Disc Dumping Guide (DIC CLI)

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Revision as of 00:00, 17 September 2021

Note: This guide is for the Command Line Interface version of Disc Image Creator, if you have no idea what that means, please use the GUI version (as it's much simpler): Disc Dumping Guide (MPF).

The purpose of this dumping guide is create perfect copies of CD-based discs using a Windows computer with Disc Image Creator app. For additional questions, support, and reference, use the forum thread here. Do not be shy if you need help!

Disc compatibility: Any CD based disc: PlayStation 1, CD Audio, PC Game, Sega Saturn, Sega CD, Playstation 2 (CDs only with indigo bottom), etc. This guide covers only CD games. For DVD discs see the guide DVD Dumping Guide.

Drive Compatibility

Disc drives verified to be compatible:

• Brand: Plextor
  • IDE Models
    • PX-760 series: PX-760A, PX-760SA
    • PX-755 series: PX-755A, PX-755SA, PX-755UF
    • PX-716 series: PX-716A, PX-716SA, PX-716AL, PX-716UF
    • PX-714 series:
    • PX-712 series: PX-712A, PX-712SA
    • PX-708 series: PX-708A, PX-708UF
    • PX-704 series:
    • Premium2 series:
    • Premium series: Premium, PremiumU (good drives to dump with, but expensive)
    • PX-W5224 series: PX-W5224A, PX-W5224TA, PX-W5224TU (Second best drive to dump with, doesn't have problems with SecuROM/SafeDisc)
    • PX-4824 series: PX-W4824A, PX-W4824TA, PX-W4824U, PX-W4824TU (Can't dump SecuROM nor illegal ToC)
    • PX-4012 series: PX-W4012A, PX-W4012TA, PX-W4012S, PX-W4012TS, PX-W4012U, PX-W4012TU (Best drive to dump with, reads errors better)
  • SCSI Models: PX-W4220T, PX-32TS/CS, PX-83CS/85CS, PX-63CS/65CS, PX-43CS 43CE 43CH/45CS 45CE 45CH, DM-3028/5028, DM-3024/5024, DM-3021/5021, DM-3020/5020
• Note: IDE models can be used on a Laptop with a USB Adapter (search "UGREEN USB to IDE Converter, USB 3.0 to IDE, or Vantec USB to IDE Converter" on Amazon - do NOT buy a cheap crappy Chinese adapter) or a Desktop tower with a cheap card, or an older desktop with IDE natively. Be aware there are no working PCI Express IDE cards.
• SCSI models can only be used with a Desktop tower with a cheap card (no laptops).
• Your drive should have the latest firmware installed (you can find these linked to the appropriate Plextor models here).
• Be aware the PX-W4824 series is unsuitable for dumping discs with SecuROM (ecc/edc of the mode 2 sector doesn't match), CDS100, CDS200, Label Gate, and XCP (Doesn't read TOC correctly).
• Be aware that the PX-716 series (possibly other DVD drives) is unsuitable for dumping some discs, SafeDisc in particular (Illegal MSF).

The Plextors in the 700 range that can read DVDs have firmware bugs and the lasers can go bad. However, they are the only drives that can dump multisession discs.

First Time Setup / Tools

• Disc Image Creator: Download the latest version (should be named similar to: "DiscImageCreator_20180127.zip", then unzip it. Wherever you put the unzipped folder will affect where your roms are written to when you dump the discs.
• Install these Microsoft Packages: [1] [2]
• edccchk.exe: Download. Place this file into your unzipped Disc Image Creator subfolder "Release_ANSI" (doing this will help keep all dumping apps in the same folder so you don't have to cd out).
• psxt001z.exe: Download. Place this file into your unzipped Disc Image Creator subfolder "Release_ANSI" (doing this will help keep all dumping apps in the same folder so you don't have to cd out). This is used for PS1 discs only.

Dumping

Now you have all the tools, are all setup and ready to begin dumping. Launch the native Windows app "Command Prompt" (Start menu > Windows System > Command Prompt).

