This is a warning to anyone who owns the DVD of the 1995 UK Aliens convention in Bristol, made by Paul Kitching.



I went to play it recently but to my dismay the disc has warped so much that the disc won't spin properly in all of my 3 DVD players or both my computers.

I think it has something to do with the label, which had lifted off slightly at the edge in one spot and wouldn't stick back down. I carefully cut the bad section away with a scalpel but this didn't help. I wonder if the label has shrunk or reacted with the disc in some way to make the disc warped.

To corroborate the fact that it's not just a one-off issue I have two copies of the DVD and the problem is present with both of them. Also I spent the day with a fellow Aliens collector recently and he has the same disc, and his copy is warped as well.

If you have this DVD and can still play it my advice is to make a back-up copy of it as soon as possible.

My request is that if someone does have it, can play it and are able to make me a back-up copy for the HHACA archives could they get in touch? It would be a shame for a record of an event like this to disappear.

Thanks,

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

You have 3 DVD players and 2 computers and you can't scrape up some coin to come to DragonCon this year?

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-Spat

I was there at the alien con in '95 never knew the was a dvd of it, if i did i would not have taken my camcorder....

harry if you get a copy of this..any chance you could run me off a copy?

I'm hoping that Paul Kitching will see this and offer new copies if possible, he's a member here.

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Get rid of the label and gently warm the disc, the plastic might reform to its orginal shape.

SAS

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Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

Same problem here

Sorry to hear about that Harry,that sucks.

I do however recall reading about it in ScifiModellers Wish I`d been there.
Even then a fair amount of Marines in costume.

Jason

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What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

I was there too and didnt know a DVD existed!

What Harry said... if anyone has a copy, I too would like one for the archives... Sorry to jump on the wagon Harry!

I've heard about this situation before.

The idea is that sticky labels are bad because they may cause DVDR's to warp over time.

This is possibly due to the heat within the pc softening and shifting the adhesive on the labels, or
perhaps the label was applied off center (even slightly).
Both of these situations will cause the the disc to wobble.
The uneven heat distribution from the pc, the adhesive and possibly the laser itself, will cause the disc to warp over time,
likely toward the label side.
The warping will be more severe, closer to the edge.

Additionally, the laser will have a tough time staying on track with an unballanced disc.
Because of this, a possible early warnig of unbalenced warping is the pixelation of the image,
especially toward the end of the disc.


Reading up on the subject I found this recovery method:

(like mentioned above, it involves heating and bending)

< < If you have some DVDs already failed with label, don't to tear label off.
The following steps should completly save them.
Blow the hot air, using a hair dryer, towards the DVD label surface, especially the edges.
While heating the surface, bend the DVD towards the laser side.
Spin the DVD around and bend in all directions. > >


The idea here is that by keeping the label the heat from the dryer will soften the glue of the label, then by bending the DVD,
will cause the label stick on a pre-warped surface.
This pre-warped condition will help prevent later heat warping in the oppsite direction.


Many more suggest removing the label completly.
I've read a lot of suggestions of spraying the disc with WD-40 and let it sit for about an hour.
(Label should then come right off)
Then, clean it with a light dish detergent and let the disc completly air dry. (like 24 hours)

...Some also suggest lighter fluid.

Although I haven't read any reports of either of these two solvents damaging a disc, I don't think I would let
either of them touch the writable surface.
And, if the DVD plays afterward, I'd make a copy first thing.


* Then again, others claim that sticky labels causing warping is all bunk.


** Personally I would remove the label first thing as I've read several reports that just by removing the label the disc may work.
If that fails, I'd go the bendy route.

Sorry guys.

I've just checked my copy and it's fine, so I'm making a backup right now.

I'm using different discs now and I have a different DVD writer, so hopefully they will be more reliable. I remember a few people had some problems reading the discs near the end last time.

If you got a copy off me and are having problems reading the disc then I'll send you a new one. PM or email me with your address and I'll ...

Oh. An alert box saying "Reading disc failed" has just appeared.

I'll have to try again. Maybe by copying the files manually without using Nero I can get it to work by re-trying the faulty part 10 times. Otherwise I'll have to re-create the disc in Pinnacle Studio from my three source discs (if they still work - no stickers, but I don't trust DVDs anymore).

