[How to] extract .SDC file from MSDNAA

Posted by on August 20th, 2009, in How to, Tools and tagged

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Update Nov 10th 2009

If you still have the latest .sdc file of Windows 7 Professional and unable to mount/extract it you should stop trying as you can now obtain Windows 7 Professional ISO from the official retailer website. Here is the link to obtain your Windows 7 image file

If you are like me, download a file from a source that’s end with .SDC file. How to extract it? So first thing first, what is SDC file?

The .SDC file format is a Secure Download Cabinet file. It is an encrypted and compressed file format for Internet delivery of the products. The product executable that is downloaded from ELMS decrypts and extracts the product. If you have an SDC file on your hard drive after downloading a product, the process has failed. Delete the SDC and try again.

Note this kind file will only exists when you download from ELMS encrypted MSNDAA site. I got it from my school SFU’s MSNDAA website. They have the newest Windows 7 Professional available to download both 64 bit and 32 bit. You can download from the website or burn your own DVD. However, when I choose to download it from their website, I always getting an error code: SDC00400

My installer returns an error SDC00400 – Unable to complete download what is wrong?
The SDC00400 – Unable to complete the download error is typically caused by:

  1. an error in the configuration of the download package, usually due to a bad hosting location
  2. no Internet connection found
  3. Internet connection lost
  4. a firewall or proxy server between the client station and hosting location, or
  5. insufficient disk space to download.

Which means if I want to have it working I need to wait and download it from the official way, which I debt it will fix the connection or anything to do with the list above. So I end up at this site that offers the exact same file from the official MSNDAA

Because the file is encrypted you can’t use any tool you normally would to extract it. I found this guy wrote a program that can decode the encryption and extract the file.

Though he didn’t write much instruction on how to use the command utility exactly.

Correction: When you download the file from MSNDAA there will be 2 separate .sdc files you need to combine them together (same as other files over MSNDAA)

en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_X15-65805.01.sdc
en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_X15-65805.02.sdc

en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804.01.sdc
en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804.02.sdc

Rename them to 1.sdc and 2.sdc for easy command line file name entry.

unpack_sdc

Here I renamed the file into 1.sdc and 2.sdc make the new file called 3.sdc (for easier command line use)

Next You need to unzip the "unpacksdc" first, and then navigate to the same directory as your newly combined sdc file.

Type: unpacksdc [space] [sdc file name] [space] [output directory] (don’t enter bracket and space when using the command line)

On the image above I extracted the file named "en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_X15-65805.sdc" to C:\Download directory. (or 3.sdc instead of the full name, since you’ve already combine them in the previous step)

The total unpacked size for

en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_X15-65805 is 3149108KB and

en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804 is 2443256KB

Enjoy! That’s it. This works for any other sdc files.

Download the latest unpacksdc here

IMPORTANT UPDATE PLEASE READ !

as one of our reader point out that all the problem you might experiencing after late Aug are the result of the change Microsoft did on the encryption.The guy who wrote the sdc unpacker is currently working on the new version, that might also include a UI for general public easy use. At this point while the new unpacker haven’t released. You may want to find some other alternative to download the ISO file. (usually your school should also provide the ISO image file for you to burn as well)

Once again, if you are luckily got it working, great. At the time I was writing this post, I had no problem what so ever. It works perfectly fine for me. Apologize for those who followed, but still can’t get it working. Keep checking our post as I will update any news regarding on this issue.

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  • enyad

    I tried using ur method for windows 7 professional from the MSDNAA site and using the version of unpacksdc that u suggested, but every time i get a message saying “file not sdc or format not supported”. I used the same program with the vista files and was able to unpack them (all from same MSDNAA site)

    Do u have any suggestions? Perhaps I am doing something wrong

    • Jonathan

      Hi enyad, first there are few things need to be cleared. I did this method is because I getting the error code, won’t let me start download from the offical MSNDAA, later I found the site that offers the exact same file. So I downloaded from there.

      Now I only got .sdc file, so first is try to combine the twon into one sdc file. As I’ve mentioned use the command

      copy /b 1.sdc+2.sdc 3.sdc

      this will create and combine a new file

      using this newly created 3.sdc and put the unpacksdc command line utility on the same directory. Use the command line to navigate to the directory, and type “unpacksdc” follow with the 3.sdc and the new file location.

      let me know if you still have trouble doing this.

      • http://pc-internet-zone.blogspot.com/ bgn

        i also had this problem. but did not re-download. i`ll also try re-download then and try this way

    • enyad

      Thanks for such a quick reply. I am almost sure that is the site I downloaded from as well. Anyhow, I am going to re-download the files and then try again. I will let you know if it works this time.

