Packet witing: DLA vs. InCD vs. Drag-to-Disc

1. Sonic DLA (Drive Letter Access)
2. Nero InCD
3. Roxio Drag-to-Disc
4. Other packet writting software

Which one do you use ? I used InCD first then switched to DLA. Both of them have their pros and cons and I am using both of them. I would like to share my experience and would like to know the comment about Drag-to-Disc.

InCD positive:
InCD write UDF/ISO Bridge format discs and have better compatibility. Windows 95 OSR2 upper can read the UDF 1.02 filesystem without installing UDF reader and OS not supporting UDF can still read the ISO filesystem.

InCD negative:
In Nero family, the only way to write unicode (filename) file to disc is by using InCD. However InCD does not support write-once media, it can only write to ReWritable disc. Moreover, InCD crash more easily than DLA. When it crash, you lose all data on the disc. (DLA will not)

DLA positive:
No matter DLA crash or interrupted while writing the disc (power down/reboot, etc), to the DLA software's credit, this "mishap" did not destroy the disc or cause any loss of previously written data (*). Moreover, DLA support writting write-once media (CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R). Also, you can disable/enable DLA in the drive's properties page.

DLA negative:
First, the discs written by DLA are only readable on windows system with DLA or some UDF reader installed. Second, the make compatible function can only apply to write-once media and does not support long filename (8.3 only). Furthermore, sonic haven't update it since 2004.

Finally, Roxio Drag-to-Disc seems have the advantage of both InCD and DLA. I will try it out when I am ready to re-install my system. Feature (*) is very important to me, don't know if Drag-to-Disc have this feature ?

Any such software when used with an EasyWrite (Mount Rainier) compliant drive will produce much more reliable results. Years ago I tried Adaptec's and Ahead's solutions with CD-R/W and without hardware support and standardization it was awful. With EasyWrite CD-RW (MRW) and InCD, the problems virtually disappeared. But I have since moved on to the uber reliable DVD-RAM which I tested with both InCD and Matsushita's driver and found the latter to be better since only it works with TrueCrypt.

InCD has the advantage in supporting the latest UDF standard of 2.60 vs Matsushita's 2.00. Limiting usage to 2.0x ensures that Windows XP/2003 can read the discs without additional drivers, but I would prefer the option of at least Metadata Partition from 2.50.

I have not used Veritas/Sonic DLA but understand it also supports DVD-RAM. There are versions available for free from the various system builders and at least one is from June 2005 but in any case my impression is that it has not been kept up to date (apparently only supporting UDF 1.50?).

The really troubling thing about DLA is this:

http://support.sonic.com/desktop/dri..._letter_access


I have not had any issue with either InCD or Matsushita while Nero Burning ROM or PowerDVD are installed. I understand DLA can be toggled off, but if it was required when using NBR or other software it could be a real hassle.

Since Sonic Solutions aquired Veritas and then Roxio (previously spun-off from Adaptec), I would expect the offerings to narrow (focussing either on DLA or Drag-to-Disc). Hopefully for DVD-RAM users, Matsushita will update the UDF specs in its driver especially with 2.50 and 2.60 being the standards for the forthcoming HD/BD formats.

Since there is no longer much of a premium for DVD-RAM and the available hardware options are increasing, and 16x is forthcoming, I would suggest not bothering with the other formats, but again, at least make sure to use EasyWrite drives rather than relying soley upon software.

I STOPED useing any of them because they are all Rubbish n Not Reliable enough..Your own PC might Read them OK but another PC Won't...So i found that the BEST way to use CDRWs n DVDRWs was to use them as if they were Normal CDRs n DVDRs..Write/Burn to them, n when you have enough DATA just Drag n Drop into a Folder on Desktop n Burn to a normal CDR/DVDR, then FORMAT the CDRW/DVDR n use again...Easy & Safer.

@0pt1x
For Nero InCD, Roxio DirectCD and NTI FileCD, I don't consider these compatibility issues but a common sense that running two packet writing softwares concurrently is forbidden. For Nero Burning ROM, NTI CD Maker, WinDVD and PowerDVD, you have to close them before writing with DLA. No problem for playing DVD while DLA active. To burn disc with Nero Burning ROM or other burning softwares, you have to disable DLA first. I also use nero burning rom and powerdvd and no problem yet.

If Nero InCD is running, and I want to burn dvd with other burning software (as nero burning rom do not support unicode), there will be no way to disable InCD. Except disable the service and restart computer.



@MrScary
I agree packet writing is not as reliable as normal burn. Users should understand that packet writing is not suitable for long-term storage and sharing with other. It is for short-term and personal use. It is ok reliable when it is used with care and in the correct way. "...use DVD like a floppy..." is just a promotion slogan. Although they can be written in a similar way, users shouldn't treat a dvdrw and a floopy in the same way.

Somewhere else in this forum I have described my problem with different versions of DLA on Win98SE, i.e., versions 3.26, 3.59, 4.60, 4.80, 4.90 and 4.95, each has different problem, a.o., the following:

- “EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at 0187:bff9db61.”
- Windows freezes or BSOD when I either plug a USB thumbdrive or unplug it
- When I tried to insert a CD-R disc, the system suddenly rebooted itself
- Failed to reformat one of the CD-RW, that I finally could reformat with InCD.

In this thread I see more people are using DLA, I would appreciate it if those of you that are successfully using DLA with Win98 could tell me what version you are using.

I agree with MrScary, they are all garbage.
CDR, DVD+R and DVD-R are considered to be write once media and should be used as such.

DLA hasn't been updated since 2004, because DragToDisc is the new DLA. When you install DragToDisc in EMC9 a dirver called DLACDBHM.sys does your packet writing. I guess the name-change form DirectCD to DragToDisc marked the transition to the Sonic DLA core.

For some reason the old, original Sonic DLA 5.2 from 2004 is also on the EMC9 CD, but it is not installed as long as you don't delete the DragToDisc 32bit version folder prior to running EMC9 setup (those who don't know: In EMC9 you can't unistall the traditional Sonic components like Backup MyPC, DLA or DMX for example, you have to delete those unwanted folders - which include the .msi-files - before starting the EMC9 setup, it's also the case with DragToDisc 32bit and 64bit versions and VirtualDrive 64bit although those are traditional Roxio components, of those only DragToDisc 32bit can be uninstalled afterwards).

There's no DragToDisc vs. DLA comparison. 2004 and before there was DLA vs. DirectCD, DLA vs. InCD and DirectCD vs. InCD. 2004 and after there is DragToDisc vs. InCD.

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Last edited by anikk; 24-10-2006 at 14:19.

I have DLA on a laptop at home, and InCD on a computer at work. Some time in the past I formatted a CD-RW which both computers are able to use, adding, updating, or deleting files as it's supposed to be.

Recently, I formatted a disk on the laptop for DLA. Then I take the disk to work, and delete or add files. When I bring the disk back home and put it in the laptop, I get a message something like:

"The disk is not supported by the version of DLA installed. You may read the disk, but not add or delete files."

Why is this happening? The disk was formatted on the same machine. Now it won't support it's own version of DLA.

When I check the properties of the disk with my InCD work machine, they all report as UDF v1.50, including the older disk that still works as it should on both machines.