Cannot copy or open files from burned CD

I have a CD that has some files on it that were burned to it by someone else in the office. I assume they were burned using the Windows XP CD burn method. I can see the files in Win Explorer that are on the disc. But I cannot read them, copy them, or do anything else with them. I get an error message that says Cannot Copy (filename): The parameter is incorrect. We are needing some of these files for reference for a new project, so it's important we find a way to open and use these. Is there a way to do this? Thanks.

 

First I would try to copy the files using another computer, to see whether the problem is with the CD or your system. If it's with your system, I'd then check to see if there are any restrictions on the files, like, for example, in Properties are they designated as Read Only or restricted in some other way? Next, I would go into Task Manager and delete/reinstall explorer.exe. (Don't get scared --- you'll lose your Desktop temporarily.) Here's how you do it: Open Task Manager, go to Processes + close explorer.exe. Then immediately restart explorer.exe by going back into Task Manager, and in File section, select New Task (Run). Type explorer.exe (or C:\Windows\explorer.exe) in the Run box (it may be there already). Below the command, it may say: This task will be run with Administrator privileges. Click Okay Once you've done this, try copying your files from the CD again.

If none of the above methods work, can you open the files and manually copy the text and/or graphics within the files? That may end up being your only option.

 

The files on the CD are listed as read-only.

I tried to explorer.exe method and that did not work. When it restarted, it was under the user name and not the admin name.

 

Do you have access to a Linux machine? Perhaps Linux could read the files. You can build an Ubuntu machine rather easily and its free.

 

They may have burned by using "drag-to-disk". I have 1 machine with DLA the drag to disk program, I cannot read a cd burned on that machine on a machine which does not have DLA "Drag-to-Disk"
JD