DVD+RW Discs Not Playable in PCs?

[Racer2x]

A while back, I began archiving a ton of videos to DVD+RW discs, for ripping and re-authoring on my pc, at a later date, because I was told that I could do that, and the RW discs could then be re-used.
Well, I have since tried running them in both of my pcs, with ZERO success. I have gone into the the disc setup, withing the set-top recorder's interface, and have chosen "make compatible" (currently using a Cyberhome 1530.......I know. Stop snickering. It's all I have to work with, right now.), but nothing seems to make these readable, via my DVD drives, in my pcs. Any tips to get me where I need to be, or am I going to be forced to just use these discs, just as they are?

[David K]

A preliminary point: has your PC been sucessful in reading a DVD disc in the past. In order to read a DVD your computer has to have software to recognize the UDF file system.

Try the program Isobuster. This program is particularly good at finding and allowing you to extract disc content.

[robguy]

RW discs have to be "finalized" before use on PCs. Check your dvd recorder instruction book. It should have a statement of how to go about it.

[Racer2x]

Yes, my pcs can read DVDs. Yes, I have "finalized" the discs, as far as the recorder's instructions are concerned. With RWs, at least on this particular recorder, you don't "finalize", you "make compatible", as I previously stated. "Make compatible" is supposed to make it so that they are playable in DVD players.
I might have to bust out my old Apex DVD player, and see if it can read this disc. If it does, and if bad comes to worse, I guess I could always play it from the Apex, into the Cyberhome, and re-record all the videos onto a DVD+R. I KNOW they are recognizable in my PCs.
Final clue to my problem, I guess: When I tried to access said disc, via Windows explorer, it said it couldn't access the disc, cause either the disc was screwed up, or it was a format not recognized under Windows. Huh. So much for being able to use +RW discs, and then re-use them, huh? Guess, if I REALLY want to re-author something off this recorder, I'll have to waste an inital +R disc, in order to do it.

[David K]

Before you give up hope, try Isobuster. It has its own file reading system independent of Windows.

The other issue is whether your DVD Rom drive on your computer can read RW discs at all. Most can but some older ones cannot. You could replace it or buy an external drive. The fact that your computer cannot even read the file structure of the disc indicates that the problem lies on the computer end not on the DVD recorder end.

I routinely move content from my DVD recorder on RW discs to my computer, so it can be done. Once you solve your basic problem of getting your DVD Rom drive to read the disc, use DVD Decrypter or DVDShrink to rip the DVD titles.

[lordsmurf]

DVD+RW off DVD recorder cannot be "finalized"
Those discs don't need it.

[David K]

Lordsmurf,

What he said is

Yes, I have "finalized" the discs, as far as the recorder's instructions are concerned. With RWs, at least on this particular recorder, you don't "finalize", you "make compatible", as I previously stated. "Make compatible" is supposed to make it so that they are playable in DVD players.

So he is not finalizing them as you would for a DVD+R for example, which needs the finalization to close the session and make it readable on other DVD drives. The "make compatible" function probably changes the booktype to DVD ROM (from DVD+RW) to make it more compatible with othe players. The first issue is whether it does anything at all for for RW discs. (A similar function on my Philips DVD Recorder has never seemed to work for me.) This may be causing his PC to have problem reading them, but I doubt it. It sounds like his PC is having trouble with the RW aspect of the disc.[/b]

[lordsmurf]

"Make compatible" tends to screw up discs more than anything else. I don't know exactly what it does (forgot, been a while) but it usually causes more harm than anything else, and it's 100% unnecessary. I don't recall booktype being what it did.

[BobK]

For a month or so last year I had a couple different DVD recorders that used +R/RW. I never had to finalize or 'make compatible" any of the RWs. Just stop recording and eject the disk- never had a problem reading them on the PC. So I'd agree with Lordsmurf- that could have caused the problem.

[David K]

Based on my experience with my Philips (which is also a +R format recorder) The "make compatible" might do one of two things: 1) make edits done on the disc compatible with other players. This is a separate make compatible function on my player. 2) Change the book type, which is also a separate function on my player.

If you're making edits on your recorder then you might need that first make compatible function. But if not, then avoid it, and see whether your PC will now read the discs.

[BobK]

Is it possible to undo the 'make compatible' thing (something similar to the 'undo finalize' function on DVD-RW)? If you can undo that it might allow you to read the disk on a PC.

