "The ordinal 173 could not be located in the dynamic link library OLEAUT32.DLL" and quits. What does it mean and how can i fix it?
A jibbyman - down load VBRun60 from microsoft and just execute

Miscellaneous

Q I want to correct spelling errors in the language file. What program can I use? Tried notepad. No luck! CloneCD couldn't find the language file after I had it edited
A G@M3FR3@K - You can download the CloneCD Locale Editor here. Here's how to use it. Install the editor and start it. Click File, Open Template. Now open the 'CloneCDCoreRes.h' file in the CloneCD\Texts folder. (CCDTrayStrings.h is for the CloneCD Tray, VCDShellStrings.h is for the Virtual CloneDrive). Now click on File, Open language file and open your language file. Do not forget to save each line you edit!! When you've edited the language file save it so you can use it in CloneCD. I suggest you also send the edited file to Elaborate Bytes! Or send it to me and I'll send it to Sven Rohde over at Elby. Good luck!

Q Is there a Liteon Bug?
A Sheepfriend - maybe or perhaps

Q Is there a 'Down & Dirty Guide on the site?
A As a matter of fact, there is!

Q I use v4.0.1.3. I did a search on the forum and found that many Lite-on owners were have problems with SecuROM *new*. I tried the various profiles for CloneCD (Clony XXL generated, Securom, and Game) and yet none of them worked. (And this time Gamefreak I remembered to have Clone CD tray on with "Hide CDR").
A Sheepfriend - SecuROM new & CloneCD & LiteON Yes, the "hide CDR media" funktion in CloneCD 4.0.1.3 works not so good together with LiteOn (and other) writers. To get backup game working, you have to DISABLE "hide CDR media" in the tray menu. This little bug have been fixed in the soon comming version 4.0.1.4 The "LiteOn - "Hide CDR Media" bug was also in CCD 3.3.4.1

Q If theres a hide cdrw media bug why wont the liteon copy using clone ver. 2.8.4.3 ?? That doesn’t use this feature? Still unable to copy die hard nakatomi plaza with my liteon
A Olli - I doubt Clone 2.8.4.3 can handle SecuROM new

Q My image file works fine in Daemon Tools with emulation so it must be good
A FutureProof - think about it...you've read a RAW image, why would it need emulating? The test for RAW-ness is a working image WITHOUT emulation

Q clonecd 4.0.1.6 Since at least v4 I have noticed that a back up of a CD that was just made and then put in will not auto run when auto run is on. But if I press F5 before I place the CD in then it will auto run. It must be said I haven't run anything during or after trying this.
A Olli - as long as CloneCD is running it will disable auto insert notifictaion on all CD-ROMs under Win2000/XP. Make sure, that CloneCD is not running and you let CloneCD eject the CD after burning

Q Can't anyone fix my problem?
A Olli - this is my problem... it works for most people (including me and "Sven, the testhorse at elby"), for some it don't. It is quite impossible to fix a problem I can't see. I also haven't found a common pattern, like a specific firmware fails, another doesn't. Maybe those where it fails have something in common? A certain busmaster driver? Another burning application installed? Padus, CDR-Win 5 and Roxio come in mind, as they install filter drivers... Nero sometimes installs a filter driver as well, this driver seems to be broken on XP. Nero does *not* install it in newer releases, but if you always have updated, the driver was never uninstalled. Some other interfering component? I am pretty helpless at times

Q Regenerate Data Sectors is not checked in the default profiles
A Olli - It was checked on the initial CloneCD 4 release, but it was disabled by default in later releases. Regenerate Data Sectors needs a lot of CPU power and is usually not needed if you copy from an original disc. It can be helpful if you need to backup a backup (we don't do this, don't we?)

Q Why, in the default Game CD Profile is the "close last session" not ticked?
A Olli - The option isn't called "Close Last Session", it is called "Always close last session" (regardless, if it was open or not). How about clicking the *RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON* and for heaven's sake *READ WHAT IT SAYS*: If you copy a CD which has the last session closed, it will *always* be closed, regardless of this setting...

