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Posted by Jan Willem
Posted on 04/09/02 17:06
Number of views 7435
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Installation
 

Setup Wizard

The version of BlindWrite Suite we reviewed is v.4.05.40. The file is 1,84MB. You can download the latest version here. Executing it will begin installation:




Patin Couffin Layer:

Nothing strange with the installation process. After you get asked for the installation directory, you will get a bit of a surprise, since you will be asked to install the 'Patin-Couffin" CD access layer:




What is the Patin-Couffin (PC) cd access layer? It is an alternative to Adaptec's ASPI, developed specifically for the use with BlindWrite Suite. The term ASPI is an acronym that stands for: Advanced SCSI Programming Interface. Operating systems and programs use ASPI drivers to communicate with ATAPI and SCSI devices. The files contained in an ASPI layer are also used in systems that don't contain a SCSI adapter, or SCSI devices .. for things such as ripping CD audio and burning CDs. BlindWrite's PC layer is supposed to serve the same functions.

Why use PC instead of ASPI? Here are some reasons why according to the developer:

  • "ASPI is a registered trademark of ADAPTEC, which mean that we must pay to use or include ASPI in our software, and can't guarantee we will have the right to use it indefinitely."
  • ASPI is UNRELIABLE, because there is more ASPI distribution than we can count. Some are very serious and stable, other introduces bugs and problems we can't cope with.
  • ASPI does not provide a mechanism to obtain exclusive access on a given drive. this is needed to have a reliable read/write operation
  • Under Windows 95/98/ME, A very unstable a buggy ASPI layer is shipped.
  • Most ASPI layers are not plug and play, does not support hot plug and doesn't see units on USB, or firewire buses.
  • PC Layer act faster on drive. It will NOT make your drive running faster, but it'll reduce the processor time payload of an extraction / writing process - so you computer could still be used to other tasks as well.
  • PC layer is 100% developed by us, which mean that, if we find a bug, we can correct it."

    In case you are still wondering whether you really have to install the PC layer in order to run BlindWrite Suite, the answer is no. Although installing the PC layer is what BWS developers suggest, BW works just fine with native OS drivers (built in Win2000/XP) or ASPI, as long as it's properly installed. Besides there is the option to choose between the PC layer and others in BW general settings (discussed later).

    Getting started

    After installing the program and executing it you will see the screen on the right in order to choose between BR and BW. This comes to show once again that BR and BW are unique programs that can be used separately. Lets start with BR.

    The reason why BWS is so good at copying protected CDs is in large part because of BR. Its responsibility is to produce a perfect RAW image of the CD to be copied, but that's not all it can do.



    From the first BR window, we can:

    1. Read the image of a CDRom
    2. Get CD info and control the drive's tray
    3. Choose a language
    4. Configure BR's settings


    Let's get into details on the settings on the next page
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    Reactions on this item
    Very good first review, Hemispasm. Too bad the images aren't as good as the review. :)
    I have had some probs with BW when backing up PSX games. The backups have had problems while CloneCD has produced clean results. Reader:Plex32 Writer:TDK 121032 (Plextor-made)
    Hey i use both BW and CCD, both are good! Sometimes it only forgets to unlock the drive so i have to reboot before i can use my CDrom again :)
    I have been using it for years and it is a little gem. Plus, the developers, who really treated this more like a hobby for a while have finally taken it seriously and we should expect even better things from them now.:7
    Agreed.
    I have been using this program for a long time, but for ages Clonecd has been ahead in reading/writing copy-proteted cd's I kinda forgot about it, but I often use it for heavily scratched/unrecoerable cd's.
    blindwrite kicks azz :)

    been advising it to alot of people in the last years
    and i NEVER had a complain about it afterwarths
    i'm a newbie,can i use Blindwrite or CloneCD to back up my copyprotected DVD'S I've got a DVD burner and easy CDcreator5
    Sorry for some of the pics, Photoshop ain't my thingy ;)

    Nope, you can't use neither BlinWrite nor CCD for backing up your protected DVDs Stu11, sorry :)
    These programs are for backing up protected game CDs only. If you have a DVD related question, you can always drop by the DVD forum in CDFreaks to ask ;)
    That is here
    [url]http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=32[/url]

    As far as BlinWrite is concerned, you can all post your opinions and experiences here
    [url]http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53408[/url]
    For copying DVD's, or everything in general, you should consider Alcohol 120%
    -Does both protected Cd's and DVD's
    -Has a Daemon Tools clone embedded (supporting up to 31 virtual CD's).
    - the final version, due in a few days, will also include basic premastering.
    - Multiple burners support.

    AFAIK its only cons currently is the slow read speed with a few devices (to be fixed soon), and its ugly pink color. Leavin' that aside both Clone and BW suite have a lot to envy and nothing to boast about over this one.
    How does it stand up to SecuROM/New will it make a working backup: Toshiba XM-6702B reader Writers Lite-on 40125S HP 9310i
    blindwrite is a pain in the 4ss.
    What do you think? Leave your comments!

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