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Resolved Question

Can't see all files on CD

May 25, 2014 8:56PM PDT

I have a CD I created 10 years ago. It should be loaded with photos. According to the label I put on it, I created it in 3 separate sessions. But in Windows Explorer I can see only the photos added in the first session. Is there some way to see the rest of the photos?
My computer is Dell XPS running Windows 8.
Thanks...

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jktjsk has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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You can try
May 25, 2014 10:33PM PDT

You can try a program like ISOBuster (the free version should be sufficient) but frankly any time you start using multiple sessions or anything else with CD/DVDs these kinds of things become much more likely. You should also make sure to pull a copy of every file off that disc and either burn a new one or store them on some other kind of media, because at 10 years you're lucky you can read that CD at all. Burnable media generally doesn't last much longer than 10 years, even if stored in ideal conditions. Even some of the early commercially pressed music CDs are starting to fail now. Also, putting a label on a disc with an adhesive can cause discs to fail even earlier as the adhesive slowly makes its way through the tiny holes in the plastic of the disc and corrode the chemicals used to create the burnable surface. So if you ever wanted to know when you would possibly ever use knowledge of osmosis as a kid, you have your answer.

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It worked!
May 26, 2014 12:26AM PDT

THANK YOU SO MUCH! IsoBuster found my missing photos...I have transferred them to my computer, which is backed up by Carbonite.
I know I am living on borrowed time with these CDs...some date back to 2002. My summer project is to look through all my CDs and transfer the most precious photos to my computer.
My CDs are labeled by writing right on the front with a thin marker. Yes, I remember osmosis...hopefully, ink can't do the harm that adhesive can.
Thanks again...