is this a burning problem?

[mikewillnot]

I've had a rash of bad burns lately. The current example goes like this, a method I've used repeatedly prior, with good results:
-reauthor, Get VTS Sectors (IFOedit), test, convert to ISO file (ImgTools)
-burn with RecordNow Max in image mode to Ritek G03 media, 1x speed
On both the standalone and the PC, no matter the software, it hangs about mid-point, such that I have to crash the player ap to regain control.

I re-ripped the bad disk to the hard drive, and pointed PowerDVD to the files, and it played fine all the way through.
[UPDATE & correction: I'm working here with the original ISO, which plays fine, not with one re-ripped from the bad disc.]

I burned those files over again, same symptoms.


The troublesome burns were all on one batch of Ritek G03 discs. I'm beginning to suspect the media. Any thoughts, anyone?

[atreides93]

I'd recommend you get DVDinFo. then run its speed test on that disk. see if it fails halfway through.

Also, can you view the movie if you play it off your hard drive before burning?

[mikewillnot]

Got the program; interesting; running it now. Why the speed test? What can that tell, if the disc does/doesn't fail at midpoint?

[mikewillnot]

Ran DVDinfo. Interesting program. All problem discs fail midway with read errors, not exactly at the same point, though. Interestingly enough, the errors turn up much earlier in the scan (about 25%) than I would have expected from the disc playback behavior. So, I know there are read errors. What else? What does that mean? I'm still only suspicious that there's a media problem, and not something else. The main evidence is the failure rate so far of about 95% now, around 10 burns, and all from a new 50-pk of Ritek G03 from AllMediaOutlet. It was my first purchase there, because everyone else in the world was out of stock.

[mikewillnot]

Here's the DVDinfo speed test screenshot for one of the failed discs. It's pretty much typical, although a somewhat cleaner than normal line. The burn was a 4.3gb ISO file. BTW, this is after an upgrade to A108 firmware.

http://home.rochester.rr.com/mellowyellow2000/images/spirit%20speed%20test.jpg

[mikewillnot]

This seems to be a media problem. AFter all the troubleshooting, I tried some TDK 2x discs, and they burned fine. Seems strange, since Ritek G03's have been pretty consistent for me. This 50-pk is about 95% failure rate. I'm hoping it's a temporary problem, because the price/performance combination was good.

[klona]

Are you sure it's real Ritek G03 ? What is the advinfo ?

even if real G03, you probably get a bad bulk and you should probably send back the 50 discs for exchange or refund.

[mikewillnot]

I've never heard of fake Riteks. Do they exist? How would one know? Both DVD-Decrypter, in READ mode, and DVDinfo, report that the disks are Ritek G03. I'm currently attempting to get a refund, but with the restocking charge, and the fact that some are used already, I'm not optimistic. We'll see.

[klona]

I mean, you buy DVD advertised as Ritek, and you discover that are princo into Advinfo...