DVD-RW - Is There A Correct Way To Use Them?

[Goldfinger_007]

DVD-RW - Is There A Correct Way To Use Them?

I've now been through 4 DVD-RW (2 Princo, 2 Verbatim) all of which are unreadable in my 103 (orange light flashing).

Am I missing something? Any idea if i'm doing anything wrong?

Used VOB Instant CD/DVD and Nero 5.5.7.2 - 1st 3 treated them as if they were regular discs, 4th I decided to do a full erase first.

1st 2 (Princo) on original 1.65 firmware, last 2 on 1.80 RPC-1.

[SiC]

I just use them like DVD-R's, no need to format them first. I've never had any problems with them. Oh and so far I'm up to about 70 erases and it's still readable in all my drives including a Pioneer standalone, using TDK DVD-RW's

[sundance]

Also no problems here using the A03 (v1.65) with Pioneer DVD-RWs.

[rinkel]

Also no probs, using verbs RW's & Pioneer 103 FW:1.80

[Goldfinger_007]

Do you think that there's a problem with my writer then? or that I've just been unlucky?
At £8 a disk, I don't want to keep trying:mad:

[Mnemonic]

And never had a problem with either one, also i have 2 pioneer RWs. I would be seriously considering calling in for a warranty replacement of drive.

[Goldfinger_007]

If i'm going to send it back under warranty, i presume that i'll have to change the firmware back to 1.65 rpc-2 - is it possible?

I've just downloaded the official 1.80 firmware from the pioneer europe website and will try the update tonight.

[Mnemonic]

they will accept the firmware you have, it's from Pioneer.

[Roveer]

Really dumb suggestion, but are you sure they are not +rw's... I made the mistake of getting a 'plus' rw instead of a 'dash' rw when i first got my drive. Gave me flashing orange light till I realized I had the + not the -.

Roveer

[Goldfinger_007]

LOL - no definately DVD-RW

[jdobbs]

Goldfinger_007,

I've had similar problems... 3-5 writes and they were unusable (blinking light). I assumed it was just cheap media. But I found out that I can now take at least some of those old DVD-RWs that I thought were bad and reformat them (full) and they work again (since I upgraded to 1.80). Curious.

I still have doubts about the media. I think I'm going to send off for some real Pioneer disks and see what happens.

jdobbs

[caprioles9000]

I have the same problem with my a04

I have read in the FAQ on the australian pioneer website that for the use of DVD-RW with my new A04 that i had to do the following:

"How should I prepare my DVD-RW disc before I can use it.?
You will need to format any new DVD-RW (or CD-RW) disc by selecting the option "Erase Rewritable Disc, Full" within the DVD Writing software you would have received with your DVR Writer. For a DVD-RW this can take up to one hour. Following this you can then use the "Quick" Erase option each time you need to clear the disc of files. This only takes a few minutes."

Now I have followed these instructions however every time i want to burn a file on the DVD-RW it says "insert disk"....i have tried several methods:

1: Without formating for the first time i burned data on the dvd-rw with vob instant (session at once)...and then tried to erase/format and use the DVD-RW again...it erased the data but i had the same problem like above, when i tried to burn something again it said "insert disk" ...i formatted it and again the same problem...

2: I formatted the dvd-rw first by using full format that comes with the vob instant software ..and then tried to burn data on the dvd-rw ..again..the same problem as stated above occurred ..what am i doing wrong..?

PS: I am using Pioneer media cds 4.7 with CPRM!!!
IS THIS BECAUSE OF CPRM???????


Could you please let me know what the best way is to use dvd-rw media on the a04 ..so that i can keep on using the dvd-rw's ..i have gone through 4 dvd-rw till now ..none work again...(while it says that 4.7 gig is still available on the media)!!!

[SiC]

I have heard a few people that did full formats to DVD-RWs and afterwards they were unusable (A03). I have never done a full format yet on my DVD-RWs so I can't confirm that myself. I never format a DVD-RW when it's fresh out of a new case, and when I do format (after writing) I always use quick erase. So far I'm up to about 80 quick formats on a single disc and it's still usable. It maybe a problem with the writing software that's causing the discs to be unusable after full formats, try just doing quick format and see what happens.

[caprioles9000]

hey sic what software do u use???? becaue i also did quick format but that did not help either:(...hmmm i am thinking that maybe its the pioneer dvd-rw's that i have with that new CPRM... Check the posting on cprm on this board !!

[SiC]

I'm using BHA B's Recorder Gold for all my DVD-R/RW needs. Oh and by the way none of my DVD-RWs (Pioneer & TDK) have CPRM...... that could be the prob too......