Recurring burn error in various movies - possible hardware defect?

[hubahop]

Hi all,

I have a HP Pavilion desktop PC with a HP DVD Writer 640b. When I burn video DVDs with Nero 6.6.0.4, I often get an error in the burnt DVDs after apprx. 5-10 minutes - in spite of the fact that Nero verifies the burn as succesful!

When I watch the DVD on my Pioneer stand-alone DVD recorder, the movie will freeze for a few seconds and then jump apprx. 10 seconds foward, always after apprx. 5-10 minutes and only one error on each dvd. This happens with many movies, from various sources, that have been through various editing beforehand - and, like I said, in spite of Nero confirming the burn.

Have anyone experienced anything similar, and do you think it's a hardware problem in the PC's burner or perhaps a software problem in Nero? I suspect a hardware problem since the error seems to happen at approximately the same place on every DVD, but I'd like to hear other people's ideas and experiences before I send it off for repairs (which lasts weeks when HP is involved) or buy a new burner to put in the PC.

Thanks in advance.

[redwudz]

You would have to narrow down possible causes a little.

>First thing, have you tried different DVD media? This is is easiest item to change and the biggest cause of problems.

>Then have you tried playing the DVDs on a different player? This will rule out the player as the problem.

>Does this happen with all discs burned, even backups with DVD Shrink or similar? This will rule out editing, encoding, authoring software.

>Have you tried a different burning program, such as ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter? This will rule out Nero.

>One last possibility is a program running while you are burning that is interfering. This is unlikely, but worth checking.

>Since you have Nero, you may also have Nero CD-DVD Speed. You can use that to scan your discs for errors.

If you have tried all that, and I haven't missed anything obvious, then it would point to the burner as the problem. Personally, I would replace the burner with a different brand, but if it's under warranty, you might want to go that way.

And welcome to our forums.

[Bjs]

Have you followed the basic rule's for compatability ?

Dvd-r only
4x burn speed only
No more than 4.3gig to media

Avoid these , and it might not be playable in some unit's .

[OneSickPup]

I agree with redwudz - need further info before making any conclusions. The HP 640b is an LG GWA 4162B I think. It will not flash with LG firmware and is reliant on HP for firmware releases (again I think that to be correct). Several posters have complained over at CDFreaks.com about HP Support of this drive. You have Nero CD-DVDspeed utility. Use the disc info tab to tell us what media you are using (the media code). Just stick a blank or burned disc in to find out. It may just be the media you are using.

[hubahop]

Hi, thanks for your replies... the media I have been using mostly is Memorex 8x DVD-R. The media codes differ for different batches I have bought, some are CMC (CMC MAG AE1 - not great quality, if I have understood the info I can find on the Internet correctly?), some are Ritek (RITEKG05 - better than CMC, although not top grade, correct?). I have already switched to Sony discs (among the best discs out there, would you agree?) but haven't used up my Memorex stock yet, so I don't know how the Sony discs perform.

Also, I have been burning at max. speed, which is 8x. I didn't realize this could cause problems if the discs were certified for 8x, but I will stay at 4x in the future.

I tried doing a disc scan with Nero CD-DVD Speed on one of the burnt discs that has errors, and Nero did not find anything (I guess this points at a software problem...). The defect discs have been played both in my Pioneer 433 stand-alone HD recorder and on my PC. The problems appear in both. It is not all discs that have problems, and if I remember correctly, I have burnt some from an image file, first getting a disc with an error, then burning the same image again successfully (which points at a hardware problem, unless Nero would burn the same image differently on two different occasions...).

I don't think I have used DVD Shrink for any of the discs in question - only DVD Rebuilder 0.95 with CCE SP 2.70. I have only burnt with Nero, but obviously I will try burning with DVD Decrypter to try to rule out Nero as the culprit.

Does any of the above give you hints at what is the more likely cause of my problems? Thanks again...

[Bjs]

If you have dont have good result's burning with dvd-decrypter or imgburn or imgtool , try test burn to verbatim or datastream (cmc) dvd-r .

If result's are poor , consider hp unit is junk ... I do recall a friend with one that would not burn succesfully 100% of the time , even with nero 6.3 ... though version's dont make much difference .

Unit was replaced with a current lg model supporting dl ... and nero has not missed a beat since .

[hech54]

Memorex(Memorsux), CMC, and new Ritek?
All complete garbage.

Only use -R media?....complete nonsense.

The HP 640b / LG GWA 4162B ?....if this is true in your case....you are extremely unlucky. That is the WORST LG drive ever made from what I've read. I own two different LG drives and I love them.

Long story short....ditch the HP drive. Since you are also in Europe...I'd try the LG4167B drive but after your experience I doubt you'll buy another LG...which is a shame...they are fantastic all-round drives.