Disc Error...

[Sara123]

I've been trying to find a DVD-R that is compatible with my DVD recorder, with no luck. So far I've tried Sony DVD-R's 16x and now Maxell DVD-R 8x and when I put them in my recorder, I get:

"Disc Error
Playback feature may not be available on this disc."

Why is it so difficult to find a disc that is compatible with my player? Is this the norm, because from what I've been reading on this site, people are using DVD-R's with not too many problems.

I've used Sony DVD-RWs and they've been fine. My manual says that to record on DVD-R the recorder has to be in Video Mode, and it is.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[bmiller]

You should tell us your brand of burner,what program you are using to burn with and if this is a back-up of a commercial dvd,what program are you using to make it fit on a dvd-r,or your own movies,what you are using to author the video with.
There are lots of guides on this site to help you with the programs you are using.Try and update the firmware for your burner.Try different burning programs.

[Sara123]

All I can tell you is that I have a Sharp DV-SR45UC and that I've been looking for information on this site for about 2 weeks, and have been calling Sharp to ask what disc I should use to record. There's someone on this site who has the same recorder I do and has told me recording on 8x is fine, it will work, the people at Sharp tell me it will work, all the people at the store I bought the recorder said it should work, and it isn't. I've read and re-read my manual to see if there's something I haven't set, but everything is set right according to the manual, the recorder simply won't accept any DVD-R discs.

I would just give up and stick the the SOny DVD-RW's I've been using, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. There seem to be very RW discs available. All I've been finding lately is DVD-Rs, but I can't find any that will work with my machine, which I bought last April.

[OneSickPup]

Sara123 - I have heard reports that the Sharp model you own is extremely picky when it comes to acceptable media. I read somewhere that you can use only 1x or 2x DVD-RW media or DVD-R with a 4x maximum (another words 1x, 2x or 4x DVD-R). Those are extremely limited choices in the current market.

Not sure what's available in Canada but here in the US Bestbuy's usually carry Fujifilm DVD-RW upto 2x in jewel cases for a rather cheap price. They id as Ritek but have worked well for recorder use. OfficeDepot also carries housebrand 4x DVD-R media here locally but Staples, Bestbuy and others usually have only 8x and up. You guys have Futureshop don't you?
They have what you are looking for - here's the link:

http://www.futureshop.ca

[Sara123]

Thanks for your response. I guess I'm just going to have accept the fact that I have to get DVD-R's that are 2x or 4x. I don't think I've seen any lower than 8x at Bestbuy or anywhere else, but I'll keep looking.

Thank you for the link. I really appreciate your response. I wish the people at Sharp could have been as helpful.

[kschang]

CompUSA's house-brand (the ones that comes in 100 pack shrink-wrapped, not even in a spindle) are 4X.

[Joe Ryan]

Sara,

The Sharp manual states on page 16 that the recorder cannot record 8X DVD-R discs. That's a problem since no one makes 4X anymore, and 16X is already replacing 8X. The manual appears to be printed by Funai, who is probably the actual manufacturer of this recorder and other Sharp DVD recorders. Funai also makes the Emerson brand for Wal-Mart, and they offer a firmware update for some Emerson models that also works for Sharp models. (Forget Sharp's technical support--they don't even know about the firmware update and refused to believe I updated their models.) Firmware is the memory code in a chip in the recorder that tells the recorder how much laser power to apply and the pulse rate of that power based on the identification of the disc inserted into the device. Your recorder does not understand the code for 8X or 16X discs, but by updating the memory in the chip, your recorder will be able to recognize and record 8X DVD-R discs.

Try the Emerson website to see which of their drives most closely resembles the Sharp model you have and ask for the firmware update. Funai will send you a disc and instructions on inserting the disc into the recorder, pressing certain buttons on your remote, and updating the recorder. If that works, stock up on DVD-R 8X discs while you can or resort to using DVD-RW 2X discs over and over. The 2X DVD-RW discs will work on your drive as is.

[bmiller]

If that doesn't work,$50 gets you a new better burner.

[Sara123]

Thanks...I didn't know you could update the memory in the chip...that's good to know, but I finally found some dvd-r 4x from Verbatim at a relatively good price. From what I've read they're good quality and so far they're working well. I don't know if I should buy a lot of them.

Now that I know only 4x will work in my recorder I wonder if 4x will work in the newest ones that can record at 16x since I know that eventually I'll have to buy another recorder but I would have hated to buy another one before I barely used this one.

[bmiller]

verbatim are good discs.If you are going to keep the burnere,buy a bunch of em.The newer burners burn all speeds.My nec 3540 with modified firmware burns 4x discs at 12x,but i always burn slower.Prevents burn errors.You can set the burn speed with your burning program.

[Sara123]

verbatim are good discs.If you are going to keep the burnere,buy a bunch of em.The newer burners burn all speeds.My nec 3540 with modified firmware burns 4x discs at 12x,but i always burn slower.Prevents burn errors.You can set the burn speed with your burning program.

Good to know. Thanks.