Making backups from backups
 

I am new to this, so any help will be appreciated. I tried to copy some backups I have for my kids, but nothing seems to work. Before I started looking on the net, I just put the games in my recorder, started Nero and copied it. The first game didn't work, so I tried another. To my surprise that one worked. I tried the first one again, but all I got was another coaster.

I got a couple of guides of the net, "copying DC backups from backups" and the "DC FAQ". I tried the almost everything in those two guides, but I'm not getting anywhere. One reason, I think, is that I am not able to get a valid .CDI image using DiscJuggler. When I use DiscJuggler to make an image it locks up my computer. If I check "Raw data" under the advanced tab, it gives me a bunch of "inconsistency at address ......" errors, but creates an image, which I really doubt is any good. I tried to create CDs from the image using DiscJugler, Nero, CDRWin, Roxio, etc but ended up with more coasters. Actually, on a couple of occasions, the game would start to boot, then it would turn to a black screen and lock up the DC. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but I think I'm following the instructions correctly. Any ideas?

BTW, the CD I was able to copy directly using Nero had several audio files in the first session, then the data file in the second session. The ones I cannot copy have a single short audio file in the first session. But when I compared the original and the copy in DiscJuggler, they both had the same information for the first session, the starting LBA for the second session was also the same, but the ending LBA for the copy was less than the original by two. The "making backups from backups" guide says it's important that the starting LBA for the copy is the same as the original, which in this case it is, but it said nothing about the ending point. Am I losing data during the copy process? Is that why I cannot copy these games?

If you can't find an easy solution, maybe you could try to remake your game using Echelon's tutorial. It's quite easy.
Otherwise, use Bin2Boot :
_ copy your files on your HD
_ make an ISO with CDRWin
_ use Bin2Boot
_ burn your new image

I read through the Echelon tutorial and it doesn't seem like I can use it on these CDs (there is no IP.BIN file). Now, for the other method, do I copy the files to my HD using windows explorer or another program? Then, what button should I use in CDRWIN? I'm sorry if I'm asking "obvious" questions, but I have enought coasters already and I'm really getting frustrated with this.

I understand.

You'll need an ip.bin for both solutions. Even if you can't see it, it's on your CD. Anyway, what you need to do is :
_ download ipbin4win (form here for example http://internetconvoy.com/dc_util.htm)
_ use any ip.bin you can find (on one of your non selfboot game or from the zip file)
_ use ipbin4win on this ip.bin
_ check S**A OS used, set the first-read filename to the good filename (mostly 1st_read.bin or 0winceos.bin), check all area symbols and change the application title

Then you can try either Echelon's tutorial or Bin2Boot method.
For bin2Boot (maybe the easiest one) :
_ copy all files from your CD to your HD, in a '\BOOT' directory, just using Windows explorer
_ add the ip.bin you patched
_ use binhack on your 1st_read file (in a DOS windows : "binhack 1st_read.bin ip.bin 0")
_ run CDRWin
_ choose "File Backup and Tools" (4th icon)
_ select "Build an ISO 9660 Image File" from the pull-down menu
_ in "directory or filename", select your '\BOOT' directory and click "ADD"
_ uncheck "Preserve Full Pathname" and "Include archive files only"
_ check all 4 other checkboxes
_ in "Image filename", choose your image filename (say "Data.iso")
_ then click "Start"

You'll get an image you can use with Bin2Boot (use Bin2Boot with 'Data.iso').

I hope I didn't make too many mistakes. I wrote this using my bad memory. ;)

BIN2BOOT is tolerant of the IP.BIN file not being present. It will create a generic file for you.

Also, if you don't have an IP.BIN for a certain game, in most cases the IP.BIN from another game will work, unless it's a WINCEOS came. I also recall a utilities package that was available on DCCopyWorld a year ago that included a generic IP.BIN, which also works in the event yours is missing.

I wasn't sure if Bin2Boot needed an ip.bin. Now I know. :)

Wayne : Can't you use any ip.bin and only change the 1st file read in it to have it work properly ?

I've used an IP.BIN from another game, and never changed a thing, and it worked.... I think I did this for Soul Reaver, but I can't remember (been almost a year).

I often use some ip.bin from other games, and I change a few things like comments. It doesn't affect anything, but it became a habit... I sometimes had to change "1st_read.bin" by "0Winceos.bin" and it worked.