[lordsmurf]

I don't think you can undo it. I've never seen one on any DVD+RW machines to date. It's pretty much one-way. Corruption of the IFO is typical.

[trhouse]

If you put a new, blank dvd+rw of the same brand in your pc will it recognize it?

[Racer2x]

Before you give up hope, try Isobuster. It has its own file reading system independent of Windows.

The other issue is whether your DVD Rom drive on your computer can read RW discs at all. Most can but some older ones cannot. You could replace it or buy an external drive. The fact that your computer cannot even read the file structure of the disc indicates that the problem lies on the computer end not on the DVD recorder end.

I routinely move content from my DVD recorder on RW discs to my computer, so it can be done. Once you solve your basic problem of getting your DVD Rom drive to read the disc, use DVD Decrypter or DVDShrink to rip the DVD titles.

Just tried Isobuster, and all it did was it thought the disc was a blank disc, nothing else. More info to come, shortly.

[Racer2x]

Here's what my manual says about "make compatible":

"Recordings on DVD+RW discs are playable on standard DVD players as soon as they are made. However, you'll need to use the MAKE COMPATIBLE option to create or update the Main Title Menu on your recordings, and to update any edits you've made to the disc such as when you rename or delete a Title.
You can still make new recordings to a DVD+RW disc after using Make Compatible. however, you'll need to use the Make Compatible function again to update the Menu on the disc to include the new recordings."

[Racer2x]

I don't think you can undo it. I've never seen one on any DVD+RW machines to date. It's pretty much one-way. Corruption of the IFO is typical.

You know, I'm wondering IF the IFO is corrupted. Then again, the other +RW disc I have is doing the same thing, so either it Isn't part of the problem, or they BOTH have IFO corruption. I'm gonna do a little testing, and let you know what I find.

[Racer2x]

Okay. Quick update:

I took one of the new +RWs, put it in my upstairs PC. After 30 seconds of the drive flashing, I was able to use Windows Explorer to recognize it as a blank disc, something I couldn't do with the 2 used discs. I took it over to the recorder, formatted it, and recorded 5 minutes of satellite feed off the History channel, and took it straight over to the same PC, without making it "compatible". After another initial 30 seconds, Power DVD automatically fired up, to play it (again, nothing that ever happened with the other 2 discs), at which point Power DVD crashed. DOH! No prob. I then, manually restarted Power DVD, hit play, and low and behold, it actually played the 5 minute footage without incident. I fired it up in Isobuster, and was able to actually SEE the disc (the other 2 discs showed up as blank), and it's structure.

Diagnosis: I believe Lordsmurf is right: IFO corruption, on BOTH discs. Unfortunately, I have erased the original files off the DVR's HDD, so I guess my only choice is to try and play it through my Apex, to the recorder, and re-burn it onto +R discs. Such is life! I will continue to test with this disc, without "make compatible" and see what it does. Then, I will try "Make compatible" and see if THAT screws it up.

[BobK]

Diagnosis: I believe Lordsmurf is right: IFO corruption, on BOTH discs.

IFO corruption could make the video unplayable, but it seems to me that no matter how corrupt the ifo you should still be able to see the files in something (windows explorer, isobuster, etc). So that may only be part of the problem.

[David K]

I agree with Bob K that file structure issue is separate from the corrupt ifo files issues. The fact that two DVD players can play these discs indicates that they have a file structure. The challenge for you is getting a program on your PC to read that file structure so that you can rip the content and then reauthor it.

Isobuster has an advanced feature that you might try to recover the file structure of those discs. Go to the top of the tree structure view (where the DVD disc image is, which in this case may only indicate blank disc. Right click on that and select "Find missing UDF files and folders." Then let it run, which might take up to two hours. It will then give you access to recovered file structures which you can then copy to your harddrive. Then use a program like DVD decrypter to recover the DVD titles.

[lordsmurf]

ISO Buster Pro will likely find the VOB files for you. Paid version, UDF mode, not the freebie.

[Racer2x]

Well, I just tries to play the disc in question from my Apex, into the recorder. No dice. And a paid-for software title isn't an option, as I'm FLAT BROKE. I have already begun another disc, and have started to re-record the videos I have lost on that disc, to the new one. I can only hope that VH-1 Classic continues to play back the videos I lost, entirely.