DVD Shrink Burning Issues with my Sony 720A Drive

[TheRybot]

I am having a problem with my DVD Shrink software. I have been making backups for the longest time on it now, but just recently I have been running into a problem where it will completely encode the disk I want to back up, and then when I put the blank Media (good stuff too... Sony Brand) in the drive it's been constantly giving me the error of "Illegal Disk" and spitting it out when it's at 1% of burning. The Disk has data written on it to about the same spot every single time (about 1/4 of the way in) and bam, out comes another coaster. I have NEVER had these problems before... is my burner dead? is this a software problem? Can someone please help me out. Thank you.

[redwudz]

What program are you using to burn? Shrink does not do the burning. It can use Nero, DVD Decrypter or even IMGBurn. If it's Nero, try DVD Decrypter. IMGBurn is a newer program that supports more burners than Decrypter. Decrypter is no longer supported. For using IMGBurn, look here: http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=63869

It may not be the burner. If you try a different burning program, that might give you a clue. Most of the time burning problems are related to the media. You might want to check the media code and see who manufactured the media. The name printed on it may not mean anything. If any doubts, try a different brand.

If you do suspect the burner, try cleaning the laser lens. If no luck, maybe a firmware update as a last thing to try.

From there, if you are sure it's the burner, shop for a replacement.

[TheRybot]

Well I was using Nero to burn, but I just tried it with DVD Decryptor (which I also had installed, but had never used before mainly becuase Nero always worked, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it ) Unfortunately, I ran into the exact same issue. The drive revs up like a V6 engine, and then just comes crashing down, and takes my disk with it. I have also tried updating my firmware, which is now at the latest version. Also, about the disks, I am about 1/3 of the way through a 100 pack of Sony media, and I have only had this problem on the last 5 disks I tried, so all the other disks in this pack have worked perfectly. So I suppose if I'm going to try and clean the lens on this bad boy I should probably ask one of the experts on this board what the best way to go about doing that is exactly, because I don't want to mess that up. Thanks again for the help.

[budz]

Before trying to clean the lens on the drive try using another brand of dvd media. SONY made in japan dvd media is excellent since they are TAIYO YUDEN. In my experience the SONY made in taiwan isn't good quailty dvd media. Use DVDINFO PRO or DVD IDENTIFIER to find out the exact media id for those SONY discs that you have. Try using VERBATIM made in taiwan dvd media those are good to use compared to the SONY made in taiwan.

[TheRybot]

Well like I said... I burned about 15 disks no problem from this very spindle.... and now all of a sudden NOTHING works, and it does the same thing every time. I am pretty sure my drive's shot

[budz]

Well like I said... I burned about 15 disks no problem from this very spindle.... and now all of a sudden NOTHING works, and it does the same thing every time. I am pretty sure my drive's shot

To make sure the drive is shot try another brand of dvd media. If another brand of dvd media fails as well then you've got your answer.

[OzzyDownunder]

Nero 6.6.1.4 will not support DVD Shrink any longer. You will have to save the Shrink file to your hardrive and then import it to Nero 6 or 7 which ever you have.

[TheRybot]

Nero 6.6.1.4 will not support DVD Shrink any longer. You will have to save the Shrink file to your hardrive and then import it to Nero 6 or 7 which ever you have.

Well I am using 6.0.0.9. Plus, I've tried Decryptor too. I also think it's the drive because when I first got it, i was getting NO coasters no matter what brand I used (and I used to use some really cheap crap) Then a few weeks ago, I was getting a few coasters here and there, and It was starting to get me worried, so I switched brands (I was using Verbs then) So once those were all gone, I bought a small pack of Maxell Disks, and I acually didn't have any problems with those at all. Once those ran out, Best Buy had 100 packs of Sonys for $30 each (How could I pass such a deal up?) so I bought 2, and as I said before, they were working great until last night, where I made 15 coasters trying to back up the same Movie using different software, and different burn settings, and speeds etc. So what I'm going to do is go buy a new spindle of those Maxell DVDs that worked so well before for me... and if I get this same problem, I'll be headin to best buy again for a new drive.

[jtoolman2000]

NewEgg has NEC 3550 drives for like $39. Buy just one single disk of another brand and see what happens. Then if it also fails replace the drive. Better than wasting 2-3 spindles worth of coasters continuing to check.

[RLT69]

SONY made in japan dvd media is excellent since they are TAIYO YUDEN.

I too was of the impression that sony discs made in japan would be TY but alas this is no longer true. Some of the Sony's made in Japan are SONY's - SONY is the manufacturer as well as the brand name. I think this was a recent switch. This effects +Rs and -Rs.

Not sure how this plays out for other brands. Your best bet is to find Verbatum made in Japan.

Office depot has Maxell DVDs on sale this week - might head off there and see where they are made

[TheRybot]

With all this talk about different brands being made in different countries, and only certain versions of the brands being good, this makes it quite confusing and difficult for someone such as myself who has fallen out of the computer loop over the past 10 years or so... Is there any place (online perhaps) to get good quality DVD-Rs cheap without having to worry about them being junk?

[budz]

Office Depot has MADE IN TAIWAN MAXELL which media id is RITEK.

Well I am using 6.0.0.9. Plus, I've tried Decryptor too.

Update your NERO BURN to version 6.6.
If your drive turns out to be dead then pickup a PIONEER 710 drive from Best Buy which is the RETAIL PIONEER 111D drive. I'd buy that than any SONY drive.
Or if you're gonna order one online get a BENQ 1650 or the PIONEER 111D from Newegg.com.

[TheRybot]

Office Depot has MADE IN TAIWAN MAXELL which media id is RITEK.

