Verify, simulate and inspect
Disc Writer has four tools for burning with confidence: verification after a burn, simulation before one, an image file that stands in for a disc, and a page of facts about the drive and disc.
Verify after writing
Leave Verify after writing on. After the burn, Disc Writer reads the disc back:
| Burn | How it is checked | Success message |
|---|---|---|
| Data disc | Checksums recorded during the burn are compared with the disc | Verified: disc contents match the recorded checksums |
| Disc image | The disc is compared with the image file byte for byte | Verified: disc matches the image byte for byte |
If verification fails, the progress window shows Failed. Do not rely on that disc. Burn again on a new disc, at a lower Write speed if the problem repeats.
Simulate a burn
Turn on Simulate only. The button changes to Simulate burn, and the whole job runs with the laser off. Nothing is written.
Use it to check that a drive and disc work together before you use up a write-once disc. Simulation is also available for erasing.
Use an image file as a drive
An image file can stand in for a disc. Every burn, added session, verification and erase works on it as on real media.
On the DRIVE card, open More.
Select Use an image file as a drive….
Choose or name a file and select Use as drive.
The drive card then shows the file name with Image file. Use this to rehearse a complete burn, or to try the app on a computer with no optical drive.
Read disc and drive details
Open Disc info to see what the drive reports:
| Section | Fields |
|---|---|
| Drive | Address, Kind, Make, Model |
| Disc | Type, State, Rewritable, Sessions, Used, Free, Label |
| Burning engine | The xorriso version and Path, or Not installed |
If a drive exists but cannot be opened, this page shows Drive found but not accessible with the commands that fix it.
Drive card buttons
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Re-read disc | Reads the disc again after you change it |
| Eject | Opens the tray |
| More › Rescan drives | Looks for drives again, for example after plugging in a USB drive |
| Switch drive | Chooses another drive when you have several |