Redump.org: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
From Redump Wiki
Please read the Redump.org disclaimer.
Overview
What is Redump.org?
- Redump.org is a database and internet community dedicated to collecting precise and accurate information about every video game ever released on optical media.
What do you mean by optical media?
- CDs, DVDs, GDs, NODs, UMDs, Blu-ray discs, etc. If it spins, is read by a laser and has digital game data on it; we want to preserve it.
Why is it called Redump?
- A "dump" is a slang term, used as a noun, to describe the resulting data obtained in the backup process. The term can also be used as a verb, as in: "I'm going to dump this game." Many groups in the past have attempted to preserve video game data with varying degrees of success. We believe that our methods of preservation are more accurate at preserving all the information contained on a disc than previous attempts made by other groups. The name "Redump" is a way of saying we need to dump again or redump games that have been dumped by others. The name "Redump" can also refer to the way in which our database is setup. A second dump or redump is required to confirm the accuracy of an unverified dump in the database.
Isn't dumping games illegal?
- Redump.org does not provide copyrighted material nor do we condone software piracy. Please read the Redump.org disclaimer. You will need to consult your country's laws to confirm whether or not backing up the data on your discs is legal. However, "sharing" copyrighted material is definitely a crime and will not be tolerated here. If you want a game; buy it. Video game developers deserve money for their hard work.
What do you provide on this site?
- Our database contains information about copyrighted data such as titles, version numbers and check sums, but not the actual data contained on the discs. We also provide links to tools and guides to assist you in dumping your discs. We encourage you to join our community and share information about the the backups you create. The Contributing section below will provide you with more information on how to do this.
What's the purpose of this information?
- With the information in the database, the tools provided and the steps in our dumping guides, you can compare a backup you've made to a backup someone else has made. This comparison will verify that you've dumped your disc accurately. The backup you've created can then be archived in case your disc is damaged in the future. We give you information you can use to preserve your games and any information you give us helps others to preserve their games as well. Giving back to Redump.org is covered in more detail in the Contributing section below.
Why preserve game discs?
- Nothing lasts forever. Optical media is especially susceptible to damage in the form of scratches, cracks, heat, sunlight, etc. Preserving these discs now will ensure that future generations aren't deprived of our video game history.
What sets Redump.org apart from other projects that have similar goals?
- Most other projects encourage you to backup your discs in such a way that data is lost. Our methods of preservation try to backup every bit of data contained on the disc. In this way your dump should be as close to a 1:1 copy as possible. More information about our methods is covered in the Dumping section below.
Contributing
I want to contribute, but where do I start?
- Thank you for your enthusiasm and desire to help us preserve our video game heritage. Where you start depends on what you'd like to do. There are more ways to contribute than just what is written here, but the following should give you some ideas. You can post answers to questions in the forum or IRC channel. You can add or modify information in the wiki. You can program useful tools to assist the community. You can dump optical media and submit the information about those dumps to our database. However, contributing to the database requires more reading and preparation. Please see the Forum and Dumping sections below for how to contribute in this way.
Forum
What's the purpose of the Redump.org forum?
- The forum is the heart of this community. Browsing the various sections and reading some of the posts will give you an idea of how this site works. The most up to date news, discussions, guides and dumps can be found on the forum. It can also be a great source for answers to questions not found in the Redump.org wiki.
How do I reply to a topic or create a new topic in the forum?
- The first step is to register for a user name at the Redump.org forum. After you've completed the registration process you can login with the user name you've chosen. To reply to an existing topic, click the name of the topic in which you want to make your reply. Then click the "Post reply" link in the upper right corner. Type your message and click the "Submit reply" button. To create a new topic, click the name of a section in the forum in which you'd like your post to appear. Then click the "Post new topic" link in the upper right corner. Type your message and click the "Submit topic" button. The "Post reply" and "Post new topic" links will only appear when you've registered and logged in with your Redump.org user name.
How do I search the forum?
Wiki
What's the purpose of the Redump.org wiki?
IRC channel
What's the purpose of the #redump IRC channel?
Dumping
How do I get started dumping games?
What should be dumped?
Should I dump video DVDs and audio CDs that are included with a game?
- Yes, we would like those discs to be preserved as well.
Should I dump bootleg discs?
- Maybe. It depends what you mean by "bootleg." The information added to the database should be from pressed optical media and not a disc that was burned in a computer. If you are unsure of the difference or think a particular disc should be an exception, please consult the forum.
Is it true that some data on a disc can't be accurately copied?
- As of this moment, yes, that is true for some types of optical media. The subchannel data of a compact disc is especially difficult to retrieve with perfect accuracy. Certain copy protections can prove difficult to backup as well, but we are working on these issues.
This entire FAQ is still a work in progress