      Again, thanks for replying so quickly

  • questore

    MSDNA downloader made me crazy. I downloaded MSDNA windows 7 sdc file twice, but when it had to check crc it freezed. The unpacking sad its not a supported file format. So I realy hope, this way works. How can a Word famous company work like this? Shame on you Microsoft!

    • Jonathan

      Yes I give up on the downloader after a few try. That’s why I went and download all the file from there http://ftp.sh.cvut.cz/MSDNAA/Rapid_Setup/ really fast. and extract the sdc file using the unpacksdc, because supposedly the MSNDAA downloader should do it for you, but it never works.

      • Harrison

        Unhandled Exception: System.IO.InvalidDataException: Block length does not match with its complement
        at System.IO.Compression.Inflater.DecodeUncompressedBlock
        at System.IO.Compression.Inflater.Decode
        at System.IO.Compression.Inflater.Inflate
        at System.IO.Compression.Deflate.Read
        at {happyface?}.{happyface?}

    • userrr

      This is my problem likewise.

      “Here I renamed the file into 1.sdc and 2.sdc make the new file called 3.sdc (for easier command line use) ” –> OK, the thing works this far.

      Problem: http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/821/errorqsx.jpg

  • Harrison

    This has been very helpful, thank you. Now with the unpacked file, can I write it to a DVD to use for installing or what file type is it?

    Besides this I just ran into some unhandled exceptions which I will post in a reply to this, I could use some help.

    • Harrison

      Augh, it ended up above because I clicked the wrong reply. And it didn’t finish the errors. Just ignore that please, or delete it.

    • Jonathan

      yes after you unpacked the file you will got yourself a image file, you can burn this on a DVD or extract it on your hard drive to upgrade your windows (note: Windows 7 Professional only support upgrade path from Windows Vista Business with the corresponding 32 bit or 64 bit)

      http://www.windows7hacker.com/index.php/2009/07/mounting-the-iso-image-files-in-windows-7/

      this link hows you how to mount the ISO, also note that Windows 7 itself can burn the ISO image file on to the DVDs as well

      • Harrison

        It’s claiming that the format is not supported again after I redownloaded and set it all up again. This is starting to get me sort of aggravated.

  • questore

    I downloaded and copied the 1.sdc and 2.sdc together, and when I tryed to unpack it says:
    This file not SDC file or this is not supported format
    I downloaded files with wired lan, and did not interupted. Everything seems fine.
    What the hell is wrong with it??

    • Jonathan

      not sure why this happened, when you combine them together make sure its a new .sdc file. For me I didn’t directly download from the MSDNAA, I got mine file from the ftp website I mentioned earlier. and it works perfectly fine with me.

      • questore

        I downloaded from ftp too, and copyed the 2 files to a 3. Have the same problem.

  • ayordanov

    For all getting the “checking file crc..” problem in the downloader and for which the above does not work read below.

    For me the above did not work(I was getting file not sdc error). So i downloaded the files mentioned above, combined them in 1 file. Renamed it to en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_X15-65805.01.sdc and moved it to the MSDNAA downloader folder. I had a file named the same way there, so i replaced it. Then I started the downloader again and clicked “Resume”. This time the downloader unpack it without a problem. I had a iso with the correct SHA1 hash 50127304441A793EE51B3F501289F6599A559E9F.

    Thats it.
    If you have any questions ask.

    • Jonathan

      where you getting the sdc file might be the reason you getting sdc file error. But glad you got it working.

      • ayordanov

        I downloaded them from the place you mentioned(http://ftp.sh.cvut.cz/MSDNAA/Rapid_Setup/). I was very curious of why it didn’t work for me. After all, I did exactly what you said with the same set of files. But it didn’t work, so I resorted to other techniques :) .

  • Anoniem

    Hello,
    i have downed it but with unpacking 3.sdc
    get is this in cmd.exe

    UnpackSDC 1.1 imagi
    Usage: UnpackSDC [SdcFile] [OutputDir]
    SdcFile – file to unpack
    OutputDir – file to unpack
    skiprc – when specified, crc check will be skipped

    Can anyone help me to fix this problem?
    Btw, im XP user, i hope it can be unpacked on XP either. Please help me! Thank you.

    • Jonathan

      You are on the right track

      after you combined the 2 file and created the 3.sdc type the following in your command line

      unpacksdc 3.sdc C:\

      this will extract the sdc file into your root C directory (as an example I’ve mentioned early in my post)

      XP should be fine with this. and also make sure that the 3.sdc file and the unpacksdc command line tool is in the same directory

    • pat025

      unpacksdc 3.sdc C:\

  • anoniem

    wont work, he said:
    This file is not SDC file or this format is not supported.

    • ayordanov

      That means you are out of luck :) .

      Why are you trying this method in the first place?
      What is the error that you get while downloading through the MSDNAA downloader?

  • Anoniem

    I dont get any error with downloading, have done it for 3times. and get the same problem, on vista either. there is anything that i do wrong?

