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View Full Version : TDK 840G 8x Newbee questions


rozemab
1st November 2003, 19:55
Just bought and installed this new burner in my system. It must be the same as the Plextor 708A, as it responds to the same clever trick to triple the rip rate from 2 to 8X!

Comes with roxio CD/DVD creator basic (6.0) and two DVD disks (+ and - Rs).

This is my first DVD burner, used traditional CDROM burners up to now.

Is it correct to assume:

1) I can create 'data' DVDs that have a 'file structure' for simple backup of data. Similar to a CDR burner with a drag/drop burn process.

or

2) I can create a DVD movie disk that is playable in a standalone DVD player. However, I must use a software tool to create the necessary DVD structure with correct contents for the player to understand the contents.

I burned one coaster thinking I could create a 'VIDEO_TS' using DVDshrink and simply copy the folder and contents to the drive and burn it (using classic roxio DVD tool). None of my home players could read it. Switched to roxio and their dvd builder and was able to read the disk in my home players.

My question is this: Are DVD 'movie' disks burned in a different way than a simple DVD 'data' disk. I mean, are there special things done to it by the DVD creator software that says to the home player "...this is DVD movie disk...".

Sorry if I butchered the lingo here, just learning the ropes and nomenclature to this process.

coona
3rd November 2003, 13:08
Yes, there are differences between "data DVD" and DVD-VIDEO (e.g. filesystem - ISO, UDF or ISO/UDF, files order,...).

zande
4th November 2003, 08:45
When you start Nero you can choose if you want to burn a Data DVD or an Movie DVD.

If you choose DVD Data (with Joliet), you can handle it exactly like your old CD-R recorder creating folders with long filenames etc etc.

If you choose DVD Movie, Nero will create the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folder automatically.
Just drag your files from your folder on the harddrive with the correct content (VOB, IFO and BUP files).

DMagic1
5th November 2003, 07:01
What is the trick for the Plextor? I just got mine today. I did a search but didn't find anything.

rozemab
5th November 2003, 17:47
Originally posted by DMagic1
What is the trick for the Plextor? I just got mine today. I did a search but didn't find anything.

Hold the load button in for three green flashes, then release it and the tray opens. Insert DVD and rip at 8X!!!

Repeat for any other DVD (reboot or new DVD).

The_Flash
2nd January 2004, 21:02
Can you flash this drive with the latest Plextor v1.04 firmware, assuming it is the same as the 708A?

Also, I think you meant quadruple the rip rate...not triple. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

rozemab
3rd January 2004, 23:00
Unsure about the 1.04 s/w. I have been extremely happy with the current firmware and really don't plan to upgrade. I don't want to use the functionality that I have now.

The_Flash
6th January 2004, 00:00
I just received my TDK 840G in the mail. If you try to upgrade to v1.04 w/ Plextor firmware it fails. TDK must have some lock on the drive.

I downloaded the TDK firmware v1.03 and adjusted the PlexFirm.ini to point to Plextor's v1.04 firmware:

[UpgradeInformation]
ApplicationTitle=TDK DVDRW840G
Inquiry=TDK DVDRW840G;
Version=1.04
FirmwareFileName=Opal_104.bin
FirmwareFileSize=983040
BufferSize=16384
[Option]
Use DVDRW Caution=Yes
Use Binary Information=No

Flashed the drive, rebooted and now am at v1.04

The_Flash
19th March 2004, 21:33
Plextor has released firmware v1.06 for the 708A:

Date posted: March 18, 2004
Improved write performance for DVD media.
Improved high speed write performance for CD-R media.
Added support for new DVD-R media and the functionality to write at 2x and 4x on 8x media from Taiyo Yuden, Maxell, Verbatim, and TDK
Added support for new DVD-RW media and the functionality to write at 2x on 4x media from Verbatim and Victor
Fixed a bug when writing to DVD-R/RW media with Win DVD Creator2, if new data is added to the disc and that disc is ejected without closing the session, the disc will be unreadable by Win DVD Creator2
Fixed a bug where during formatting with Win DVD Creator on DVD+RW media, the format would fail
Fixed a bug where if a disc was created using a PX-708 with 1.05 firmware, that disc may not be recognizable on some other DVD devices

As before, you may use this on your TDK 840G by editing the PlexFirm.ini file. I've already flashed my 840G with this new firmware without problems.