• Open the Disc Image Creator folder you downloaded and unzipped (note: in the example "DiscImageCreator_20180127" is the name of the example folder / release version, please update according to the version you have), go into the "Release_ANSI" subfolder, and copy the directory location. For example "C:\Users\YOUR_COMPUTER_USERNAME\Downloads\DiscImageCreator_20180127\Release_ANSI"
• It's time to navigate to this directory inside of the Command Prompt app. Type in "cd" followed by your Release_ANSI directory location in quotes, for example:

cd "C:\Users\YOUR_COMPUTER_USERNAME\Downloads\DiscImageCreator_20180127\Release_ANSI"

• Now you will type the code in the Command Prompt to dump the disc. For example: DiscImageCreator.exe cd d MyGameTitle.bin 8 /c2 /nl This command should be changed for your specifics, "d" is the cd disc drive location, and "8" is the max read speed on the example disc drive model. 8 should be a read speed supported by most drives, but check this list for your drive's maximum read speed to dump much faster. Change the title of "MyGameTitle.bin" to suit your needs.
• Note: Discs with CD-Audio tracks will create multiple .bin files.
• Run edccchk.exe with the following command edccchk "MyGameTitle.bin". For discs with multiple tracks you will need to adjust the command to edccchk "MyGameTitle (Track 1).bin" or edccchk "MyGameTitle (Track 01).bin". Copy the text output from the terminal into a txt file to be submitted with the logs. This command checks for EDC. Some discs with irregular exe's (such as GameShark discs) will require a different method.
• For PS1 discs only, run psxt001z.exe with the following command psxt001z "MyGameTitle.bin". For discs with multiple tracks you will need to adjust the command to psxt001z "MyGameTitle (Track 1).bin" or psxt001z "MyGameTitle (Track 01).bin". Copy the text output from the terminal into a txt file to be submitted with the logs. This command checks for the EXE Date. Some discs with irregular exe's (such as GameShark discs) will require a different method.
• For PS1 PAL discs only, run the following command to check for libcrypt copy protection psxt001z --libcrypt "MyGameTitle.sub" > libcrypt.txt, then psxt001z --libcryptdrvfast d > libcryptdrv.log where d is the disc drive letter.

Game Copy Protection

Some (mostly PC computer) games use copyright protection that requires additional commands at the end. If you are unsure when to use these, Scan for Copy Protection or consult this thread[3].

• /nl is for LibCrypt (some PSX PAL discs, just run on all PSX discs to keep it simple)
• /ns for SecuROM (some PC games)
• /sf for for PC copy protections that can be detected. This can also be used for reading unlicensed PS2 discs, but use with caution since it can cause excessive read times.
• /ss for other PC protections with c2 errors.
• Do not mix the modes, use the correct one for the disc you are dumping.

SecuROM data is in the subintention .txt (when /ns parameter is used and the disc is in fact SecuROM-protected) and should be included with submitted dump info when this protection is used.

Submitting your Dump

Time to have your disc added to redump's database! If it is your first submission, do so via the forum. Forum sign-up here. Submit disc info here.

• Game title: Most obvious, is located everywhere. Please include subtitle.
• Disc title: Some games stored on multiple discs may have discs with titles. Examples: Armored Core: Nexus (Disc 1) (Evolution) and (Disc 2) (Revolution).
• Game languages: Start the game and look for "Language" menu in options.
• Version:
  • For PlayStation 1 games, leave this blank.
  • For PlayStation 2 (CD) games, find the file on your disc named "SYSTEM.CNF" and open in Notepad app, "VER" = version number.
  • For PC games, the game version is either located in files like INI, CONFIG, README and or can (only) be obtained from in-game main menu.
• Edition: Some games were re-released in different packages, for example, "Platinum", "Greatest Hits", "PlayStation 2 the Best" series. If game was released in original package, post edition as "Original".
• Media: Should be "CD" for all dumps. Prototypes would likely be "CD-R".
• Barcode: Submit the numbers from the barcode: EAN / UPC code, usually printed on the back cover of the packaging or disc case.
• log files: DiscImageCreator will generate .txt, .dat, .cue, .c2, .ccd, .sub files. psxt001z and edccchk output text copied from the terminal should be submitted as well. Attach these files to your post when submitting. Also generated, but should NOT be submitted to redump are .bin, .img, .scm files. The .bin files are your game. Files .scm and .img files are another copy of your game in deprecated formats - these can be deleted.
• Serial number: Usually printed on disc itself.
• Ring code info: stamped on the inner ring. Check both sides for any ringcodes (small stamps may require magnifying glass to see). For PlayStation discs with black dye, use this method to obtain any hidden ringcodes if possible.
• PC CD-ROM GAMES ONLY: It's possible when dumping a PC Game that DIC will out put a file ending in "_SubIntention.txt". Copy and paste the contents of this file into your submission. If it doesn't exist, then do nothing.