Same here, depends on type.

I'm assuming that "a backup" of data originating from a HDD is files. Everything from documents to photos to whatever. So while odds of some files backup files being equally corrupted as the source HDD exist, odds are better that some/most (maybe even all) are fine. So keeping the previous backup, at least for now, is prudent.

We don't know where the HDD corruption is, though that can often be determined. For example, if the drive corruption is all contained within the program structure of a worthless piece of software (Powerpoint :laugh:), then it hasn't affected the other files. But if it's right in the middle of your work/school documents, or photos, you have a serious problem, data will be lost.

The OP needs to:
(1) figure out exactly what is corrupted on the HDD
(2) clone/backup as much as possible to a new drive (better yet, SSD)
(3) take even more backups, as needed (if previous backups have corrupt files)

Sometimes the HDD has enough ECC data to move and restore the corrupt file. That's why you'd take new backups with/of those files.

The only time I'd toss backups is if the DVD-Video or BDMV/AV is known bad, and I can make another that is error-free. I don't want loud pops and screwy video while trying to watch it. (I'm sure games are the same, but I don't play games, no time for it.)

When a file is saved to the HDD it was saved in a bad sector of the HDD and will it become corrupted?

When the file is transferred from the HDD (with bad sectors) to the DVD disc it will also become corrupted because the HDD is slow?

Yes, file bad. At very least, unreliable.

Does Windows not allocate and separate bad sectors from HDD preventing files from being saved in these sectors?

Files can be saved in sectors that become bad.

i put dvds in trash because hdd badblocks?

Keep them under your pillow.

hdd with badblock is bad burn dvd because files saved in bad sectors of hdd?

:laugh::laugh2:

Yes. Bad HDD = bad burn DVD = put everything in trash. Everything is bad. Start everything all over.

I have 4 DVD copies of these files, it is possible for me to use one copy and check if it has errors to serve as a parameter for the other copies

If you want to verify each file -- with your eyes, not scan tool -- then it sounds reasonably to me.

Right now, it's an unreliable backup. No more, no less. If you can take a new backup, a known reliable backup, then no need to keep the unreliable.

However, since multiple backups is good, having 1 reliable + 1 unreliable, is still better than a single reliable backup.

Backup is largely a numbers game, statistics. More + more locations = better.

is there a program that checks if the files on my dvd are good and reliable? one disk is a parameter for the others because I burned them all then on the same day

From what I read in lordsmurf's post and what I 100% agree with, the key is you HAVE to check it with your manually check the file's integrity, NO program can do it for you.

If it's a game, you have to play it to the end. If it's a movie, you have to watch it to the end. If it's pictures, you have to view each one. If it's documents, you have to read through each one.

Once you've done this with one disc, copy the contents of each disc to a HDD without bad blocks in separate directories. Then use ViceVersa and run a CRC comparing each of the files from the good DVD against the copied files from the other DVDs.

AFAIK, there's no reliable way to run a CRC on any optical disc.

When it comes to unreliable backups, that's exactly it. :congrats:

I agree 100% with everything you said, except number 2.

How is having an unreliable backup better than just a single reliable backup? I'm guessing this is conditional, dependent upon what the backup contains.

I can agree if the the backup contains multiple files, e.g. documents, pictures, etc. where 99% correct may be good enough. But as I posted earlier, if the disc contains a movie or a game where that 1% corrupted data may ruin hours of viewing or playing, that unreliable backup is worthless IMO.

this is very complicated, my dvd contains pack of roms and emulators and it is impossible for me to play all the games until the end to find out if they are corrupted. I had a lot of work to do this collection but I didn't know that some badblocks on the HDD corrupted all the downloaded files and made burning the DVD bad

You have already gotten the best advice.

1. Some of the ROMs would likely be good even on a DVD burn where some files are corrupted.
2. Save the DVDs for now.
3. Try to fix the files on the hard drive.
4. Make a new DVD backup after you fix the files on the hard drive.

If you can't or won't fix the files on the hard drive, then keep the imperfect DVDs.

Backups is a numbers game, period.

If you have 1 new perfect backup, and it fails, then you have 0.

Sometimes files get corrupted internally, not due to the HDD. So in theory, the "perfect backup" could contain the corrupt file, while the old imperfect backup pre-dates the file corruption.

I believe that the most likely to corrupt the files is if they were targeted in defective sectors of the HDD the transfer from the HDD to the DVD I did the Verify tests of imgburn and read test of the nero discspeed