Yo~! I have this VCD that contains .dat files, I was trying to copy the file to my HD but I can't! I can't even play the .dat file! But My friend told me he can watch this vcd. When I used VCDGear, its says something like: Avseq01.dat WARNING: Specified DAT file has an invalid XA header signature. Why ? I also used Iso Buster to extract it ,it says Extracting ,but the % never move. Why ? I try to play it using Windows Media Player, its says format unsupported, Why ? When I used MS-DOS to copy, it say the device is not ready, Why ?My friend can play it in his PC ~~~~ HELP !!!

I'm betting your cd player is too old for this format.

Note: this is a double posting. The first is at http://computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/146264.html. When you say "I was trying to copy the file to my HD but I can't! I can't even play the .dat file!" What do you mean? You can not get yourself to do it? Is it an emmotional problem? What do you do and what happens when you do it? I too suspect you do not have the compatible player or equipment to view it. Bryan

Try opening Windows Media Player and then go to File, Open. Select this DAT file to play. Bryan

I may be out of sync here, but are we talking about VCDGear - the software that is used to play VCDs OR is there any new VCD player Hardware you guys are talking about? If you are taking about a CD ROM DRIVE that is too old....eh?? I dont think the CD ROM DRIVE's technology matters. Here is my bit: try XING PLAYER media player sometimes just cant play some VCDs. Xing player is written specifically for playing VCDs. and Laguna, please make youself clearer with your problem. for a moment atleast, put your self in our shoes and try to imagine what we wud understand by reading your question. I can almost imagine Bryco's irritation. Nothing personal - no hard feelings. Enjoy you VCD !! -Kailas Shastry -India

Kailis. I know you usually give very good advice in these forums, but : "If you are taking about a CD ROM DRIVE that is too old....eh?? I dont think the CD ROM DRIVE's technology matters." Heck Kailis, even some regular cd's that have been burned in regualr cd players can't be read by other cd-roms that are more than three years old. I'm chalking this up to the fact that it is probably very late in India and you're sleepy. :) Larry

Seawatch, Thank you for your nice words, everyday its a learning experience here ! From my experience with media files, a wrong header message signifies a wrongly encoded file. There are many many encoding s/w around and not all of them do a good job. I thought, a VCD is a VCD is a VCD no matter who its 'burnt'. Well, I could certainly be wrong and learn something from this. one question here: about the normal CDs not being read by older drives...is n't it got to do with the 650/700 MB convention? The newer CD writers seem to be able to do away with the 50MB error bit checking and I assume, thats the reason they are not able to be read by older drives. I might be mighty wrong here, just trying to get some info here... Thanks seawatch again, regards -Kailas. (matter of fact, it IS late here and am going to bed, but shall surely check this thread first thing in the morning)