CDmage: The Ultimate Guide to Disk Image RecoveryCDmage is a specialized utility originally created to inspect, repair, and recover data from optical disc image files such as ISO, BIN, IMG, and raw CD image formats. Although development on CDmage slowed years ago, its feature set and straightforward approach still make it a valuable tool for anyone working with damaged or unusual disc images. This guide covers what CDmage does, how it works, when to use it, step‑by‑step recovery techniques, practical examples, and alternatives to consider in 2025.
What CDmage is and why it matters
CDmage is a Windows-based program designed primarily for handling CD/DVD image files. It focuses on low‑level inspection of image contents, sector‑level extraction, recovery of damaged files, and conversion between formats. For forensic work, retrocomputing, optical backup recovery, or rescuing data from scratched or improperly created disc images, CDmage provides detailed control that more general-purpose tools often lack.
Key capabilities:
- Opening and examining raw sector structures of image files.
- Extracting individual files, tracks, or sectors.
- Reconstructing file system structures (ISO9660, Joliet, etc.) when partially damaged.
- Converting between image formats and creating corrected BIN/CUE pairs.
- Handling mixed-mode discs (data + audio) and older formats used by legacy games and software.
Supported formats and typical use cases
CDmage supports common image containers and raw formats frequently used in archival and preservation:
- ISO (standard CD filesystem images)
- BIN/CUE (raw binary images with accompanying CUE sheets)
- IMG, NRG, MDF (various vendor or tool-specific raw image formats)
- Raw sector dumps (.raw or .img with sector headers)
Typical use cases:
- Recovering files from partially corrupted ISO/BIN images.
- Extracting audio tracks from mixed-mode images.
- Repairing CUE sheets and rebuilding track layout.
- Salvaging game images for emulation and archival.
- Forensic examination of disc images for missing or hidden sectors.
Installing and launching CDmage
CDmage historically runs on Windows. Newer Windows versions can still run it, often requiring compatibility settings or administrative privileges.
Steps to get started:
- Download CDmage from a reputable archive or software repository (verify checksums where available).
- Extract the ZIP or installer to a folder—no complex installation is typically required.
- Right‑click the executable and choose “Run as administrator” if you anticipate accessing protected system folders or mounting virtual drives.
- If on modern Windows (Windows ⁄11), set compatibility mode to an earlier Windows version if the program exhibits instability.
Note: Because CDmage is an older utility, prefer running it in a controlled environment (VM or isolated system) when working with untrusted images.
Interface overview
CDmage’s UI presents a hierarchical view of the disc image’s structure with panes for:
- File/folder tree (from detected filesystems).
- Sector view (raw hex or interpreted sector contents).
- Track and TOC (Table of Contents) information for BIN/CUE images.
- Logs and status messages reporting read/recovery operations.
Familiarize yourself with these panes before attempting recovery: the sector view is essential for manual salvage, while the file tree shows what can be extracted directly.
Step‑by‑step recovery workflow
Below is a practical workflow to recover files from a damaged or partially unreadable image.
-
Open the image
- File → Open → choose the ISO/BIN/IMG file. If the tool prompts for a CUE, point it to the CUE or allow CDmage to autodetect tracks.
-
Inspect the TOC and track layout
- Verify track types (data vs audio), sector sizes (2048 vs 2352 bytes), and number of sectors. Misaligned sector sizes are a common source of errors.
-
View the filesystem tree
- If the tree loads, attempt normal extraction first: right‑click files or folders → Extract. Choose a safe output folder.
-
Use sector view for damaged files
- If files are missing or corrupted, navigate to sector ranges reported as problematic. Use the hex viewer and the “Show as text” rendered view to identify file headers (e.g., PK for ZIP, MZ for EXE).
-
Recover by sector extraction
- Select sectors around a suspected file and use “Save sectors” or “Extract sectors” to create a raw file. Then attempt to open that raw file with appropriate tools (archive repairers, image analyzers).
-
Rebuild filesystems or recreate CUE
- If the TOC is wrong, rebuild a CUE sheet with correct track start sectors. For ISO filesystem corruption, use CDmage’s repair features (where available) or export raw sectors and rebuild the filesystem with specialized tools.
-
Salvage audio tracks
- For mixed‑mode discs, extract audio tracks as WAV and reassemble the data portion separately.
-
Verify recovered files
- Check hashes (MD5/SHA1) against known values if available. Open recovered documents/media to confirm integrity.
Practical recovery examples
Example 1 — Recovering a partially invalid ISO:
- Open the ISO. If files are missing, inspect sector 16 onward for the primary volume descriptor (ASCII “CD001”). If it’s displaced, extract contiguous sectors from the start of the volume descriptor and rebuild a genuine ISO with a hex editor or image construction tool.
Example 2 — Extracting a ripped game’s BIN with a bad CUE:
- Load the BIN; view track layout. If the CUE is missing, note track start sectors and sector mode (⁄2352). Create a CUE sheet manually with the proper indexes and mount or reprocess the BIN.
Example 3 — Salvaging compressed archives inside a damaged image:
- Locate file headers for ZIP/RAR within the sector view. Extract the contiguous sectors comprising the archive into a raw file and run tool-specific repair (e.g., zip -FF or RAR recovery tools).
Tips for better recovery outcomes
- Always work on copies of image files. Preserve originals intact.
- Make a full sector dump first if the image is unstable.
- Keep a log of sectors and offsets you extract—this helps with reconstruction.
- Combine CDmage with dedicated repair tools (7-Zip, WinRAR, IsoBuster, ddrescue) for best results.
- For scratched physical discs, create multiple reads and compare; some errors are transient.
Alternatives and complementary tools (2025)
While CDmage remains useful, newer or actively maintained tools may provide better compatibility, GUI polish, or automation:
| Tool | Strengths |
|---|---|
| IsoBuster | Excellent for recovering files from bad discs and images; strong GUI and sector repair. |
| ddrescue | Robust command‑line recovery from failing media; good for creating reliable raw dumps. |
| UltraISO/PowerISO | User-friendly conversion and mounting features; commercial tools with broad format support. |
| BIN/CUE editors (various) | Helpful for fixing TOC/CUE layout problems and mixed‑mode issues. |
| xorriso/cdrecord | Scriptable tools for rebuilding and burning images on Linux. |
When CDmage isn’t enough
CDmage is great at manual, low‑level inspection, but it may struggle with modern container formats, copy‑protection schemes, or complex multi‑session discs created by newer authoring tools. In those cases, combine CDmage’s insights with dedicated forensic or commercial software that supports advanced recovery and emulation workflows.
Safety and legal considerations
- Only recover and use disc images you have the right to access.
- Respect copyright and licensing when extracting or redistributing recovered content.
- Use isolated environments for unknown or potentially malicious images.
Summary
CDmage remains a practical, low‑level utility for disk image inspection and recovery. It shines when you need hands‑on control over sectors, track layouts, and damaged files. For best results, use it alongside modern recovery tools and always operate on backups. The combination of sector‑level analysis, targeted extraction, and complementary repair tools will maximize your chances of successful recovery.
Leave a Reply