Possible data loss when moving files to a CD

[Krzysztof Żelechowski]

Scenario:

1. Download a document from the Web and store it in a local folder.
The document will be marked as tainted.
2. Select the local folder and execute Edit.MoveTo CD-R drive.
While moving the tainted document to CD Recording folder, Explorer will warn
you that the document file has additional information associated with it.
3. Tell Explorer not to move the downloaded file.
4. Examine the content of the CD-R.

Result: The original folder is gone (since it has been moved) and the
downloaded file is nowhere to find: neither in the CD nor in the original
folder nor in the Trash.

Workaround:

1. Open the CD-R drive folder in Windows Explorer.
2. Create a new folder within.
3. Open that new folder.
4. (Important!) Press the [Go!] button in the address bar.
The task "Record CD" will disappear from the task pane.
5. Move the source folder to the resulting window.
The metainfo warning will not appear, and, as an additional bonus, the
folder will be reattached rather than physically moved.

(Of course, the associated metainfo will go away on burning anyway, so if
you _really_ want to retain that, use Windows Backup and burn the backup
archive instead.)

 

[Malke]

Krzysztof ?elechowski wrote:

I'm unsure why you felt it was good to post this but there are several
things wrong with your scenario, not the least that the way you were burning
files was bad practice to begin with. See comments inline:

Scenario:

1. Download a document from the Web and store it in a local folder.
The document will be marked as tainted.

Right here is where things fall apart. Perhaps we have a language barrier? I
have no idea what you mean by "marked as tainted". I've downloaded plenty of
files from various places on the Internet and I've never had a download
marked as anything, let alone "tainted". Marked by what? What do you mean
"tainted"? In English, "tainted" means:

verb [ trans. ] (often be tainted) - contaminate or pollute (something) :
"the air was tainted by fumes from the cars."
• affect with a bad or undesirable quality : "his administration was tainted
by scandal."
• [ intrans. ] archaic (of food or water) become contaminated or polluted.

To what "local folder" are you saving the file?

2. Select the local folder and execute Edit.MoveTo CD-R drive.

And here's where the rest falls apart. You *never* want to select "move" on
files that are to go to another drive, optical or storage. You copy files to
another hard drive or network location and then go back and delete from the
source if desired. But you don't even do this if you are using XP's built-in
burning capability. Simply put in a CD/DVD blank, double-click the icon in
My Computer to open it. Double-click the folder where you've stored your
files to open it. Select the files for burning and just drag them to the
CD/DVD window. Close the file window because you don't need it any more. Burn
your CD/DVD. End of story.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/bridgman_august13.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03september16.mspx

Malke