What is going on when I write a DVD?

[jmes]

I am having a problem writing video DVD's. Please forgive the length of my story, but it will give context. I purchased a TDK DVD writer which came with NeroExpress and NeroVision. I want to make video DVD's from .mpg's as well as discrete VOB's/IFO's and general backups. When using NeroExpress and trying to write either a video or data DVD, the "Data Verification" almost always fails - generally with 1 file mismatch but occasionally 2 or 3. I talked to TDK explaining the problem and they told me not to check the "Verify Data" box and I wouldn't get the failure messages. (sounds like the old joke, "Dr. it hurts when I do X" - reply = "DONT DO X!") I wrote a program to check original vs written disk and in fact, the data is different.

I took the TDK drive back and exchanged it for a Sony DRU-500A. It came with totally different software which doesn't allow me to write videos from VOB's. I tried NeroExpress on it and the same "Data Verification" problem - something is definitely wrong - two different writers from different manufacturers are having the same problem. Errors have occurred on HP DVD+RW, HP DVD+R, Memorex DVD+RW as well as some generic DVD+R discs.

Does anyone understand what is going on? Or can recommend some other software? (I have Roxio EZCD 5, but it doesn't create DVD's from VOB's either)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Jim