Toshiba 5002, Ritek G03, coasters

[Demi9OD]

I recently picked up a Toshiba 5002 DVD-R burner to start making backups of my discs. Out of the first 15 copies made using DVDX-Copy (Split DVD-9 to two DVD-5 with menus/extras) I had one coaster. Now I am getting a coaster maybe 2/3 CDs. The discs just stop writing about 30-60% in. I am burning at 2x, and will be running some tests at 1x today, although DVDX-copy does not allow user selected speed, it just uses default. I have replicated the same problem with Nero and DVD decryptor when burning images. Has anyone seen this very short life on the Toshibas before? Or is it possible all the discs lower down on my spindle of 100 have been damaged somehow? They look perfect to the naked eye.

Edit: If it IS a problem with my discs which ones can I get that will reliably burn at 2x on my Toshiba 5002? The spindle I have right now was purchased from www.shop4tech.com and is advertised as ritek brand, cd info confirms they are G3's and they have a deep purple dye.

Thanks for your help,
Demi

[alexnoe]

The Toshiba drive misdetects Ritek G03 as 2x compatible. Ritek G03 are not of constantly high quality, at least not enough for 100% reliable 2x writing.
1x writing should fix your problem.

[Demi9OD]

Can you recommend a 2X compatible disc at a low price point? Seems like at least one burn worked fine today at 1x, I'll be doing more. Ugh I can't wait 55 minutes for a burn :mad:

[alexnoe]

Discs which are officially supported for 2x writing by Pioneer should also work in the Toshiba at 2x (except for CMC of course).
BTW no one knows if your Ritek G03 discs would burn in a Pioneer drive at 2x...

[Demi9OD]

Alex do you know if there is a way to fix the "misdetection" of G03 discs? I'd much rather burn directly from DVDX-Copy (which does not allow speed selection) Than having to manually load the files it creates in Nero every time.

[alexnoe]

That would be up to Toshiba!

Theoretically, one could write something which works similar to CloneCDs "hide cd-r", and which could pretend that the drive only can do 1x writing (=> intercept ASPI traffic), but i have no idea if anyone has done that so far...

[Karl Beem]

I have a Toshiba sd-r5002. It handles the inexpensive Meritline 2x DVD-r. I've had 1 dud.

[Demi9OD]

Some of the Ritek's I burned today at 1x are exhibiting lots of pixelation, skipping, and breakup :(. I am pretty sure my drive is just fubar.

edit: every dvd I burn at 1x displays rediculous pixelation problems. Only in my home player though (brand new) not my pc. So its half a chance of failed burn at 2x, or completed burn with worthless disc at 1x. Fun.

[gooki]

Do your discs display any visual defects on the recording sruface (dust, burn marks, water marks etc)?

Is the dye colour deep purple, or light purple?

[Demi9OD]

The color is deep purple and there are no visual defects on the discs.

[gooki]

Have you tried any other brand of discs lately, to comfirm if it's a defect batch of ritek's, or if it's actually the drive.

Also do you have adequate ventilation around the drive. It's possible it's getting to hot and stuffing up your burns.

[Demi9OD]

I have not tried other discs. As far as ventilation goes there is one drive directly underneath mine, but the top is open and I have very good case air flow. What I did do was flash the firmware back to an older version, and have burned 3 discs successfully at 2x, we'll see if the trnd continues.

[atreides93]

Definitely keep us updated if the older firmware fixes your problem.

[Demi9OD]

I have now burned 6 discs in a row sucessfully with DVD Decryptor with firmware X030. DVDXcopy is still a piece of **** when it comes to burning, and fails around 10% now. So what I have been doing is letting DVDXcopy prep my vobs (im too lazy to split with IFOedit) then using image tools to create a .img from the vobs and burning with DVD Decryptor. Hopefully a new release of DVDXcopy will burn more successfully... in 1.3.1 the all three "methods" of burning fail, and I can't even get "default" method in 1.4 to detect my burner, while Nero Fails.

If anyone has had a similar experiance with DVDXcopy is there a way to get consistant successful burns out of it?

Thanks