Prodisc S04

[jackedup]

I purchased 500 Prodisc S04 white inkjet printable disks. I wrote the first several with verification and they came out fine. After that I quit using the verification becuase of the extra time needed to complete a disk and the first several seemed okay. No problems in playback either. I wrote another 130 or so without any apparent problems.

I decided to convert some old BETA camcorder tapes while I still had a BETA player that would play them however after viewing a couple of these disks noticed freezing and blocking towards the end of the DVD. I re-wrote these disks with verify on and the verification always failed. I tried about 20 more disks and each time verification failed. I thought it must be my writer as the first 130 were fine so I purchased a new writer however have the same problem. If the disk is only about half used they seem fine but if the disk is full or close to it the verification always fails between 85% and 100%. Out of the last 40-50 disks I have only had two that verified.

The cost to return the defective and unused disks is considerable so would appreciate if someone could make a recomendation as to what I should replace these disks with as I don't want to have to return the replacement ones for similar problems as the shipping really adds up. It is important that the disks store the video without errors as I want to be able to keep these as they are videos of our kids when they were quite young and are not going to be able to be replaced. Unlike movies where you can simply record them again or go buy a copy these videos cannot be replaced.

Just a further note I went and purchased a 10 pack of Memorex disks at a local store just to convince myself it was not a writer drive problem. These disks ended up being CMC, which I understand is an inferior disk, however all of them wrote and verified perfectly. I don't plan to use these disks for important video but they all did write and verify fine.

I would really appreciate your feedback on the situation with the S04 Prodisc disks, and what recommendations you might have for a more reliable disk.

I read that RITEK used to be a very good disk but that lately these disks have had poor performance as well. I also appreciate that TY is probably the best disk to buy but given the price find it hard to justify, and am sure there must be reliable disks at a better price than TY.

Thank you

[HatchetMan]

How big is the file (larger than 4GB?). I stopped buying Prodisc because of the same problem. Had problems with the Riteks too. Have not had any probs yet w/ TY. Heck, even TDK and FUJI have been working out great!

[jackedup]

How big is the file (larger than 4GB?). I stopped buying Prodisc because of the same problem. Had problems with the Riteks too. Have not had any probs yet w/ TY. Heck, even TDK and FUJI have been working out great!

Most are between 3.8 and 4.3. If the disk is only half used or 60% used they seem okay, it is just when they are close to full that problems seem to occur.

Thanks for the reply.

[Bodyslide]

What burner are you using? And at what speed are you burning them at?

[HatchetMan]

It's usually past the 4GB mark where they tend to go south. I don't know where you live, but if you ship it back by USPS media mail, it shouldn't cost much.

[jackedup]

What burner are you using? And at what speed are you burning them at?

I was originally using an LG 4082. I purchased a new LG 4160, same problem.

Even those these disks come up as 8X I have burned 95 % at 4X but have the same problem whether I use 8X or 4X

[jackedup]

It's usually past the 4GB mark where they tend to go south. I don't know where you live, but if you ship it back by USPS media mail, it shouldn't cost much.

It does add up though. I have the shipping on the original 500, and will have the shipping to return the 350 or so I have left, and the shipping to get whatver I replace these with, and if I get another brand with similar problems will have the return shipping once again plus shipping back the replacments yet again. That is why I would really like to be sure I am going to get something that is more reliable than what I know have, I just don't want to have to return a second set.

Thanks

[Fandim]

Ouch...Depending who you got them through, and if you're a frequent buyer, sometimes they'll refund even the amount it costs you to return the media, if it truely is that bad. Maybe LG's just dont like the MID code? Not sure what to tell you, heh.. Perhaps let a friend burn one on a different type of burner?

I havnt had the chance to test S04 media yet..keep getting F01 (Or R03 +R), interested to find out where you got the printable S04's...

Seth

[jackedup]

Ouch...Depending who you got them through, and if you're a frequent buyer, sometimes they'll refund even the amount it costs you to return the media, if it truely is that bad. Maybe LG's just dont like the MID code? Not sure what to tell you, heh.. Perhaps let a friend burn one on a different type of burner?

I havnt had the chance to test S04 media yet..keep getting F01 (Or R03 +R), interested to find out where you got the printable S04's...

Seth

I wrote 100 Prodisc S03 before buying the S04 and had no problems whatsoever. I also wrote about 140 of the S04 with no apparent problems.

These disks were from Meritline. I have contacted them and they said there is no problem to exchange them but don't know about shipping yet, but I guess I will find out soon enough. If they cover the shipping even one way I would be happy, but again want to be sure to get a more reliable replacment. I have about 60 DVDs I need to do up fairly quickly as the stuff is starting to pile up here, and another bunsh that need to be done not to much further down the road either.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a DVD writer other than people with LG writers.

Thanks

[Fandim]

Taiyo...Yuden... Gonna cost you a bit more, especially for inkjet printables... But if you want a sure thing, they're the best bet..(Unless you're Lord Smurf, who's DVD Writer scares me).

pretty much every other media out there, people either love or hate..very mixed results.

[samijubal]

I had problems with both S03 & S04 in the 4120B on some people's players. I've seen other posts of problems with LG burned discs, I don't think they're very good burners. I sent the LG back and got the NEC 3500, haven't had a single problem since. That was 2 months or so ago.

[jackedup]

I had problems with both S03 & S04 in the 4120B on some people's players. I've seen other posts of problems with LG burned discs, I don't think they're very good burners. I sent the LG back and got the NEC 3500, haven't had a single problem since. That was 2 months or so ago.

I have not had any problems playing any of my disks in other standalone players if they verify when burning.

Anyone have any experience with HP writers?

Thanks

[jackedup]

Or how about Lite-On?

