Redump Archive New
Redump often collaborates with other game preservation and archiving projects. The community plays a significant role in contributing to the project, either by donating game media, participating in the dumping and verification process, or providing financial support.
The Redump project is a disc preservation initiative dedicated to creating a comprehensive, accurate database of optical media. For a new user looking to "archiving" (dumping) or downloading "archives," this guide covers both ends of the process. 1. Downloading Redump Archives (Archive.org)
Most Redump-verified sets are hosted on the Internet Archive.
Search Strategy: Use specific keywords like redump 2020 or system-specific queries like redump gamecube to find "assemblies" or full sets.
Login Required: You must be logged in to your Archive.org account to download large sets or ISO files.
Preferred Formats: While Redump typically provides .iso or .bin/.cue images, many modern archives offer CHD (Compressed Hunks of Data) format. CHD files are significantly smaller (saving 40-50% space) and are supported by most modern emulators like RetroArch and PCSX2. 2. Archiving Your Own Discs (Redumping) redump archive new
If you have a rare disc not in the database, follow these steps to contribute a "New Dump." Hardware & Tools
Compatible Drive: Use a drive that supports accurate reading. Redump maintainers keep a List of Compatible Drives for various media. Core Software:
redumper: A modern CLI tool that automates the detection and dumping process.
DiscImageCreator (DIC): The standard tool for high-accuracy dumps.
MPF (Media Preservation Frontend): A user-friendly graphical interface for DIC. Submission Process for New Users Redump often collaborates with other game preservation and
Title: The Redump Project: A Comprehensive Analysis of Archival Integrity, Technical Methodology, and Preservation Challenges in the Digital Age
Abstract
The rapid obsolescence of optical media formats (CD, DVD, GD-ROM, and Blu-ray) poses a significant threat to the preservation of video game history and software heritage. The Redump.org project has emerged as the de facto standard for cataloging and verifying accurate disc images. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Redump archive, analyzing its technical methodology for achieving bit-perfect preservation, the architecture of its database, and its critical role in separating preservation from piracy. Furthermore, this paper examines the evolution of "new" archiving standards, the challenges of managing an ever-expanding database of thousands of titles across dozens of systems, and the future of optical media preservation in an era moving toward digital distribution.
The software used to dump discs has been completely rewritten. The new Redumper tool (circa 2023-2024) supports:
The urgency of the project is driven by the physical decay of media. Many early CDs from the 1980s and 90s are succumbing to "bronzing" or pinhole rot. Once a disc is unreadable, the software is lost forever unless a verified Redump image exists elsewhere. The software used to dump discs has been
As of 2026, only three USB drive models can dump protected Blu-rays fully:
Redump maintains a “known good drives” database with firmware versions. New users must prove drive compatibility before submitting dumps.
| Type | Support added | Dumping method | |------|---------------|----------------| | BD-ROM (4K Ultra HD) | Late 2024 | LibreDrive + custom firmware dump | | Nintendo Switch Game Cards | 2025 | Not optical – moved to separate “CartDump” project | | Xbox Series X (BDXL) | 2025 | Modified Pioneer drive + bus key extraction |
Important: Redump no longer accepts discs dumped with old tools (IsoBuster, Alcohol 120%) unless verified against new reference dumps.