How To Use BlindWrite

by mikk (mikk999@yahoo.com) - Updated 24 November 2002

The BlindWrite Suite from VSO Software is a wonderful set of software tools for copying CDs. They are intended to make perfect copies of CDs. This tutorial gives step by step instructions on how to use the BlindWrite Suite.

The first thing you have to do is install the software. Simply download it from the BlindWrite site, and install it. The process is very easy. Don't forget to reboot after installing the software.

Now run BlindWrite. You should get a window like this:

To read a CD, click on:

BlindRead will then run. If you are using a trial version of BlindWrite Suite you will get a "Trial Version Reminder." Just wait until you can press the "Test" button, then press it. The more you use BlindWrite, the longer this will take. The trial versions also expire after a certain amount of time. If you like BlindWrite you should buy it because the developers have really made a great tool.

Now select "Dump the image of a CDROM" and press the "Next" button. Now put the CD you want to copy in you CD burner.

Select your CD burner from the drop down list.

Untick "Authorize the use of alternative read method"
Tick "Extract subcodes (if your reader allows it)"

Select a filename for the image by either typing a filename in, or by clicking the "..." button and saving a file like you do normally. For the "Image output format," select "Blindwrite BWT; BWI; BWS)."

Again click on the "Next" button.

For the "Extraction Method," choose "1 - Nibble"
Tick the "Adapt Speed" box.
As Minimum, select "x1"
Select "Max" for Maximum

Now press the "Read" button.

The software will then read your disc. It usually takes a few minutes to read an unprotected disc. But when reading a copy-protected disc it can take up to several hours.

When it's finished you get the "Congratulations" message and information about the CD. Press the Quit button to leave the program.

The next step is for copy-protected discs that use Securom 4.8 and higher. I is not necessary if you aren't copying a disc with this kind of protection. A list of the types of copy protection found on CDs can be found at this site.

Now run the "Physical CD characteristics dumper" from the BlindWrite shortcuts. Your original CD should still be in the burner. Please try to close any other programs that are running because they can make this program very inaccurate.

Select your CD burner from the drop down list.

Change the speed to 8x. Set it lower if you don't mind waiting longer.

Click on the "Max sector" box and change the number to 50000. Currently, 50000 works, but in the future higher numbers may be required.

Everything is ready now, so press the "Start measure" button.

The program will ask if you would like to "Auto set last sector." Click on "No." Click on "Yes" if you don't mind waiting a lot longer.

Now the CD will read. Do not touch your computer until the measuring is finished. Do not run any other programs until the measuring is finished.

When the measuring has finished you will hopefully get a graph like this one:

IF you get lots of very big spikes in the chart you have to try measuring again. Perhaps try a different speed. If you think the result looks OK, then continue to the next step.

You have to save it as a BWA file. The BWA file has to have the same name as the BWT file you saved in BlindRead, and it has to be saved in the same directory.

Now you can "Exit" the program.

Take your original CD out of the burner. Put a blank CD in the burner.

Run the BlindWrite Suite again to bring up this window:

But this time click on the right hand side:

If you are using a trial version of BlindWrite Suite you will get a "Trial Version Reminder." Just wait until you can press the "Test" button, then press it. The more you use BlindWrite, the longer this will take. The trial versions also expire after a certain amount of time. If you like BlindWrite you should buy it because the developers have really made a great tool.

Select "Start CD writing wizard" and click on the "Next" button.

Select your CD burner from the drop down list.

Click on the "Next" button.

Use the "Select CD image file" button to open your BWT file.

After you have opened the correct file, click on "Next":

You can safely ignore the CD image verification. Click on "Next" again.

Change the "Writing mode" to "DAO Pw":

Tick the "Enhance weak sectors" box.

You're nearly finished... Click on the "Go !" button.

Wait for the CD to finish burning. When it's finished, you can quit BlindWrite:

Now try out the CD in all your different CD-ROM drives. Hopefully it will work in all of them. Don't forget to try both installing and playing the game. Sometimes you can play but you can't install, and sometimes you can install but can't play!

Unfortunately, copies of Securom 4.8 protected discs will not work in some drives. Usually they will work in your burner though. Unfortunately, at the time this tutorial was written, this problem has not been completely solved.

Please feel free to email me if you have any major problems or find any errors in this tutorial.

mikk (mikk999@yahoo.com)