Writing DVDs

[NiceCupOfTea]

Not sure if this should be in here or computers...

Just trying to write a DVD using Sony DVD Architect. It wrote it OK but refuses to play on any DVD players, even my PC won't recognise it - XP reports it as a blank writeable CD

The analyse disc thing in Nero reports it correctly as a DVD, but says it is "open". Gives me the option to close it but when I try it ejects the DVD after about 2% and says "undefined drive error"!!

What gives? Would try again but don't really want a lot of expensive coasters...

[UncleDave]

Usually a software fault in my experience, try some more writing software? Usually does the trick..

if you have any DVD-RWs as opposed to DVD-Rs knocking around it saves you the problem of wasting hundreds of Discs (been there )

Someone will be here in a minute to recommend software!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Normally I would agree but it is a new DVD drive and the first time I've tried to write a DVD video (works fine for data) and first time using that software...

Can't gelp feeling that I'm doing something wrong, but can't see anything obvious. It's a DVD-R so should work in most stuff. Do they need to be finalised to work? If so, how can I do it?

[UncleDave]

It should finalise it for you..?
I'm no expert in this field, but as you say you've a new drive.. have you tried hunting around for updates to either the drive's firmware, or for the software? As the software may not fully support the drive..

Just a thought..

But a software problem would still be on my mind. Every DVD/CD writing problem I have ever had (a lot) was either software.. or my drive's firmware.

[CarMac]

Are you using + or - discs? Not 100% sure what the difference is but my other half had problems with one and not the other. Plus, we use DVD Santa software. It takes a long time to convert files to the correct format but not had too many problems writing them to disc.

[nicecupoftea]

-R - supposed to be "more" compatible.

Any 3re party apps around for closing open discs? would this stop it playing?

[nicecupoftea]

Just tried burning another and it's exactly the same

[UncleDave]

Does it read normal CDs and DVDs OK other than the ones you are burning?

Any ideas which drive (model?) it is, I'll have a look round for firmware or software updates.
I can't really see any other free burning software. Are you trying to burn a video file from your computer to DVD, or trying to copy an existing DVD?

Dave.

[nicecupoftea]

Hi Dave,

It's an LG - "LG 4167 IVORY X16 DL DVDRW" according to my Scan order sheet, it was on today only but they seem to have discontinued (bear in mind I bought it a week ago! ) - their catalogue number was LN11746.

This is it :

http://uk.lge.com/prodmodeldetail.do?

Firmware revision DL13 - looks like this is the most recent firmware and it is a reasonably well thought of drive.

I'm just trying to write a DVD from an mpeg I have on my PC - plays/previews fine in DVD Architect and claims it has written fine.

Only other thing I can think about is making it the only device on the controller. Never had any problems with the previous CD writer though, and it happily wrote a couple of data DVDs yesterday...

Very confused now...

Edited by nicecupoftea on Wednesday 2nd August 14:00

Edited by nicecupoftea on Wednesday 2nd August 14:04

Edited by nicecupoftea on Wednesday 2nd August 14:08

[UncleDave]

YHM..

[nicecupoftea]

right back atcha!

[nicecupoftea]

Bah.

Written 3 video DVDs now, using 2 different programs, 1 of them is finalised OK. None of them work Tried in 2 DVD players where they just spin, and my DVD drive/XP seems to recognise them as blank CDs when I put them in. Nero reports them all as valid DVDs with data written.

Wondered if it was a drive problem, but the 2 data DVDs I have written are fine.

Can anybody suggest why data seems OK but video not?

Just about had it with tech this week, replacement for new phone still not working, new laptop memory incompatible ...

[UncleDave]

Time to move this to the Computing forum I think

Mods??

[nicecupoftea]

Cheers Dave!

Interestingly on further investigation the DVD written with the other prog half works - one DVD player won't read it, the other just says "disc error" which is at least an improvement on spinning the bloody thing for ever, and back in the PC is recognises it but plays it with loads of glitches.

I'm stumped. I reckon I'll send the drive back...

[UncleDave]

Sounds a bit like Hardware now, although tried burning another Video file?

[nicecupoftea]

No, good point - will give that a go.

[ErnestM]

Some advice

1. Reduce your burn speed to about 1/2 of what the DVD media is capable of
2. Try burning from an AVI and not MPEG if possible
3. Invest in Adobe Encore 2.0. It's the only DVD program that I have every used that is consistent

Admittedly, number 3 may be a tad expensive but reducing frustration can be worth a lot of money.

ErnestM

[NiceCupOfTea]

OK, I now have 4 coasters!

- Tried avis and mpgs
- Tried on 1x the first time I wrote.

Results:

2x data DVDs perfectly written

2x video DVDs written in DVD Architect: won't play on DVD players, drive recognises them as blank CDs. Nero reports as video DVDs with data written but not "closed" - comes up with an error when I try to close them

2x video DVDs written in another program (one with an AVI, one with an MPG) : won't play on 1 DVD player, the other says "disc error", my drive recognises them as DVDs, but on playing they are really jerky and glitchy. Nero reports as video DVDs with data written and they are "closed".

I am totally lost. I would understand if nothing was writing properly but the data DVDs seem fine.

Could it be a bad batch of DVDs that are OK for data but not video (although video is just data!)? Could it be a drive problem?

Mods, would this now be better in computers??? Can it be moved???

I think my next job is to send it back to Scan