[trickyman]

I've used S03 and S04's. I have a pioneer A04 DVD burner. The S04's have burned flawlessly, and the S03's burned perflectly up until my last few disks. I got about 2 with bad sectors at the very end. I also ordered one batch of Prodisc's from supermediastore that came as MMC's. Absolute CRAP; the first 10 burned fine the next 15 after that coastered...

[samijubal]

I order from Rima and e-mail first to make sure I get S03 discs.

[Captain315]

I use a 3500AG and the Ritek Ridata and the Prodisc F01 both coaster 70% of the time if burning over 4 gig. I ordered from Meritline which listed them as Prodisc S03 hub printables but when I got them, they were F01. I'm like you, the cost of shipping almost makes it unfeasible to send back. Will try Rima next time and see if I get the media code that I need.

[george_alass]

I bought a batch of 300 Prodisk S04 from www.media-n-more.ca and found that they had problems in my Pioneer DVR-105 and DVR-106. However, they worked just fine at 8X in my DVR-108. All of these burners have te latest firmware. I then replased the DVR--105 with an Aopen DUW1608/ARR and the DVR-106 with another Pioneer DVR-108. The Aopen burner will not burn the Prodisc S04s reliabley at any speed. However, it will burn the Prodisc MCC 02RG20 at 8X and Ritec G04 and G05 burn at 4X reliably. Both Pioneer DVR-108s burn all of these disks at their rated speed or better. It is possible that my two older burners just wore out because they have become very picky with media. They still burn silertop Maxell fne so I will probably give one away and use one in my linux server for data backup.

[jackedup]

Does no one have any suggestions for a good reliable inkjet printable disk besides TY?

I was considering Ritek however there seems to be problems with them as well?

Thanks

[stiltman]

Inkjet S04's from supermedia have been the pits for me. S03's were great. Burning on 106D latest OEM firmware

[jackedup]

Inkjet S04's from supermedia have been the pits for me. S03's were great. Burning on 106D latest OEM firmware

I agree completely, I really liked the S03 and hate the S04. Trying to find a good alternative that is realiable without the TY price.

[samijubal]

Rima still sells S03 in the non-printables, don't know about printables. I just got a box of 500 S03s about 2 weeks ago, 50 of them burned so far without any problems on the NEC 3500.

[stiltman]

Email from Rima

Hello Stiltman -

Unfortunately Prodisc sends mixed codes on this item number, so we are
unable to gaurantee a specific code for a specific order.

Rima Staff

----- Original Message -----
From: <stiltman@spamme.com>
To: <info@rima.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 10:33 AM
Subject: Prodisc 4x white inkjet


> Message from: Stiltman
> Phone Number:
> Company:
> Comments:
> Can you tell me the media ID for your "Prodisc DVD-R 4.7GB, 4X, White
Inkjet Printable, $0.38 ea., 50-Pack " ?
>
> S03?
> S04?
> MCC?
> F01?

[p_l]

Well, crap, crap, crap.

I thought I was pretty smart for stocking up on Prodisc 4x Inkjet Hub printables, since problems have been reported with the 8x. The places I usually look (http://www.blankmedia.ca and http://blankdvdmedia.com/) had discontinued them, but like another poster here I found some at http://www.media-n-more.ca/. , thought I.

I eagerly consult Canada Post's useless tracking system every day, which even after my doorbell rings and my packages are delivered, shows the parcels as still in Dieppe, New Brunswick, wherever the that is.









But I digress. I open up the boxes, identify the discs, and it turns out they're S04's, so I'm SOL.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique Disc Identifier : [DVD-R:ProdiscS04  ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disc & Book Type :       [DVD-R] - [DVD-R]
Manufacturer Name :      [Prodisc Technology Inc.]
Manufacturer ID :        [ProdiscS04  ]
Blank Disc Capacity :    [2,298,496 Sectors = 4,489.3MB = 4.38GB (4.71GB)]
Recording Speeds :       [1x , 2x , 4x]
                         [6x And Higher Might Not Always Be Detectable]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ http://DVD.Identifier.CDfreaks.com ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've burned 4 or 5 now all the way to the edge, using Nero and my Pioneer A06 with the original firmware, and they burned fine and play fine in my Norcent DP-300, but reading this thread now has me as nervous as a grape in a fat girl's back pocket.

[p_l]

Gee, thanks.

This evening I finally get Canada Post tracking info that my parcel was delivered two days ago.










Allow me to reiterate:

[p_l]

Just burned another one and so far no coasters. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[zanos]

anyone notice the quality of prodisc has been going down? I just received a batch of 4x discs the other day and although they still burn fine I have trouble using cdspeed to verify as well getting them to play on my crappy apex player. That has never happened with prodisc before!!!

[jawgee]

Yep, just had to set up an RMA for a batch of 200 Prodisc 8X white printable -R F01's with Supermediastore. Not sure what white hub printable discs to get now. Maybe I'll try my luck with the Ritek G05s, but I had awful luck with the G04s. Really bummed now since the Prodisc S03s were so good for me. Prodisc, if it ain't broke...

Thanks,
jawgee

[zanos]

You know I just started using my 8x printables right now and I'm getting errors on two 50 spindles. Holy cow. This is a disaster. Unfortunately they are still the best media for the price so it's not like we have much of a choice.

[stiltman]

You know I just started using my 8x printables right now and I'm getting errors on two 50 spindles. Holy cow. This is a disaster. Unfortunately they are still the best media for the price so it's not like we have much of a choice.

How can it be a good price when you get 1 good burn out of 5 or 10 burns?

[zanos]

Because they've had the best track record so far at the price they're currently going for. This only seems to be a recent phenomenon.