Data Recovery Guide: UDF Reader: Do You Need One?

We've established that third-party software may use "packet-writing" solutions to incrementally add data in UDF format to a recordable CD. Windows can't read such CDs correctly, although some third-party software can. The next important question is, is that unreadable CD you're facing caused by this problem, and will obtaining the correct UDF reader software let you do some UDF recovery and save the day?

Of course, if you know for a fact that your Windows computer does not have UDF reader software installed, and that you have a recordable CD that was written in UDF format, then there is no mystery. The next section lists the most common software products that create such discs, to help you identify such situations. The rest of this section, however, is devoted to the case where you can't read a recordable CD, you don't know what software/settings were used to create it, and you're wondering if you just need a UDF reader.

Do You Have a MultiRead Drive?

One reason you might be unable to read a CD that someone else recorded has nothing to do with software. You might simply have a CD drive in your computer that is not compatible with recorded CDs.

This problem is somewhat rare at this point, and is low on the list of suspects unless you have a pretty old CD drive in your computer. You basically just want to make sure your drive is a "MultiRead" drive. MultiRead is just a compatibility program that certifies that a CD drive can read various popular forms of CDs, including recordable (CD-R) and rewritable (CD-RW) discs.

Symptoms of Needing a UDF Reader

The symptoms of trying to read a UDF-formatted CD when compatible UDF reader software is not installed can vary. Here's a partial list:

• Windows claims the disc is empty, though you're sure it's not.
• Windows Explorer claims the disc is corrupt or unreadable.

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