Dirty Disc/Cannot Play

[alfredsvideo]

I have been creating family archives for a couple of years on Ritek discs, burned on a Sony burner, without any coaster problems. I have always tested my discs with my Sony player before storing them in their cases. They are then placed in their rack on an inside wall of the house. I was very dismayed today when a family member wanted to view one of the discs. Up came either, "Dirty disc", or "Cannot play this disc". Inspecting them, they appeared not to have a single blemish on them, but I cleaned one, just in case, wiping from the centre outwards, but to no avail. I have two such Sony players and the same occurred on both. Strangely, they play okay on my DVD ROM player on the computer. Any clues or suggestions? Thanks for any input. Alf.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

1) Try playing it on yet a different standalone DVD player - NOT a SONY.

2) Try using a DVD/CD cleaning disc on your two SONY standalone players. Maxell makes one that sells for approximately $10US

3) Are you CERTAIN that you previously successfully played this SPECIFIC disc on the SONY standalone player(s)?

[laserfan]

3) Are you CERTAIN that you previously successfully played this SPECIFIC disc on the SONY standalone player(s)? If you're not absolutely sure of this, it's possible that in mastering the DVD you left something on it that the Sony doesn't like. Look at it carefully using your PC, for file anomalies.

For example, I accidentally left PgcEdit's Backup folder in VIDEO_TS a couple of times. This caused the Sony to choke, with the (erroneous in this case) message of a "dirty disc". What it really meant was "not a good VIDEO_TS folder on this disc"! Some players don't care, PC players don't care, but the Sony wouldn't play these discs.

[alfredsvideo]

My routine has never changed. I always burn to a re-writable first and then check the playability on my stand -alone Sony player. I always check each chapter and pay particular attention to the last one. Their content is always no greater than 90 minutes. I then burn to a Ritek -R white printable disc before storing away. Today, I will try playing the unplayable ones on a friend's Panny. Thanks for the replys. Alf.

[setarip_old]

I always burn to a re-writable first and then check the playability on my stand -alone Sony player... I then burn to a Ritek -R white printable disc before storing away.Ah, the potential "fatal flaw" - Checking the playability of a R/W doesn't prove the playability of your subsequently burned -R...