DVD+RW erasing problems

[allycat]

I have several DVD+RW discs that have been used on a Philips Recorder/Player.

I would like to use them on my pc but they have "read only files" on them that I cannot erase.

Can anyone tell me how to overcome this please?

Thanks

[tompika]

I find DVD Decrypter can erase problematic disks very well.
Try its quick or full erase function

[BSR]

Did you try formatting the disks on your computer?
What method are you using to delete the files?

[allycat]

I cannot seem to find out how to formatt them, I have been in touch with HP to ask how to do it, but cannot find where to do it from. They have given me instructions which tell me to find the "umbrella" for the dvd writer but I can't seem to find it and I think they have given up.

[qpskfec]

I have reused many +RW discs made on a Philips dvd recorder on the PC.

Whatever burning sw that came with your dvd burner should have an erase or format function.

DVDecrypter and DVDinfo also allow you to erase a disc.

[allycat]

Thanks for your help, I will try dvd decrypter. My software is Record Now and Sonic, neither of which seem able to remove the read only files.

[allycat]

Where will I find the erase mode please?

[tompika]

right click source drive

[allycat]

Thanks, I did that but no joy. I get a long message starting off with I/O error.

[Timster]

It is my understanding of DVD+RW is that you never have to erase them. Each time you burn one of these is a completely new burn and everything on it is erased. DVD+RW can't do multisession. If you want to do Multisession, you must use a DVD+R. So don't worry about erasing it, just burn over it. I find these disks pretty hard to screw up. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[tompika]

So don't worry about erasing it, just burn over it..

Yep Nero and DVD Decrypter can do straight overwriting that doesnt even require quick erasing.

I find these disks pretty hard to screw up. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If a burning process stops during writing the lead in then you might have problems next time writing to that disc.
Youre gonna need a program that can bypass illegal TOC such as Alcohol 120%

[allycat]

My problem is that I am trying to do an exact copy and when I put the disc that is to be copied onto in the dvd writer it says it is not empty and do I want to erase it and then it won't get rid of all the files

[Timster]

So did you answer Yes to "do you want to erase"? What software are you using? Not much to go on here.....

[allycat]

Yes, I told it to erase, but it came up with an error message, I have tried dvd decrypter, sonic, copy to dvd, and stomp record now, quite a few.

[Kingnog]

1: Are you sure its a rewriteable disk? :P

2: Maybe the disk is defective. Try another one.

[allycat]

Yes, it is a rewritable disc and it isn't just one.

It is each one that has been in a Philips DVD recorder/player.

[tompika]

[allycat]

I shall try that one, thanks

[dazz87]

question about dvd+rw. could i do a quick erase? or does it have to be a full? ive been using full all this time, and just wondering if erase is good enough? thanks

[axolotls]

I have four fairly new DVD+RW (Sony) that NERO / DVDInfo etc will not erase (or allow a burn).

Just stumbled on this thread and will try Alcohol... then I'll try the program! I hope it works. Will update!

[allycat]

Well that didn't work either, it started erasing it and then said "logical software write protected" but these disc have been used a number of times.

[Timster]

Time to get back in touch with HP.......good luck!

[aggies11]

"logical software write protected"

- Interesting. I wonder if DVD-RW has it somewhere in the spec where you can set a disc to "write protected" (much like a floppy) so it can't be accidentally erased.

Using the disc in the record might set this "flag".

So that any other burner or software program before burning would quickly examine the disc and "see this", promptly refusing to overwrite the contents.

If so, then one would simple need a way to turn off the write protection...

This is all assuming such a thing does indeed exist. I am no expert, so I have absolutely no clue. Maybe someone else around here might know?

But I imagine that it is defintely feasable.

Hope this helps

Aggies

[aggies11]

allycat: What burner do you have?

I did a bit of looking around and found something interesting here:
http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/linux/DVD+RW/hcn.html


The item of interest:

NEC derivatives fail with "[software] write protected" code

Apparently it happens with DVD+RW media formatted in a recorder unit of different brand. This is firmware deficiency. It's not clear when it was fixed, but upgrading to latest available revision is the only way around this.

Looks to be a drive firmware issue. IE. some drives have trouble recognizing a disc that has been "handled" by another recorder. Supposedly a firmware upgrade may fix the problem.

Aggies

[allycat]

I have an HP DVD 300n writer.

[qpskfec]

The Philips recorder does have an option to "protect" +RW discs. It doesn't do this as a default, you must manually select this. A protected disc can be "unprotected".

When I write over a disc created on the Philips, DVDecrypter, in iso write mode, asks the standard do you really want to do this, all info on the disc will be erased question. Never had a problem.

I am using an Iomega burner (same as nec1300). The burning program that came with it, hotburn, also has no problem with discs from the Philips.

[allycat]

As you can see, I tried to do a full and quick erase with DVDecrypter but couldn't get them erased.

If I put the discs back in the Philips recorder and record, there is no problem with them, it is only on the PC that there seems to be a problem.