making a copy of encrypted data cd

[-keevill-]

I have bought a database of names and addresses which consists of 2 cds. One
containing the front end software and one containing the data. Of course it
is encrypted to prevent unauthorised duplication . How can I make a backup
in case the data cd becomes damaged or lost. This is the 2nd one I have had
to buy since the first one - data disk became damaged and could not be read
by any pcs.
I have tried to use Nero to make an image of the data cd and burn that image
onto a cd but it does not work when I test it .

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Sounds like you're doing something illegal to me.

GS

 

[sgopus]

Contact the company that sold you the original and ask them to provide you
with a backup.

 

[-keevill-]

They changed the format their cd in 2003.
No support or any assistance provided now whatsoever for the old version.
They just want me to purchase a new cd at a cost of 200 UKP

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Then that's what you'll have to do.

They changed the format their cd in 2003.
No support or any assistance provided now whatsoever for the old version.
They just want me to purchase a new cd at a cost of 200 UKP

 

[sgopus]

Their is a program out there, called cdrwin, that does a raw copy, not sure
if it will make a copy of your encrypted cd, I would suggest this is not the
best area to ask for assistance to make copies of licensed media, and I have
no sources where to go to get something that might advise you.

 

[-keevill-]

Their is a program out there, called cdrwin, that does a raw copy, not
sure
if it will make a copy of your encrypted cd, I would suggest this is not
the
best area to ask for assistance to make copies of licensed media, and I
have
no sources where to go to get something that might advise you.

you know I wouldn't even mind if I could install the whole application and
database on my pc . That would avoid the problem of the data cd becoming
damaged and thus the whole thing unusable.

Perhaps I will try virtual cd which may do the trick.

 

[VanguardLH]

I have bought a database of names and addresses which consists of 2
cds. One containing the front end software and one containing the
data. Of course it is encrypted to prevent unauthorised duplication .

That is NOT what encryption does. Nothing prevent anyone from copying
a file regardless of whatever arrangement of bytes are contained
within. That the file is encrypted is irrelevant to copying it.
Encryption means that someone without the key cannot *use* the
contents of that file.

How can I make a backup in case the data cd becomes damaged or lost.

Just go copy it. If the file(s) was(were) encrypted, that doesn't
prevent you from copying the CDs. If, however, what you really meant
is that copy-protection is employed on the CDs then you will need to
go Googling on copying software that cracks whatever copy protection
scheme was employed on those CDs.

This is the 2nd one I have had to buy since the first one - data
disk became damaged and could not be read by any pcs.

Yeah, so if the file wasn't encrypted then a damaged disk would still
be unreadable. You're saying that this marketing firm from where you
bought your database doesn't provide for sending out replacement CDs?
Well, then you are not dealing with a legitimate marketing firm and
are instead talking about some cheapo spam lists that you paid for,
and you really were naive to believe you would get any support from
that outfit. Just order replacement media for the database to which
you subscribed.

I have tried to use Nero to make an image of the data cd and burn
that image onto a cd but it does not work when I test it .

Probably because COPY PROTECTION was employed, not encryption. It
really sounds like you need to have your IT crew handle the database
and saving backups.

You could look into using something like CD-Clone or DVD-Clone by
Elaborabytes (or something close to that). It isn't free anymore
after they decided to sell it (to someone that starts with an "S" in
their business name). However, for a reliable copy, you need to
ensure the CD-R/DVD-R drive supports *hardware* RAW mode. Not many
optical drives list that spec anymore. Maybe they have a utility to
determine the features of your optical drives to determine the
likelihood that you can make backup copies of the copy-protected CDs.

 

[VanguardLH]

in message

you know I wouldn't even mind if I could install the whole
application and database on my pc . That would avoid the problem of
the data cd becoming damaged and thus the whole thing unusable.

Perhaps I will try virtual cd which may do the trick.

