What IS the best Clone Software?

[Sandy Miller]

I have a brand new TEAC CD-W540E and very pleased with it.
To drive it I use Nero5 (version 5.5.7.7 OEM)
I (like most people) want it to let me copy as many games as possible!
But which clone software should I buy?
Thanks to anyone taking the time to reply.

[Han]

There are three programs that step out: CloneCD, Blindwrite Suite and DiscJuggler. You can try everyone first and then decide which suits you best...

Note that this Teac can't 'clone' everything.

[Action Jackson]

In your personal experience Han, how would you rank those listed programs?

[Han]

Sorry, can't do that. I clone at most two games a year with my trusty old SCSI Teac 8x. CloneCD and Blindwrite work fine for me. I haven't copy any game with DiscJuggler yet.

[tazdevl]

IMO I'd toss out Discjuggler, you could substitute Nero since they both do the same thing. As a replacement I'd suggest CD Mate which always seems to step up to the plate when the others fail.

Problem is there is no one "ultimate app". I have 3 in my stable that I use depending on what I am trying to back up.

[forbjok]

I have never tried DiscJuggler (since i can't seem to find it on any warez sites, and the "demo" can't be registered with a keygen), but CloneCD and BlindWrite are both excellent programs.

I use Nero Burning Rom to write audio/data cds and CloneCD (mostly) to create copies of existing compilations (like audio cds, game cds, etc.)

Generally CloneCD is the best cloner, however there are some very rare cases where CloneCD can not read (or create working images of) game cds, while BlindWrite can. (don't ask me why)

I recommend you download them both, register them with a keygen and then try them yourself. If you use them a lot it might be a good idea to register with elby, since the serial# system may change later.

[BoGMan1a]

I have Nero, CloneCD, and Blindwrite on my system. All three have their place in my system (though Blindwrite is getting used less and less) for different reasons. Nero is IMO the best general recording suite, although as a newbie I went out and bought EZCD Platinum which I only use for the Direct CD now. CloneCD is a great duping program and the virtual drive has a lot of functionality if you have a ton of HDD space (luckily I do), and Blindwrite usually can save the day if all else fails, but in my experience it is so much slower while duping. While CloneCD and Blindwrite are slightly redundant if I had to dump one it would be Blindwrite because CloneCD has a much greater functionality. If I were advising someone on a puchase of this type of software, I would suggest CloneCD matched with a free download of ClonyXXL to get the most out of it. Enjoy the new burner!

[Action Jackson]

I tried a program called "Alcohol 120%". It worked perfectly for me for Diablo2 without the "tricky" settings in CloneCD which is a great program too.

Blindwrite didn't work for me for D2.

[Scrondar]

Just tried Alcohol 120% on a fairly old game (Championship Surfer-PC) and it came up with a dozen read errors before it quit. Onto Blindwrite and CCD.

[Spazmogen]

Just tried Alcohol 120% on a fairly old game (Championship Surfer-PC) and it came up with a dozen read errors before it quit. Onto Blindwrite and CCD.

It's supposed to find the read errors. It's encountering the protection and is duplicating it. The read should only take about 10 minutes or so. It will start out very slow and pick up speed as it gets past the first 4% or 5% of the disc. That's where the copy protection lays.

I was a die hard Clone CD man, but I've switched to Alcohol 120% for the past month. I still use Clone CD for audio discs, I just like the read settings better than Nero or Alcohol 120%.

But for a copy protected disc, Alcohol 120% has them all beat. Yes, I've also got Blindewrite, Daemon Tools, ClonyXXL etc. etc.

Just remember, when doing a Safedisc 2.x disc, you'll have to enable the 'Ignore Media Type' in Alcohol 120% or 'Hide ATIP' in CloneCD in order to get the back up copy to work right. Even with a LTR-52246S, you have to enable it.

[banzibaby]

Yep i gotta agree with Spazmogen

Alcohol120% is the best back up program out there

It has never let me down yet

If you use CloneyXXL to scan the disc, it will tell what protection it has

Then just choose the suitable profile in Alcohol

BaNzI

[FutureProof]

Yep i gotta agree with Spazmogen

If you use CloneyXXL to scan the disc, it will tell what protection it has

Then just choose the suitable profile in Alcohol

BaNzI

Clony will not find the protection on most SecuROM protected titles until the game/whatever is actually installed and the .EXE on the disk is scanned.

[DOGSNOT]

I have found that to be the case too. I found that using a different scanner, like "YAPS" is the best way to go. then I use Alcohol 120.

[kjcred1]

is there an english version of clonyxxl? the only one i could find is in german or somethin like that. a link would be helpful. thanx.

keith

[kjcred1]

nevermind guys..... i found where you switch the language to english in the program....

keith