Problems with Ritek G04s! PLEASE HELP!

[mybook4]

I recently bought a 25 pack of Ritek G04 4x DVD-Rs from Meritline. I have a Pioneer DVR-104 with the updated firmware (1.40). I burned a disc @ 2x thinking it should work great because they are rated @ 4x, WRONG! I tried the movie I burnt in my PS2 to watch it. No luck, it wasn't recognized. Oh well, PS2 sucks at reading DVD-Rs, so on to the next device. I then tried my APEX AD-1500 which reads everything I throw at it, "No Disc." Uh Oh! I then tried the disc in two dvd-rom drives with no success. I then proceeded to curse internet bought media insessantly. After I was finished with my rageful fit, I tried out the disc in my APEX AD-1200, and WOW it worked! In the end, the disc was rejected by 2 dvd-rom drives, a PS2, and a respectable standalone DVD player. The only drives that read it were the AD-1200, and 104 that recorded it!

Has anyone else had a similar nightmare with ritek? Does anyone have any idea of what is going on?

PS. I know the authoring process is not to blame as I have burned the same movie onto a Verbatim DVD-R and it worked in everything.

[mybook4]

I just tried another disc to backup one of my ps2 games, same problem. That was done @ 1x.

Any Thoughts?

[mybook4]

Doesn't anyone have anything to say?!?!?!

[ghosty6]

I have the A04 as well and had to update the firmware to 1.41 to burn 4X media...The info is on Pioneer site.

[lordsmurf]

I doubt it's the media. Those discs are great. I'd say post your burning programs and burning methods, as that's probably the problem.

[ghosty6]

To Customers Using the Pioneer DVR-A03 and DVR-A04 DVD-R/RW writers

The DVD Forum has established new standards for high-speed recordable discs (DVD-R discs supporting 4x recording and DVD-RW discs supporting 2x recording).

In tests to check the operation of these new high-speed recordable discs, Pioneer has discovered that the DVD-R/RW writers may malfunction, if used with new high-speed DVD-R/RW discs. Various media manufacturers have begun production of these discs that will soon be available in the marketplace. The source of the problem is to do with the the firmware in certain Pioneer DVD-R/RW recorders and drives, and not with the high-speed media itself. As a result, use of the new high-speed discs for recording on these particular Pioneer products may cause damage to both the loaded disc and to the drive/recorder.
The models requiring the update are as follows:
Pioneer DVR-A03
Pioneer DVR-103
Pioneer DVR-A04
Pioneer DVR-104

[lordsmurf]

The poster already has the new firmware, so that's not the problem.

[ghosty6]

NO he/she has NOT...he/she has 1.40 the new firmware is 1.41 to fix the issue.

[Faustus]

Ritek media is great media for most DVD players, but like much of the cheaper stuff has problems with the PS2 because it seems to only respond to the really good stuff. (aka Apple, Maxell, TDK, Verbatim)

[lordsmurf]

NO he/she has NOT...he/she has 1.40 the new firmware is 1.41 to fix the issue.

As far back as the 1.33 Official firmware: Fixed problems with 1x speed media and 2x TDKG02 (this was done deliberately by Pioneer). Fixed the bug of possible laser burnout when 4x media is inserted.

from dvd-recordable.net, site by FLASHMAN, a moderator of firmware-flash.com, originator of all hacked firmwares and watchdog of official firmwares

Actually, 1.30-1.32 fixed it too, but those releases were not abundant like 1.33. The 1.40 was a burning fix, but unrelated to 4x media.

However, you would be correct that the newest 1.41 firmware is needed to burn at 2x on 4x media... which brings me to the next question...

How could the original poster burn 2x on a 4x disc by using the older 1.40 firmware? Methinks the drive is hacked badly. There are known bugs on some of them. Best to read up at firmware-flash.com.

All in all, something doesn't add up here...

[mybook4]

My drive has not been hacked at all. I have only updated the firmware twice. Once was when I updated from the factory firmware to 1.40. The next was yesterday when I updated to 1.41. I thought that this would solve my problem, but I was wrong. Still the same problem. The disc is not read by almost anything. I have chosen discs from all over the spindle. I have no idea why I have these problems. I bought the media because it got such great recomendations. My Nero version is 5.5.9.0. Would that be the problem? I am updating now to find out.

- I just updated to 5.5.10.42 and the same problem still happens. -

Also, if nothing works, I can always get a refund (Meritline.com), but does anyone know of some really great 2x media?

P.S. I am a he.

Does anyone have any clue why this is happening?

[lordsmurf]

Your Nero version is more than a year old, and that one has problems. Update.