Well I am using 6.0.0.9. Plus, I've tried Decryptor too.

Update your NERO BURN to version 6.6.
If your drive turns out to be dead then pickup a PIONEER 710 drive from Best Buy which is the RETAIL PIONEER 111D drive. I'd buy that than any SONY drive.
Or if you're gonna order one online get a BENQ 1650 or the PIONEER 111D from Newegg.com.

It's official. I tried some of the media that worked fine for me last week, and I am getting the same results. I'm going out now to pick up the Pioneer 710B5PK at Best Buy. Also, what would be the benefits of upgrading my Nero? Someone said earlier that DVD Shrink (the only program I use) doesn't work with the new version of Nero.

[RLT69]

It's official. I tried some of the media that worked fine for me last week, and I am getting the same results. I'm going out now to pick up the Pioneer 710B5PK at Best Buy. Also, what would be the benefits of upgrading my Nero? Someone said earlier that DVD Shrink (the only program I use) doesn't work with the new version of Nero.

Updating Nero may have the added benefit of working with your new burner. Burning apps do not support all burners and some of the newer burners may only be supported with an update or a new version of your burning app. People tend to forget this simple fact.

FYI you can still use Nero with DVD Shrink. It sounds like the integration between Nero and Shrink will not work - Shrink would automatically launch Nero and burn your DVD for you. Instead it would be a two step process: 1. Rip DVD with Shrink. 2. Launch Nero to burn files.

budz wrote:

If your drive turns out to be dead then pickup a PIONEER 710 drive from Best Buy which is the RETAIL PIONEER 111D drive. I'd buy that than any SONY drive.

Could you explain this? From the reviews the Pioneer DVR-111 DVD does not support bitsetting on DVD+R media [http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/270] while the Sony DRU-820A DVD Burner does [http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/260]. That's a feature we are looking for. I'm not a SONY fan but based on that review the sony drive will serve our purposes. If the Pioneer supported bitsetting +R media, we'd buy it in a second.

[TheRybot]

Well I got the new drive, and it came with the newest version of Nero, and yes, I did have to install it in order to get the drive to work properly (and now I need to use it after compressing with DVD Shrink Oh well, at least I'm burnin' again... There is just one last thing though, the drive is 16x DVD-R/DVD+R yet Nero would only allow me to burn at 8x. Any ideas why this is?

[RLT69]

There is just one last thing though, the drive is 16x DVD-R/DVD+R yet Nero would only allow me to burn at 8x. Any ideas why this is?

Blame the media. Checked your media with DVDInfo or DVDIdentifier and see the speeds the media supports. If it is truly 16x, then check to see what Media your drive supports. You may need a firmware update for your drive for media compatibility.

It's possible, though I do not know how often this happens, your drive is throttling down the speed to make a clean burn. Alot of drives have this SmartBurn technology which is suppose to prevent buffer under runs and the like, thus it will slow down the burning process.

Most of the time it's the media.

[TheRybot]

There is just one last thing though, the drive is 16x DVD-R/DVD+R yet Nero would only allow me to burn at 8x. Any ideas why this is?

Blame the media. Checked your media with DVDInfo or DVDIdentifier and see the speeds the media supports. If it is truly 16x, then check to see what Media your drive supports. You may need a firmware update for your drive for media compatibility.

It's possible, though I do not know how often this happens, your drive is throttling down the speed to make a clean burn. Alot of drives have this SmartBurn technology which is suppose to prevent buffer under runs and the like, thus it will slow down the burning process.

Most of the time it's the media.

Well I just used Nero InfoTool to check the speed of the disk, and I did notice that it was only an 8x disk I was using (one of the new ones from the Maxell pack I bought to test my old drive. But when I was in there I took a look at the info on the Drive, and it said its Read Speed is 8x and it's Write Speed is 1x... Those numbers can't be right... any ideas?

[budz]

It's official. I tried some of the media that worked fine for me last week, and I am getting the same results. I'm going out now to pick up the Pioneer 710B5PK at Best Buy. Also, what would be the benefits of upgrading my Nero? Someone said earlier that DVD Shrink (the only program I use) doesn't work with the new version of Nero.

Updating Nero may have the added benefit of working with your new burner. Burning apps do not support all burners and some of the newer burners may only be supported with an update or a new version of your burning app. People tend to forget this simple fact.

FYI you can still use Nero with DVD Shrink. It sounds like the integration between Nero and Shrink will not work - Shrink would automatically launch Nero and burn your DVD for you. Instead it would be a two step process: 1. Rip DVD with Shrink. 2. Launch Nero to burn files.

budz wrote:

If your drive turns out to be dead then pickup a PIONEER 710 drive from Best Buy which is the RETAIL PIONEER 111D drive. I'd buy that than any SONY drive.

Could you explain this? From the reviews the Pioneer DVR-111 DVD does not support bitsetting on DVD+R media [http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/270] while the Sony DRU-820A DVD Burner does [http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/260]. That's a feature we are looking for. I'm not a SONY fan but based on that review the sony drive will serve our purposes. If the Pioneer supported bitsetting +R media, we'd buy it in a second.

To enable Bitsetting to DVD-ROM on the PIONEER 111D drive it has to be crossflashed to the 111L drive by using THE DANGEROUS BROTHERS firmwares.

Check out the crossflash thread at Cdfreaks.com, look at post #23:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=176551

To TheRybot: You'll like the PIONEER 710 drive which is just the retail version of PIONEER 111D drive. If you're only getting a write speed of 1x check your drive to see if it's in DMA mode. Also you'll have to use a 80 pin IDE cable with the PIONEER 111D drive.