Memorex RW / Optiwrite problem

[gsulliva]

I have been using the same optiwrite dual format burner with the same Memorex DVD+RW media, same software and all the sudden I can not read the DVD burned by the computer. Same media (even same spinal of ones that work). Nothing has changed that I am aware of.

Any idea? Any way to compare a working DVD against one that doesn't?

[Capmaster]

I have been using the same optiwrite dual format burner with the same Memorex DVD+RW media, same software and all the sudden I can not read the DVD burned by the computer. Same media (even same spinal of ones that work). Nothing has changed that I am aware of.

Any idea? Any way to compare a working DVD against one that doesn't?

Has the laser lens been cleaned recently?

[gsulliva]

Didn't know this was an issue, how would i clean it?

[Dubber]

It's most likely the media, I had probs with Memorex as well, had to switch to Verbatim rewritables.

[Bob W]

I would say it's a media problem. Memorex media is on my "Don't ever buy this" list.

[gsulliva]

But this is the first time I've had a problem with Memorex +RW. I've been using this spindle for 10 months and reusing the DVD+RWs. Yesterday I went to grab a fresh one and couldn't read it after the burn but I think the dvd burner could read it. Tried it on my laptop and DVD player, which have never had a problem in the past with the +RW.

Thanks

[Capmaster]

Didn't know this was an issue, how would i clean it?

It's one of those things people often overlook. Go to Walmart or a store like that and go into the electronics section. They sell the cleaners usually in bubble-packs labeled "CD Lens Cleaner" or "CD Laser Lens Cleaner". About $10.

They even have one with a video built-in to the cleaning procedure:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/home_leisure/-/node_GSHN33J0QLgs/root_GST1T4S...er/output_html

It is basically a CD with little brushes on the data side that brush the dust off the lens when a certain track is selected. The track is timed so there's no danger of overdoing it. They usually have an audio track to explain how to use it. They work like a charm.

I used to have a Panny LF-D311 burner and if I didn't clean it every 20 burns or so it would give a burn error or a power calibration error in Nero. Right after the cleaning the error would be gone for another 20 or so burns.

I wonder how many people have returned their burners as being defective when all they needed was a cleaning Or how many have played the media merry-go-round unnecessarily? Sad

[indolikaa]

Memorex +RW has worked fine in my Optorite burners for over a year now. You might just have hit a bad batch of the discs on the spindle. It happens with Memorex sometimes.


I've cumulatively burned thousands of +RW discs from Memorex (so has LordSmurf) without problems. Try a cleaning first, and also do a disc scan with Nero or DVDInfoPro just to make sure it says the recorded disc information is fine.

[Halm]

Can you read a commercially produced disk? I had a similiar problem with a Lite-on Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) a few days ago. Suddenly, the drive would no longer read my burned disks, but would read commercial ones. Called Lite-on...no help. Tech support was baffled, as was I. I removed/reinstalled the hardware, the EIDE channel, software...all no help. Cleaned the lens...no help.

I finally reinstalled Windows XP...that fixed the problem. Somehow, something in XP was corrupted and it only affected the drive's ability to read burned media. Go figure.