I'll let you know how I get on...

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The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
My YouTube Videos

Hey Paul.

Firstly no need to apologise, it's not your fault and of course there's no way of foreseeing this problem.

Keep us posted if you get any success with back up copies. Good to hear you still have the original source discs too.

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Paul,

If you would consider offering copies for sale for those of us who unfortunately missed the event, I'd certainly be very interested.

Cheers,

Andy

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A72/TQ6.6.95356E8





"I plan to live forever.........or die trying!"

I would also add my name to such a list.

Same here.

A quick update.

After almost giving up on the disc, I finally managed to get all the files copied off it , and it seems to play okay It was fun seeing my rendered intro and chapter selection screen again.

I'll create a new disc tomorrow and watch the whole thing on my stand alone DVD player to make sure everything is okay, then I'll arrange for copies to be sent out.

Bed time now. <yawn>

_________________
The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
My YouTube Videos

Great news Paul!

I'd like to buy two new copies so let me know how to pay and I'll get it to you ASAP.

Thanks!

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

I had troubles with mine playing as well. It played most of the "dealer room" footage, but died part way through the
TE/Hope panels.

But what I did see was neat!

Russ

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Paul,
If at all there`s any chance for buying a copy when available,I`d love one too

Maybe we could actually meet up too as we`re both in the same neck of the woods?

Jason

_________________
What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

Andy (Clanger):


I'm with Andy on that one, Paul. Would gladly buy a copy.

"You can count me out", er, "in"

Andrew

Add me to the "I'd like one if it became available too" list!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Seems like there's certainly some interest in a run of these. Please add me to the list of interested cheers.

Darren

I thought everyone who wanted one already had one, since I sent loads of these out last time. It looks like a second run will be in order

Harry, et al, I'll send you replacements once I get it done again (more on that in a minute), but I would feel bad about charging anything more than postage/disc costs. You will already have a box and printed cover, so you can just replace the disc. Once they are sent, we'll sort the cost. I guess less than a quid.

The discs I have at the moment are plain white; the kind you can put in a printer and print directly onto. I don't have one of those printers, so it will have to be a plain disc. If you have a fancy printer you could do that bit yourself (I'll upload the disc sticker image if anyone wants it for this purpose).

Now for the current snag in the plan. I got a new DVD recorder a few months ago and it came with "Nero 7 Essentials". I used to use "Nero Burning ROM 5", and it wouldn't let me keep V5 when I installed V7. No problem, I thought, as this version will be better...

Well, it's okay, and has new stuff, but when I tried to burn the Convention DVD I found a problem. It doesn't look like I can re-burn the disc the same way as before. The original disc had DVD video and also photos and a text file (for use on a computer). I can't get stupid V7 to let me put any other files on the disc except video ones, as it only lets you see inside the VIDEO_TS director, not the root It would copy one like that, but not make one. How annoying!

I'll have to see if I can make an ISO with something, so it's as it should be, then burn that to a disc with crappy Nero 7. If not, it's no big loss, but I want my disc to be the way I made it and not a compromise because of stupid software.

Axeman, which town are you in?

General info about the disc, for the people who don't know anything about it:

It is about 1 hour long, and has animated menu screens, and short 3D rendered intro for a bit of fun.

The beginning is in the dealer room and lasts about 10 minutes.

The majority of the footage is of the main stage where Terry English and William Hope answer questions (with John Shadwell showing up in Marine armour in the Terry part).

It finishes off with a couple of minutes of the signings, followed by the credits.

Note: The sound is quite low on the talks, as the sound wasn't very loud in the room. If you turn the volume up on your TV you should be okay. I find it okay, and can hear what they are saying.

The picture quality isn't brilliant, as it's from an analogue camcorder and was captured through a composite lead; all I had at the time.

Main Menu:



Chapter Selection:



Intro:



William Hope on stage:

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The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
My YouTube Videos

That looks and sounds excellent. I have never seen this before! If your thinkng of making a few copies - I would love to have one!

Cheers

Bri

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In Space No One Can Hear You Scream ...
Dave Xeno - missed but never forgotten......

Tried ImgBurn or CDMage for ISO creation? They usually work for the little disc work I do.

Who's the chap on the right here?



Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA