While many consumers are well aware about the need to back-up important data on to CDs and DVDs, there is always a risk that when it comes to recovering data that the backup disc may have suffered a severe scratch or has deteriorated from poor quality media or a manufacturing defect. To guard against this issue, the company TrueDisc has launched its TrueDisc Mastering software that allows users to create archival quality CDs and DVDs where the original file can be recovered to its original state with up to 90% disc damage.
With the redundancy data created by the software, it is possible to fit up to 600MB of data to CD and up to 4.1GB of data to DVD, although for smaller amounts of data, the software will use the remaining disc space to provide added redundancy. The redundant cells TrueDisc creates for the archival disc are stored separately to the original files on the disc, which means that as long as the original files remain in-tact, they can be read back directly without the use of TrueDisc. However, if the files become damaged or partially unreadable, TrueDisc uses its proprietary algorithm to rebuild the original files using the redundant cells. To allow discs to be distributed, each protected disc includes a TrueDisc reader to recover from damage.
The company mentions that a TrueDisc protected disc is as robust as making 16 backup copy discs of the original data. However, this also assumes that if the TrueDisc protected disc is damaged, that it can still be recognised by the drive, as no software will protect against broken, heavily warped or other discs suffering physical damage to the point where it cannot be loaded or made recognisable to the drive.
The software is currently available for the Macintosh only, priced at $52 for a limited period or $89 once its promotion is over.
