question about media and burner

[sillKotscha]

hello members,

today I've bought a spindle of 25 DVD-R discs. I thought it is a bargain buy because I only paid 13 € for the spindle. But it seems I've paid 13 € too much :mad:

The brand is PHILIPS and the discs are capable of 1-16x burning speed although my burner only supports max. 4x burning speed. Until now my DVD burner was able to burn nearly every media I gave him to feed (except of some very rare coasters)... as I said, until now...

when I try to burn my newly bought discs I got the following error:

1st attempt using ImgBurn:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1902/imgburnas8.png (http://imageshack.us)

2nd attemt using ordinary Nero:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1151/nerosj1.png (http://imageshack.us)

in the third row you can read: "ungültige Disk" = inoperative/ invalid disc

I own the following DVD burner: NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A with the latest firmware available (1.0c).

ImgBurn gives me the following info about the inserted disc:

_NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A 1.0C (ATA)
Current Profile: DVD-R

Disc Information:
Status: Empty
Erasable: No
Free Sectors: 2.298.496
Free Space: 4.707.319.808 bytes
Free Time: 510:48:46 (MM:SS:FF)

Pre-recorded Information:
Manufacturer ID: DAXON016S

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: 0@P-!-00
Book Type: DVD-R
Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196.608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2.495.103
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

I'm a bit lost here, is it just bad luck with the media or unfortunately time to upgrade to a newer DVD burner model? Isn't the structure of a blank -R DVD always the same?

Is there something I can do (another burn method for example) or do I have really only 2 choices left: buy a new burner respectively buy new / change the discs...

I hope to get positive answers :rolleyes:

thx Sill

EDIT:

btw, I own two NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A and Nr. 1 is drive F:\ and Nr. 2 is drive G:\ ... both give me the same error on different discs from the spindle...

EDIT2: if you see no pictures than ImageShack seems to be down once again...

[setarip_old]

Hi!

1) Have you determined (via either documentation or Googlesearch) whether your burner is capable of burning -R (as opposed to +R) media?

2) I believe the media you are using ("Philips" brand, manufactured by "Daxon") have a poor reputation regarding quality

[sillKotscha]

thx for your answer,

Hi!

1) Have you determined (via either documentation or Googlesearch) whether your burner is capable of burning -R (as opposed to +R) media?

oh, yes... that was the only info I forgot to give you - my burner is capable of burning +/- media...

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7466/modicu3.png (http://imageshack.us)

2) I believe the media you are using ("Philips" brand, manufactured by "Daxon") have a poor reputation regarding quality

hmm, that is the trade-off between price and quality... but I thought poor media gives less durability in the 1st place rather than a total write denial :o

I'll change my discs tomorrow and I'll see what happens... unfortunately anything below 16x burn speed is difficult to get nowadays...

[setarip_old]

Since you appear to have DVD Identifier or similar, what information does it providee regarding the blank media? (It should provide more than that shown by you IMGBurn screen capture)

[sillKotscha]

Since you appear to have DVD Identifier or similar,

it is just a screen shot from nero info tool

[Color=Blue]what information does it providee regarding the blank media? (It should provide more than that shown by you IMGBurn screen capture)

but I've downloaded DVD Identifier to give you more useful data and here are the results:

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5343/00eb3.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2127/01pt5.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2707/02jd2.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2272/03qu5.png (http://imageshack.us)

[setarip_old]

I'm not an expert at interpreting the DVD Identifier information but, it appears that AT BEST, if at all, your burner may be able to burn this media at 2x speed.

I'd suggest that you try to burn a different/higher quality media (Verbatim, T-Y, etc.) with this burner. If IMGBurn (or NERO) generates the same error message, I'd speculate that your burner is dying...

[sillKotscha]

EDIT:

btw, I own two NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A and Nr. 1 is drive F:\ and Nr. 2 is drive G:\ ... both give me the same error on different discs from the spindle...

If IMGBurn (or NERO) generates the same error message, I'd speculate that your burner is dying...

both burners with identical messages... don't do any scare tactics :eek: :D

as I said, tomorrow I'll change the media and see if it is a (disc-) manufacturer fault or just bad luck with the spindle/ production

[setarip_old]

No scare tactics, unfortunately, just prior personal experience ;>}

[sillKotscha]

unfortunately...

today I exchanged the spindle for another one - this time Sony 16x.

burning failed - bad luck!!

but I know that my burner (both of them) does still work... on CD-R media, on 2x +/- DVD-RW (I've found old RW's at home) and probably on "all" blank DVD +/- R below 16x... I checked my DVD case with burned movies and found out that my last successful burn was on 8x media...

I assume that my burners firmware is way too old for current available blank media - although it is the latest firmware I can get... I probably have to live with the fact that my burner has seen his glorious days and that have to buy a new one... maybe santa will be gracious :D

[setarip_old]

maybe santa will be graciousQuite likely - if he catches a glimpse of your avatar ;>}

Good luck!

[CWR03]

Fortunately DVD burners have gotten very inexpensive, at least here in the US. I just noticed the other day that CD-RW drives range about $10 less than DVD-RW drives. Recently TigerDirect.com has had a BenQ and a Lite-On drive for $30. Currently there's an NEC drive (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2528083&CatId=0) for $30.

[blutach]

@sillKotscha

Switch to Verbatims (MCC dye) or Taiyo Yudens. Kiss problems goodbye.

Yes, they are more expensive, but they are worth it.

Regards

[setarip_old]

@blutachSwitch to Verbatims (MCC dye) or Taiyo YudensThat suggestion was already made in Post #6 of this thread ...

[blutach]

Sorry for the duplication but it might be better to try that before a new drive.

Regards

[sillKotscha]

... back again

I think I should really accept that my NEC-1300A burner is old and obsolete now. I've found a pretty new one I think I'll buy - LG Electronics GSA-H12L black for 40€... really worth it

BUT as an intermediate solution I have found a nifty tool named: MCSE = MediaCodeSpeedEdit (http://ala42.cdfreaks.com/MCSE/)

adding new media code to my (very old) firmware solved my situation and I was able to burn new 16x DVDs (v2.1 and I'll see if v2.2 is possible as well) ...

[setarip_old]

Perhaps the next step is duct tape ;>}

[sillKotscha]

Perhaps the next step is duct tape ;>}

sorry, I don't understand this sentence... enlighten me :)

[setarip_old]

An attempt at humor - Duct tape is used to repair almost anything, so that you can continue to use it (like old burners)...

[sillKotscha]

An attempt at humor - Duct tape is used to repair almost anything, so that you can continue to use it (like old burners)...

yeah.... now I know what you mean... :D

+ a swiss armyknife and I call myself MacGyver :p