    I download 2 .sdc files, i do the same as in this tut. all works fine but unpacking won’t work.

  • anoniem

    “If you have an SDC file on your hard drive after downloading a product, the process has failed. Delete the SDC and try again.”
    what means it? i have always SDC file after downloading.
    Must it another file or what?
    anyone can help me please?

    • Jonathan

      ok ignore “delete and try again” on SDC file, yes you are on the right track. don’t delete it, you need to combine the 2 sdc file into one sdc file and extract it using the tool I’ve mentioned earlier.

      Read the post. You need to type
      copy /b 1.sdc+2.sdc 3.sdc
      to combine the sdc file and then use the unpacksdc tool

  • V

    I downloaded it. There is only one . Sdc file on the ecamedy for me. When I open the unpack extraction it just open with flash screen and disappears.
    And then I try it in windows cmd.
    Am I doing the right thing?

    Everytime I do it it says unpacksdc is not valid internal or external……
    Download the file 4 times. It wouldn’t unapack by it self.
    Help!!

  • enyad

    my understanding is that microsoft has changed the encryption method that this unpacker would have been able to beat in previous files obtained from these sites. therefore you will always get these error messages when trying to use this method on the windows 7 sdc files etc.

    Just have to wait and see if someone else is ingenious enough to come up with a way to unpack these files…or source them elsewhere on the net

  • Jonathan

    I’m Jonathan too. :D

    Anyway, exactly. You’ve kinda been misleading everyone. Imagi has had a new post up since Aug 29th saying he will be releasing a new version. Please update your post to reflect that, you are providing inaccurate and old information.

    • Jonathan

      Well, at the time this was written, it worked perfectly fine for me. and also note I did wrote this on Aug 29th.

      Just trying to help ppl out. also Thanks for the mention I will update this post.

      • Christopher

        Jonathan, where did you get the *.scd files? I downloaded my ones on mid september, and unpacksdc can’t handle them. I have to use this tool like many of you because the downloader doesn’t do it job correctly.

        • Jonathan

          Hi Chris, as I’ve mentioned in my post I downloaded the .sdc file from this server http://ftp.sh.cvut.cz/MSDNAA/Rapid_Setup/

          you can get almost all the MSDNAA stuff from there as well not only limit to Windows 7. But as I’ve said in the update. Microsoft has changed the encryption algorithm so that the unpackersdc doesn’t work anymore after late Aug.

  • nuevo_sol

    Uh, don't know if anyone has mentioned this already (sorry if they have), but when you download the Windows 7 thing from the MSDNAA website, you need to be connected to the 'local intranet' of whichever school you go to. You can't download it from home or over the wireless network available at school.

    • Filful

      I am using windows vista. After combining 1.sdc and 2.sdc when I try use unpackdsc command, I receive ” 'unpackdsc' is not recognized az internal or external command”!

      • http://windows7hacker.com/ Jonathan

        You need to navigate to the directory of the unpacksdc folder. and then call the method.

        also as I've stated on the bottom of the post. The new release of sdc file will not work with the current unpacksdc tool. MS has yet changed the encryption method

        at this point you should try and find another way around get the ISO image file. Such as go to your school's IT service to obtain an Windows 7 Professional ISO or burn it in school's machine or the last, but highly not recommended is to get it from torrent

        • Filful

          Thanks Jonathan,
          I thinks I don't have unpacksdc folder. Where can I find it? Is it necessary to download special programs for extracting?

          • http://windows7hacker.com/ Jonathan

            please take your time read my post. I mentioned everything you need there and updated info.

            Cheers

            • Filful

              Sorry, I read it. I downloaded unpacksdc application and extracted it in same folder. But I receive new error “This file is not SDC file or this format is not supported”

              • http://windows7hacker.com/ Jonathan

                I guess if this is the case, that means you are getting a “new” kinda SDC file, which for now there is no way to solve this issue yet. Keep checking back see if there is any new release of the unpacksdc tool

                at meantime, try to get it from other source

                • enyad

                  you mention not to get if from torrent site. u mean there are no torrents that are clean? i have downloaded a copy of the ultimate and check the hash value against that which is mentioned on msdn site. they are the same…could this copy be tampered with as well?

                • Jonathan

                  it is not recommended, but feel free to try it out. As personally I haven't test which torrent is good or bad. But if the checksum is right why not give it a try :)

  • mac user

    Thank you for providing another virus to the windows platform!

  • chris

    hii Jonathan i downloaded windows7.sdc and unpack with unpacksdc but then there is not windows7.iso like yours there is always windows7.sdc again after unpack with unpacksdc sorry for my bad english lol :p where is the problem?

