OnlyNDaUsa said:

RiotPaisley said:

thetimefan said:

If your computer crashed, do you mean your HDD has failed and is no longer working?. If it hasnt failed and just your operating system isn't working you should in theory should still be able to access the files via another method. Also if you have cloud storage and you can recover them I'd upload them to it too so you have a backup plus CDR and DVDR discs to backup for your digital versions. I think if the Windows OS is corrupt you have use like Linux rescue disc and access your files that way. If not there's data recovery programs but I'd use those with caution as they sometimes can overwrite over files and arent 100% reliable. Hope this helps.

Thanks! Yes I inadvertently wiped my hard drive. I bought some software that pulled everything off, at that time I was mostly concerned about some photos I had lost. I *think* I have the music too... I did back everything up to disc in 2006 and to an external that also seems to have failed but I can use the software to get that back. Unfortunately my R2JF was scratched already when I ripped it. I'll have to check the cd. I hope I bought stuff from the NPG music Club (I had chocolate invasion, xenophobia) prior to 2006 or its forever, for now anyway. I just haven't had time to go back and get everything into my new drive. I have 1TB OF iCloud storage now though! Always make CURRENT back ups your hard drive... LESSON LEARNED

This happened to me a few years back. Thought I selected one file to delete, but I deleted everything somehow. Maybe one beer too many

Thank you guys:

I want to buy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prince-Crystal-Ball-4-CD-Box-Set-Out-Of-Print-MINT-Square-Case-/371611880333?hash=item5685cb4b8d:g:aI4AAOSwn1RXInW7

It looks like a copy to me like a burned CD.

OR should I get this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prince-Crystal-Ball-4-CD-Box-Set-Very-Rare-BRAND-NEW-/252378812960?hash=item3ac2f31220:g:asoAAOSwr41XIcL6

As far I know this 2 CDs are the same, right? Which one is rarer?

Wait...one second the 2nd one says its "Planet Earth" so is it the same as the 3rd one? I dont get it because it has the "Prince" "Love Symbol" same as the first one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391440651654?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111983469411?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRINCE-RARE-Planet-Earth-HOLOGRAM-Cover-CD-July-2007-Columbia-USA-/231930604403?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=6A6JqIRqeB2VFgDqPOLkv77KFd8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

(this cd is same as 2nd?)

DianaNY said:

Thank you guys:

I want to buy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prince-Crystal-Ball-4-CD-Box-Set-Out-Of-Print-MINT-Square-Case-/371611880333?hash=item5685cb4b8d:g:aI4AAOSwn1RXInW7

It looks like a copy to me like a burned CD.

OR should I get this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prince-Crystal-Ball-4-CD-Box-Set-Very-Rare-BRAND-NEW-/252378812960?hash=item3ac2f31220:g:asoAAOSwr41XIcL6

One is opened, one is sealed. That's the only difference i see.

DianaNY said:

As far I know this 2 CDs are the same, right? Which one is rarer?

Wait...one second the 2nd one says its "Planet Earth" so is it the same as the 3rd one? I dont get it because it has the "Prince" "Love Symbol" same as the first one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391440651654?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111983469411?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRINCE-RARE-Planet-Earth-HOLOGRAM-Cover-CD-July-2007-Columbia-USA-/231930604403?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=6A6JqIRqeB2VFgDqPOLkv77KFd8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

(this cd is same as 2nd?)

First one is the album from 1992. The second two are Planet Earth.

I thought the 1st and 2nd CD are the same, because the cover has the same "love symbol" but the 3rd one has planet earth with Prince. lol

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Nickadoo said:

You're correct. If I'm not mistaken, Sign O' The Times was the first Prince album released on CD during its debut, and it wasn't until 1990 when the remainder of his back catalog was reissued on that format. The recording industry didn't start to fully embrace digital until 1986 and it took about 3 years before the public embraced it in favor of vinyl and cassette.

i think ATWIAD was released on CD at launch. the long box folded out and had a small album sleave in side with a little pocket and it had all the lyrics...but I got that in late 88...but i do not think they would have done a special packaging 2 years later for on CD of a catalog (and i think there were only a few acts that got that packaging. ALSO! ATWIAD was one of the first tapes to use clear plastic (One other was Mötley Crüe ‎– Theatre Of Pain)

If you mean the vinyl sized spacer boxes? I remember pretty much every cd using that in the late 80s/early 90s, it was so they could put cds in the racks where vinyl albums used to go. Some stores would throw away the cardboard packaging if they didn't use those kind of racks. There was a ton of stuff still getting its cd version during that era.

weirdozmedia said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

i think ATWIAD was released on CD at launch. the long box folded out and had a small album sleave in side with a little pocket and it had all the lyrics...but I got that in late 88...but i do not think they would have done a special packaging 2 years later for on CD of a catalog (and i think there were only a few acts that got that packaging. ALSO! ATWIAD was one of the first tapes to use clear plastic (One other was Mötley Crüe ‎– Theatre Of Pain)

If you mean the vinyl sized spacer boxes? I remember pretty much every cd using that in the late 80s/early 90s, it was so they could put cds in the racks where vinyl albums used to go. Some stores would throw away the cardboard packaging if they didn't use those kind of racks. There was a ton of stuff still getting its cd version during that era.

no not the long boxes... i mean it all folded out... and had art work and the liner notes and lyrics (i think)

EDIT: opps no lyics just track info and a cool rainbow in the middle

Photos of mine: as far as I know only a few CDs got this packaging...



The slit held a small version of the album sleeve...

[Edited 5/7/16 19:25pm]

jtfolden said:

thetimefan said:

OnlyNDaUsa said: According to discogs the first DM CD came out in 1984 and it was also re released in 1987. Interestingly both have the same catalogue number so I assume the only way to tell if you have a first CD pressing is to look at the date on the back cover.

That probably won't help you as I have the first pressing and it lists 1980 on the CD and back of the case. It is the US release, made in West Germany by Polygram.

.

That was when the album was published. The CD was pressed much later.

suomynona said:

jtfolden said:

That probably won't help you as I have the first pressing and it lists 1980 on the CD and back of the case. It is the US release, made in West Germany by Polygram.

.

That was when the album was published. The CD was pressed much later.

Yes... I know this... If you read the entire discussion, you'll understand this is exactly why I stated the date on the packaging won't help.

thetimefan said:

I wonder if you match up the manufacturing code on middle of the CD if it will indicate what pressing it could be. I'd also guess it's only the later pressings which are remastered, ie those reissued in the 2000s. I'm assuming my DM CD is from the 90s as it seems newer and compared to the other mid 80s CDs I have like the original Thriller 1st pressing etc. It seems newer if that makes sense? [Edited 5/7/16 23:47pm]

None of them have been remastered...