Yeah, that was what I originally meant by my first post. But I think maybe some ability to define the default number of initial retries in AnyDVD settings - small/medium/large - similar but simpler than what ImgBurn does - may also be a good idea. Maybe it will not help anyone, but possibly someone may find their drive is particularly sensitive and a higher number of retries may help, without interaction. Personally I would also not mind using a "High" setting as the default. If it works, great. If it does not then the first time it fails AnyDVD stops anyway.And that's the point where I invite you to suggest how that should be done
AnyDVD already does a number of retries before it gives up.
It's quite impossible to predict, exactly how many retries it takes to get through your particular damaged disc.
So "switching on this 'mode'" as you put it can only mean retrying endlessly.
Considering that among all defective discs, the vast majority will not recover after any amount of retries, and if you leave the process running for the night, you may wake up the next morning, and wonder whether replacing the bad disc for free wouldn't have been the better alternative to replacing your now hoplessly worn out drive (not so much for free - note that retries put a lot more mechanical stress onto your drive than sequential reading)
So if anything, I would agree to having an "abort, retry, ignore"-box instead - which still requires you to interact, but after all it shouldn't be required for many more than 1 out of 200 discs (unless, that is, you already have a hoplessly worn out drive).
) Anyway, at least people have options when they hit those trouble discs. However, as the bad disc guide shows, ImgBurn isn't magic. There are LOTS of discs (or disc/drive combinations) that simply don't work, even with AnyDVD disabled and using ImgBurn to rip it. In those cases you either have to get a better drive (good luck with that) or replace the disc.
My luck is nearly as good. Other people get plagued with problem discs and bad equipment. The thing that people need to remember though, is that it's FAR too easy to just blame the software. Oh, it must be AnyDVD's fault cause the disc looks clean/has no scratches/is brand new/etc. They don't get the concept that it's a combination of their drive and a potentially crappy made disc. The other issue is how long discs ACTUALLY last. For example, someone here on the board has an HD DVD that they kept in the case and on a shelf for months. They went to test something with it and noticed that the glue that holds the disc together was coming undone. And that's a properly stored, commercial disc! I keep saying this over and over, but, when studios are trying to squeeze out every last ounce of profit, they will continue to use the lowest bidder to mass produce their discs. As a result, quality IS going to suffer. I know you asked about what drives are "recommended" as the better ones earlier. From what I've seen, scarily enough I'd probably recommend a Sony drive at this point. As long as it was MADE by Sony and not just has the Sony label stuck on some cheap POS no-name drive. Unfortunately that's difficult to know. The LG drives we have rock. When mine dies (and remember it's WHEN, _NOT_ IF) I'm going to cry. All optical drives have a shelf life. And when they start to fail, the problems can be very subtle at first and easy to mistake as some other issue. Burners fail sooner, but, eventually all drives fail. It's not really dual-use, I only use the kid's machine as a backup, an alternative ripper when the LG on my main machine chokes.
Hope my single AnyDVD license doesn't get busted for my dual-use