    • http://www.windows7hacker.com/ Jonathan

      I'm not sure what's the problem you have there, but a short answer for you is that even tho you have the right .sdc file the likelihood that you will be successfully extract it is low because the encryption has changed.
      I do suggest you to download the .iso file instead, as I've mentioned in my updates there are links you can go and download it directly. and it's from official HTTP server

      hope those helps cheers

      • Vlaasa

        C:Downloads>unpacksdc 3.sdc C:Downloads
        UnpackSDC 1.1 (c) imagi

        Unhandled Exception: System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not find file 'C:Do
        wnloads3.sdc'.
        File name: 'C:Downloads3.sdc'
        at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
        at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, I
        nt32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions o
        ptions, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)
        at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access,
        FileShare share)
        at ☻.☻(String[] ☻)

        I Getting this error… When i use command to extract, my Windows 7 X64 say to me that program unpacksdc.exe stop working…

        Can you help me pls?

        • windows7hacker

          Hi Vlaasa

          from the error message I can tell that you either didn't create the 3.sdc or you don't have the “unpacksdc” in the same folder as 3.sdc

          as I've mentioned at the beginning of my post, the unpacksdc is likely not working now. You can get your windows 7 professional ISO image from the link I posted here its from the official Windows retailer.

          Hope that helps

          • Vlaasa

            Yeah i know that but i want this version of Windows for some test. I copy 01SDC + 02SDC and get 03SDC file about 2,09 GB (2.251.202.560 byts) so that it Windows 7 x86.

            My unpacksdc.exe is in the same folder where is 03.SDC now i try on another comp this and same error geting :(

            • divineCharon

              Yeah. It always says

              UnpackSDC 1.1 (c) imagi
              This file is not SDC file or this format is not supported.

              :(

  • http://www.windows7hacker.com/ Jonathan

    I'm not sure what's the problem you have there, but a short answer for you is that even tho you have the right .sdc file the likelihood that you will be successfully extract it is low because the encryption has changed.
    I do suggest you to download the .iso file instead, as I've mentioned in my updates there are links you can go and download it directly. and it's from official HTTP server

    hope those helps cheers

  • divineCharon

    Yeah. It always says

    UnpackSDC 1.1 (c) imagi
    This file is not SDC file or this format is not supported.

    :(

  • Rafael

    Man, you saved my life! Thanks, it works nice and easy!!

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  • kino

    ther are 2 .sdc versions. search for the old .sdc that unpackt tool can decrypt

  • http://www.worldwide.rs/ Prevodilacka Agencija

    Great share.Thank you on article

  • Mohsin

    the people who are getting error or manual unpacking of SDC file here is a way i personaly discover
    step1:
    first in command prompt combine 2 sdc files
    e.g c:\download\copy \b 1.sdc+2.sdc 3.sdc
    1.sdc
    2.sdc
    1 file sucessfuly copied

    Step2:
    now unpack the file using MSDNAA software give him the path where u have copied file 3.sdc and again rename the 3.sdc file to original name
    e.g i’ve downloaded win7 pro x86 so its original name is
    en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804.01.sdc
    after renaming give MSDNAA software the path where this file resides it will check for CRC the make en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804.01.iso file
    Thanks
    if any problem mail me at mohsinmustufa@yahoo.com with subject WIN 7 UNPACKING ERROR

    • Jonathan

      Thanks for sharing this Mohsin !

  • http://www.webmastertool.biz/terms.php withdrawl

    What?s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist other users like its aided me. Good job.

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  • http://chatte.fr machatte

    the unpacker program doesn’t initialize. cockandballs!

  • VM User

    Need help. I have a .sdc file of Win2000. I need this file which is in English so I can set the old schools PIII server tower they have. But I seem to run into a wall here. The .sdc unpacker won’t run. The Win2000 file is only 1. So what am I missing in getting this file unpacked?

    As soon as the unpacker starts to work I get an error message and that it must shut down. I’m using the unpackersdc11 app.

    Any help would be nice.

    • Jonathan

      I would suggest go find a Win2000 image rather than spend time to extra the sdc file. Some have different encryption method.

  • Derick

    Just to clarify, does this program still work?
    Every time I attempt to use it I’ve been unable to make any progress. I’m getting the error: “This file is not SDC file or this format is not supported.”
    Any help is greatly appreciated.

    • Jonathan

      this utility doesn’t work anymore. If the .SDC file is some kind of Windows 7 ISO, please refer to the official Windows 7 ISO download link in the updated post.

      • Derick

        Thanks for letting me know, I just needed to download a program from MSDNAA for class and the downloader they were forcing me to use was broken. Are there any other tools that would do the same?

        • Jonathan

          From my own experience the download tool from MSDNAA has been broken for a long time. I’m not sure what tool you are trying to download but I would use MSDNAA for only try to get a legit key from Microsoft. The other softwares I’m sure you can download the trail version from Microsoft and use your key when prompt.

          See if that works

          Cheers