Q I have a two dot/sheep burner but I keep getting coasters…
A If you have checked through all of the hardware & software issues that can plague any system then make sure that you right-click your burner in the CloneCD burning window, select settings and uncheck “Allow Amplify Weak Sectors”.

Q Using CloneCD 4 or 3, when trying to copy a game, The Sims Hot Date for example, after reading CD, Clone CD reports File size as 774499kB (CD is a full 640Mb), and so cannot fit this on 700mB CD.
A alexnoe: A data disc contains 2048 bytes per sector, but a raw image contains 2352 bytes per sector, plus 96 bytes subchannel data, so your image is always 19.5% larger than the "normal" capacity. Just burn the image onto a, in this case, 74 minute CD-R (source).

Q My writer can’t do EFM, what happens now?
A Well, in truth, all writers have to perform Eight to Fourteen Modulation – it’s the basis of error correction on discs. All non-writers can de-code the modulation and all writers can encode and decode the EFM. All writers have an EFM Lookup Table in their chipset. DVDs use Eight to Sixteen Modulation. The issue here is about correctly encoding regular bit patterns which are not really a part of the compact disc game-plan. The Mediatek chipset, as one example, can correctly write these ‘errors’. The Plextor 40x can correctly write these errors up to SafeDisc v2.51.020 but fails from 2.51.021

Q I have Win95, do I have DMA support for ATAPI (burners etc) drives?
A No. Upgrade from here. Be aware that DMA in Win95 is not a big success…you may be lucky! Nice info about Win95 here

Q I need drivers for XP?!
A Look here.

Q I get a coaster, what went wrong?
A Well?

• Version of Clone?
• Brand & Model of burner
• Settings used? Default? D/L from here? Your own?
• OS? Win95 – Got the updated IDE drivers? Win98 – updated to ASPI 4.70? WinXP – turned off IMAPI? Win2K – enable UDMA 66/100? NT – you’re kidding, right?
• Media?
• Game title?
• Rig config?
• UDMA devices? PIO devices?
• Anything else to overcome our lack of ESP would be good

"The following section of the CDFreaks CloneCD Forum FAQ has been reproduced in part, with some modifications, from the Daemon-Tools Website FAQ and with their kind permission (thanks to SwENSkE). It may not be further reproduced, in whole or in part, without first obtaining permission from the Daemon Webmaster at The DAEMONs Home"


Q What is CloneCD?
A CloneCD is an application for advanced disc duplication. It means it helps you to make backup copies of nearly every CD available.

Q Why does dumping (reading) an image of protected games take hours on my PC?
AThis is because many CD-ROM drives have problems reading the ‘bad’ sectors some copy protections use. Use DAEMON Tools 'Fastdump' feature if the game is protected with SafeDisc. Consult the readme.txt or manual (right-click DAEMON Tools systray icon and select 'Help' --> 'Manual') on how to use fastdump.

Q Why does the game xyz install but not run?
OR
When i start the game it asks me for the original CD.
OR
I get the first splash screen…then nothing
OR
I get an something tmp error

What am I doing wrong?
A Install the game from the original CD. You need a 1:1 copy.
Usually games need to be played from the same drive they have been installed from. You can uninstall and reinstall the game, change the registry or change the CD-ROM drive lettters.
Some games even need to be played from the lowest drive letter.
Some protections uses special commands that prevents the game from running in recorders. Use your CD/DVD-ROM instead.

Q My SafeDisc 2 backups don’t work?
A Use the 'Fastdump' feature of DAEMON Tools to create your image! Then burn this image like normal. This copy will work if you enable SafeDisc emulation in the DAEMON manager (right-click DAEMON Tools systray icon and select 'Emulation' --> 'SafeDisc').

Q I downloaded an ISO of the game "XXX" from the web and it does not work with CloneCD! What's up?
A We don't know! We do not support the use of warez or illegal copies.

