Files appear ok in Explorer but cannot open

[shutterbug]

I have a DVD that I burned using Roxio. They are data files, mostly jpgs and photoshop files. My dvd can list the files with no problem but the files will not open in any application. I've tried reading them in another computer also and get the same thing. I have tried a couple of file recovery programs. They don't really need recovering because they appear to be ok. I tried ISO buster but extracting gives me the same results. Any ideas? Thanks

[dodecahedron]

I have tried a couple of file recovery programs. They don't really need recovering because they appear to be ok. I tried ISO buster but extracting gives me the same results. Any ideas? Thanks

what does that mean?
"they appear OK" what does that mean? do these programs recover the files or not? or do they claim that no recovery is necessary and don't do anything?
"IsoBuster...gives the same results" what results? same as what?

clarify.

[shutterbug]

I am able to read the contents of the DVD in Explorer and the files are even of a substantial size, but none of the files will open in any editing program. The thumbnails of the jpg images will not display the image in Explorer. When I try to open the file (tiff, jpg or psd) with photoshop or any other photo editing software it will not open and the error message says it is not a valid file. I tried extracting a few files using Isobuster but I cannot open these extracted files either.

Unlike a cd or dvd that is corrupt and will not be recognized by a cd drive, this DVD appears as though the files are ok, but they are not.

Thank you for replying. Does that explain it better?

[dodecahedron]

welcome.

weird indeed.

i take it that these issues appear when you're trying to access the files (from the applications) directly on the DVD.
can you copy (dragNdrop) the files in explorer to your hard drive? if so, can you then use them (with the applications etc) OK?

if so, i suggest you copy them to your hard drive, and put it off to a bad DVD.
maybe there's some issues with the Roxio software...?

re-reading your post, you say you can extract the files with IsoBuster but the extracted files are still messed up...

don't know what to say . again, must be a bad disc, i don't know what else you can do to recover the files...
maybe some expert will have better suggestions.

[shutterbug]

I was afraid it would appear "wierd". I did try copying files from the DVD onto my hard drive but no luck. One other bit of info. I am running Win XP but the drive I was copying from is my d drive from my old pc that was Win 98. I have trouble with that drive sometimes in my new pc. Sometimes windows all of the sudden can't see it anymore until I reboot again. But I have been successful in buring DVDs from that d drive. Eventually I will get rid of the drive but I still have files on it.

Thanks again.

[dodecahedron]

i don't understand, the D drive - is that a hard drive or a DVD drive?
in which computer/OS were you copying the files from the DVD to the HD?