MDF/MDS on Linux

scheurneus

So, I want to submit some 1996 game I have lying around (Network Q RAC Rally Championship (1996 I believe)), but I'm running Linux, and I can't find a way to make MDF/MDS files on Linux. I already figured a way to mount them (AcetoneISO), and the game (what is for MS-DOS) won't work when I make an ISO out of it, because of the fact the in-game music is handled via an audio CD, and an ISO does not copy those tracks. I managed to get it to run on another computer running Windows, but I don't have it anymore, but I did so by making an image, mounting it inside Windows, and then let VirtualBox use the host (mounted) CD-ROM drive. So, does anybody know a way of making these in Linux?

stitch

cdrdao looks like it can copy multiple tracks? (It's been a while admittedly since I mastered discs)

http://linuxreviews.org/howtos/cdrecording/#toc11

SomeGuy

There is a very comprehensive guide to file formats and applications here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison ... e_software

It looks like currently there isn't any way to make MDF/MDS files under Linux, although some tools can read or convert that. Keep in mind that MDF/MDS is a proprietary format native to "Alcohol 120%"

stitch

I'd like to please request that we avoid the use of properitary file formats when possible. If we can get a data dump of the disc in ISO/CUE followed by the audio we should be able to recreate the disc no?

SomeGuy

Agreed, 20 years from now, MDF/MDS will possibly be as useless for most people as some of the DOS/Win31 based self-extracting floppy disk image archives I've come across. (They only run under DOS or 16-bit Windows, require a floppy drive, can not be extracted any other way, and only work with a real FDC chip so they won't even work in most emulators!)

For business applications, ISO should always be fine. From my own experience, you usually DON'T want anything lower level than that because it is often erroneous garbage.

I've never seen anyone that can list specific advantages of MDF. Apparently it can be used to duplicate some CD based copy protection. But the worst part is that probably is more a function of the software (Alcohol 120%) than the file format itself. So reading or writing that format with any other tool probably isn't as useful.

scheurneus

Thanks all. I am now 'ripping' with cdrdao. As it looks now, it is working fine, but I'll have to test it first of course.

EDIT: Making the images succeeded, but I don't have any CDs to test lying around at the moment. Is there a way to mount CUE images on Linux? With AcetoneISO, it only mounts the data track of the BIN.

EDIT 2: I also found the game on coreduo.me.uk, however, the game there is in MDF/MDS format and it is French.

EDIT 3:Whoops, forgot to mention my copy also has the X-Miles addon

Kirk

scheurneus wrote:

Is there a way to mount CUE images on Linux?

Seems the accepted process is:
Convert to ISO -- http://www.networkinghowtos.com/howto/c ... iso-image/
Mount the ISO -- http://www.networkinghowtos.com/howto/m ... -on-linux/

stitch

I have put together two new pages in regards to starting official policy on how to capture CD/DVD images and floppy disk images. Please let me know if there's anything we should add or correct in them.

SomeGuy

I hadn't checked lately, but has ImgBurn stopped bundling malware?

In the floppy disk section, you should add something about write protecting the disk before using it. Many OSes will automatically write junk to a floppy.

You might also consider mentioning the SuperCard Pro.

calvinb

Windows 95 at least would clobber boot sectors for non-DOS disks