Q CloneCD cannot open my image! Why?
A Your image wasn't created by CloneCD or a supported burning program.
Your image was 'dumped' badly. Recreate it using a lower reading speed or check your settings.

Q When I try to make an image CloneCD stops with an error - Is there a way to bypass that problem?
A Try another CD/DVD-ROM or CD-RW drive. Make sure you selected 'SKIP' errors (NOT ABORT on read error)!

Q I have a perfect 1:1 raw image burned with a killer burner and also installed from this image but the program still requests "Insert CD"!
A Change the name of the virtual drives in any phantom CD-ROM programs such as DAEMON Manager.
Your program may have blacklisted CloneCD or DAEMON Tools. Download the latest DAEMON Tools and CloneCD versions. If you already have them go to the Daemon Support Forum and read the messages there - if you cannot find a message dealing with your problem post a new message including DETAILED information about the software you wanted to run as well as your system specs and installed programs.

Q I made an image with a software and want to burn it with CloneCD, but CloneCD doesn't recognize the image - How can i cope with that?
A Mount the image generated with the first software and burn with CloneCD from DAEMON Tools 'V386 STEALTH DVDROM' which contains the mounted image (you may even burn 'on the fly').

Q My CD writer is not able to burn in RAW mode and/or doesn't write (full) subchannel data. Can I create a working backup anyway?
A If the CD is protected with SAFEDISC®, SAFEDISC® 2, SECUROM® or LASERLOCK® create a 1:1 copy anyway and enable the according emulation option in DAEMON Manager to play from this copy. For SAFEDISC® 2 your image must have been created using DAEMON Tools 'Fastdump' feature.

Q I have a perfect image which works great when mounted with DAEMON Tools - but if I burnt it to CD the program refuses to work from the copy. I tried all the emulation options but nothing helped - how do I create a backup copy?
A Your software is SAFEDISC® 2 protected. Use the 'Fastdump' feature of DAEMON Tools to create your image! Then burn this image like normal. This copy will work if you enable Safedisc emulation in the DAEMON manager (right-click DAEMON Tools systray icon and select 'Emulation' --> 'Safedisc').
If your image is not too big (or use 99 min media if your CD-ROM/CD-RW supports them - you can get those media at Disc4You) you can burn the image files (eg. *.cue/*.bin, *.iso etc...) to CD. This means to backup the image files themselves - if you access the CD later you should only see your image itself (eg. *.cue/*.bin, *.iso etc...), not what it CONTAINS! This way you can mount the image to 'V386 STEALTH DVD' directly from CD.

Q I don't want to find out if my backup is protected with SAFEDISC®, SAFEDISC® 2, SECUROM® or LASERLOCK® - can i use the CloneCD default profiles?
A Of course. But better to try and identify the used protection so you can use custom profiles if you like.

Q How can I burn Nero Images (.NRG)?
A Nero 5.5 and higher comes with its own virtual CD-ROM drive - 'Nero Imagedrive'. Please use this one to mount your Nero images and then burn with CloneCD (you may even burn 'on the fly').

Q Will CloneCD ever support image formats of other burning programs (e.g. Nero, WinOnCD, Prassi etc.)?
A As a guess, no, probably not. Image formats are copyrighted CloneCD can make its own. For example there's no sense in supporting an image format not containing all information needed to successfully run a protected program from a CD-R/W.

I would like to develop the FAQ, after a suggestion from philamber, as a starting point for new and less experienced members. Down & Dirty is good for pinpointing some problems but we need a simpler thread for 'everyone'.

• Have a think about the most useful piece of advice you got: is it in the FAQ?
• Please post the "Question" and "Answer" here
• If you don't know the "Answer" or can't remember it or are unsure...no problem... I'll put it in for you
• To keep it simple, I'll delete your post, BUT, immortalise you in the "Answer"!
• I'll put any hard or advanced stuff in D&D
• Thanks in advance - scan the FAQ to see if it's already in there