Try using Daemon Tools. It is a virtual CD/DVD drive. You create an
..iso, .nrg, or other image filetype of the CD that it can understand.
However, although Daemon Tools provides some copy-DEprotection of
common schemes, it often doesn't work if the CD is copy-protected. If
you can burn an .iso and if Daemon Tools loads it okay then you access
that virtual drive rather than wearing out your CDs. There is a 32-
and 64-bit version Daemon Tools; however, the 64-bit version seems to
have a glitch that when you add a virtual drive that you have to
reboot to reliability use it.

Hmm, "keevil". Any relationship to Dr. Evil, like his cousin, K.E.
Evil, in the Austin Powers movies?

 

[-keevill-]

I have bought a database of names and addresses which consists of 2 cds.
One containing the front end software and one containing the data. Of
course it is encrypted to prevent unauthorised duplication .

That is NOT what encryption does. Nothing prevent anyone from copying
a file regardless of whatever arrangement of bytes are contained
within. That the file is encrypted is irrelevant to copying it.
Encryption means that someone without the key cannot *use* the
contents of that file.

I just assumed that data disk was encrypted. When I just copied the data
disk and it didn't work in the application then I noticed that the size of
the copied disk was somewhater less than the original disk. So I used and
ISO making software to make a true image of the orginal and then the size
was identical . However when I loaded the backup disk into my pc and opened
the application it failed to work.
THese facts led me to believe that there was some encryption involved.

How can I make a backup in case the data cd becomes damaged or lost.

Just go copy it. If the file(s) was(were) encrypted, that doesn't
prevent you from copying the CDs. If, however, what you really meant
is that copy-protection is employed on the CDs then you will need to
go Googling on copying software that cracks whatever copy protection
scheme was employed on those CDs.


How do I know if copy protection is employed ? As I say above, I did make
copies both straight and ISO copies, it allowed the copy process and all
looked ok but the application refused to read it.

This is the 2nd one I have had to buy since the first one - data disk
became damaged and could not be read by any pcs.

Yeah, so if the file wasn't encrypted then a damaged disk would still
be unreadable.

Absolutely !


You're saying that this marketing firm from where you
bought your database doesn't provide for sending out replacement CDs?
Well, then you are not dealing with a legitimate marketing firm and
are instead talking about some cheapo spam lists that you paid for,
and you really were naive to believe you would get any support from
that outfit. Just order replacement media for the database to which
you subscribed.

It is more complicated than that. The company that made the disk is a very
large one and is still going however the data which I have is older than
their current one and they now refuse to support the old version.
For my own reasons, I want to use the older data and thefefore their new
version is not of use to me.
I was forced to purchase a second hand copy from ebay when my own original
data disk died.

I have tried to use Nero to make an image of the data cd and burn that
image onto a cd but it does not work when I test it .

Probably because COPY PROTECTION was employed, not encryption. It
really sounds like you need to have your IT crew handle the database
and saving backups.

How can I know that ? I do not have an IT crew hence my recourse to your
kind help here.



You could look into using something like CD-Clone or DVD-Clone by
Elaborabytes (or something close to that). It isn't free anymore
after they decided to sell it (to someone that starts with an "S" in
their business name). However, for a reliable copy, you need to
ensure the CD-R/DVD-R drive supports *hardware* RAW mode. Not many
optical drives list that spec anymore. Maybe they have a utility to
determine the features of your optical drives to determine the
likelihood that you can make backup copies of the copy-protected CDs.

OK I will now look into that - many thanks !!

 

[-keevill-]

in message news:uMm%[email protected]...


Try using Daemon Tools. It is a virtual CD/DVD drive. You create an
.iso, .nrg, or other image filetype of the CD that it can understand.
However, although Daemon Tools provides some copy-DEprotection of common
schemes, it often doesn't work if the CD is copy-protected. If you can
burn an .iso and if Daemon Tools loads it okay then you access that
virtual drive rather than wearing out your CDs. There is a 32- and 64-bit
version Daemon Tools; however, the 64-bit version seems to have a glitch
that when you add a virtual drive that you have to reboot to reliability
use it.

Let me try this too .

Hmm, "keevil". Any relationship to Dr. Evil, like his cousin, K.E. Evil,
in the Austin Powers movies?

