DVD Plays on Standalone player can't view on computer

[rubberman542]

Can anyone help me????

My friend asked her friend to copy some TV shows for her on a stand-alone DVD recorder

My friend can not view the disk on her DVD player (NTSC / Japanese) so she asked me to see if I could convert it for her

Here is my problem

The DVD plays okay in my standalone DVD player (Pioneer - Region Free and NTSC/PAL compatable). When I put it in my computer however it shows up as an empty disk (I have tried viewing it in explorer as well as from several applications but nothing seems to work).

The DVD Drive on my computer is supposed to be able to read DVD - R/W DVD's so I can't figure it out.

To be honest I don't know very much about stand-alone DVD recording so
I figure it may be a file format issue, but why does the disk show up on my computer as empty?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[zak_swan]

The DVD Drive on my computer is supposed to be able to read DVD - R/W DVD's so I can't figure it out.

does this mean u have'nt tried any other DVD's on pc?

[rubberman542]

I have played other DVD's on my PC, but I always use DVD-R disks. I have never used - R/W myself.

I am using a Buffalo DVD Writer (USB), and the box says it recognizes DVD -
R, so I just assumed it wasn't the problem.

[chas0039]

What kind or disc are you trying to view, you hint it might be -RW but you are not clear? Also what kind of recorder made the disc and is your PC DVD drive a combo drive?

I have seen some discs written on stand alone drives that were just not readable on some PC drives and yet were readable on others. Go figure.

[zak_swan]

what make of buffalo dvd writer is it?

[ybee]

I have no experience in this but I think I read somewhere on this site that said the dvd-r might need to be close/finalized for it to play on a computer. I'm not sure so maybe someone else can confirm it.

[chas0039]

I have no experience in this but I think I read somewhere on this site that said the dvd-r might need to be close/finalized for it to play on a computer. I'm not sure so maybe someone else can confirm it.

My understanding is that it needs to be finalized to be played on a stand alone player. I have not seen this for PC DVD drives but it might be true as well.

[rubberman542]

Unfortunately, I do not know the brand of DVD recorder that was used (my friend was unable to give me that info.

I am sure the disk is DVD - RW ("Victor DVD - RW for Video" to be exact).

MY Buffalo DVD writer is USB IEEE 1394 (purchased in Japan) -- Here are the specs of it

[chas0039]

I am stumped, other than my original guess that this was recorded on a stand alone DVD player and your Buffalo is one of those drives that just can't recognize it.

[rubberman542]

LOL, I think that must be it, I can't think of anything else either.

Thanks very much for your replies... much appreciated