[troyvcd1]

I have read some posts about people with the a04 who were once able to burn on ritek and then all of a sudden they can not burn on the cheaper media. They can still burn good on the good media but the cheap media is no longer good for them. I read that if they call pioneer then pioneer says the drive is good and you should be using "good" media. I read where some people suspect the laser has shifted a little out of alignment making it difficult to write correctly on cheap media but this is pure speculation on these peoples fault. Probably not what you want to hear about your dvd writer.

[mybook4]

I have no clue either. I bought some BeAlls @ 4x so I will test them when they get here. It might just be time for a new burner. GRRRRR

[mybook4]

Is there any way that I can re-callibrate the laser? I believe Nero used to do it with CD's but I cant do with dvd's in the program.

[ImaWeTodd]

However, you would be correct that the newest 1.41 firmware is needed to burn at 2x on 4x media... which brings me to the next question...

Interesting. Hope your wrong.

Here is what dvdinfo says about my drive:

Drive Information
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-104
02/12/12 PIONEER
Firmware Revision 1.40

I just got a batch of G04s and have been burning at 2x for a few days. They seem to play fine on my Samsung (which is quite picky). I'm sure they play on my Shinco (GE). I don't have a PS2. I'd never get anything done if I had one.

I use RecordNow Max.

Edit: Actually, here is a link to Pioneer that explains the whole thing clearly. 1.40 is required to write 2x on 4x media for the A04/104. http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/multimedia/dvd/dvd-r_writing_speed_cl.htm

By the way, what is the media id of your G04s? Mine is :

00 6C 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 52 00 02 65 0E 0B .l...@....R..e..
FE FF 80 00 03 52 49 54 45 4B 47 00 04 30 34 00 .....RITEKG..04.
00 00 00 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 06 06 0F 12 ................
A8 88 80 00 07 88 80 00 00 00 00 00 08 05 1B 0E ................
10 08 09 00 09 97 06 0D 0B 80 00 00 0A 00 00 00 ................
00 00 10 00 0B 06 21 13 A8 87 95 00 0C 99 99 88 ......!.........

[mybook4]

Hi ImaWeTodd,
My drive info is the exact same as yours. Do you have Nero. If you do, could you try to burn your next g04 in there to see if maybe it is Nero's fault?

[ImaWeTodd]

Hi ImaWeTodd,
My drive info is the exact same as yours. Do you have Nero. If you do, could you try to burn your next g04 in there to see if maybe it is Nero's fault?

Sure, no problem. I've actually got a copy Nero 5.5.10.42.

So we do this the right way, give me the exact steps. I really don't use Nero.

[mybook4]

Well, you can create a DVD-Video by making a new layout and choosing DVD-Video from the side list. Then just drag your complient DVD structure into the Video_ts folder. If you have any questions, feel free to post.

P.S. I just used the trial version of RecordNow Max 4.5 and I have much greater compatibility then before. The disc still wont work on my PS2 or my DVD-ROM drive though. Slowly, but surely, I am getting there.

[Faustus]

troyvcd1:

I am one of those people, my original A04 can no longer burn ritek media very well. Only about 1 in 10 had zero problems. When sent into Pioneer they said it had no issues that they could find. I assumed it must mean something is out of whack somewhere but not enough to be considered a problem, just bad enough to make some media which barely is acceptable fall off the edge into the unacceptable range. Funny thing is that I was able to burn an Optodisc recently but without further tested I'm not sure if it was a fluke or not.

At the time I just upgraded to a 105 and I've not looked by since. The A04 has been a good drive for my second computers internal drive. It burns CDrs, DVDRs if they are high enough quality, and plays DVDs.

[ImaWeTodd]

Mybook4:

The reason I asked your procedure is that some people have trouble with Nero using the DVD-Video option. I'll use that option.
See this post: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127624

I wont be able to run a test for about 10 hours. I'll post my results then.
I actually have a VIDEO_TS ready to go. Casablanca.

[ImaWeTodd]

Mybook4:

My burn worked just fine using Nero.

I used the simple dvd-video option, dragged my files/folders over, changed zero options and hit write. 1/2 hour later it played fine on my samsung and my GE (shinco).

Maybe you got a bad batch. Hope 104s don't just go like that. At least not until they have 8x -Rs avaliable at good prices.

[mybook4]

ImaWeTodd,

Thank you so much for testing in Nero. You ran the chance of wasting a DVD-R and I appreciate that greatly.

Along with my BeAlls that I ordered, I ordered a sample pack of media. Hopefully I can eliminate the media that doesn't work well with my 104. I will also be able to eliminate the possibility of a bad batch.

I will of course report my results for all to learn from. Thanks to all who make this the best digital video forum on the web.