Nope no relation that I know of but of course it's a wise man who knows.....
Cheers,

-keevill-

 

[VanguardLH]

in message

I just assumed that data disk was encrypted. When I just copied the
data disk and it didn't work in the application then I noticed that
the size of the copied disk was somewhater less than the original
disk. So I used and ISO making software to make a true image of the
orginal and then the size was identical . However when I loaded the
backup disk into my pc and opened the application it failed to work.
THese facts led me to believe that there was some encryption
involved.

My guess is that the installation of the application incorporates the
key needed to read the database. That is, the app is keyed to the
data disk that accompanies it. If copy-protection is not employed in
reading the CDs then you should be able to copy both the app and data
CDs and use them together if you need to restore the database (which
might also means you have to uninstall and reinstall the application).

You haven't identified the product that you are using or trying to
backup. Since you want to keep that to yourself, try Googling on that
product to find out how to save a backup if the seller of that product
won't provide any support.

I have to wonder why you are using an antiquated database, anyway.
From what I recall of marketing folks, those mailing lists are far too
out of date in a year and why their subscription to this marketing
data gets them new media once a year if not more often. Sounds like
you are trying to send to a lot of defunct e-mail addresses and don't
care that they are either dead or a new user has discovered an old
e-mail address that went back into the pool after the prior user
abandoned it.

Just go copy it. If the file(s) was(were) encrypted, that doesn't
prevent you from copying the CDs. If, however, what you really
meant
is that copy-protection is employed on the CDs then you will need to
go Googling on copying software that cracks whatever copy protection
scheme was employed on those CDs.


How do I know if copy protection is employed ? As I say above, I did
make copies both straight and ISO copies, it allowed the copy
process and all looked ok but the application refused to read it.

Make a copy of both CDs. Install VVMWare Server or Virtual PC (both
free). You can fudge the EULA a bit if you only temporarily use a
reused license of Windows in a VM. Just don't run it for normal use
other than to simply test new software. Then install your marketing
app and its database in the VM. You'll then see if the copied CDs are
usable.

It is more complicated than that. The company that made the disk is
a very large one and is still going however the data which I have is
older than their current one and they now refuse to support the old
version.

I doubt that precludes how they stipulate to create backup media
whether for the old version of *software* or the latest version. It
is possible, I suppose, that they change what copy-protection scheme
they employ but a change in encryption would have no effect on how to
create backup media.

 

[HeyBub]

How do I know if copy protection is employed ? As I say above, I did
make copies both straight and ISO copies, it allowed the copy process
and all looked ok but the application refused to read it.

Did you get this disk from Sony (see "Sony root kit")?

Since the days of Lotus 1-2-3, there have been copy protection schemes. Most
have been defeated by dedicated hackers.

If your contract with the provider stipulates that you shall not make a
copy, then your best recourse is to be careful. Inasmuch as data cannot be
copyrighted, the seller of this database has to take extraordinary measures
to protect his work product, hence the copy protection.

Even IF you were to crack the copy protection, there's still a booby-trap
waiting for you. List providers "seed" their lists with particularized false
information. For example, if your company name is "ACME Industries," the
list provider may add the name to the database: "A.C. Melon" whose address
is the home address of the list provider's CEO. There may be dozens of these
"seeds."

 

[M.I.5¾]

Sounds like you're doing something illegal to me.

It has long been established that it is perfectly legal to make a copy of
any CD that you own if it is solely for backup purposes. At least that is
the case in Europe, but the OP may be posting from the US where pointless
Mickey Mouse legislation applies.

 

[-keevill-]

It has long been established that it is perfectly legal to make a copy of
any CD that you own if it is solely for backup purposes. At least that is
the case in Europe, but the OP may be posting from the US where pointless
Mickey Mouse legislation applies.

I am posting from the far east where copywrite laws are an irrelavance but
frankly no matter where I was living I would still make a backup if it were
possible and risk whatever.
Sometimes it makes me mad the b***ks that some folks write in answer to my
post. but I resist the temptation to respond.