Difficult Problem - Reading DVD - PLEASE READ!!

[ajnabe4u]

Ok all you guru's out there, lets try to get to the buttom of this one....

I have three DVD's all PAL format created overseas. All burned on Sony DVD -R disks. I can read two of them fine on my computer along with any DVD player (of course the picture gets distored on many of the DVD players) but the fact is I can read the DVD. This one DVD (on same media burnt with same software overseas) is not able to be read on any DVD player nor does my computer recognise the data on the DVD (says blank media). Now to complicate issues more, I have a DVD player which is approx. 5 years old (Panasonic DV-575 or something) which is the only device that is able to play this DVD!!

I've tried almost everything that I can think of - security, regions, etc (have anyDVD) tried reading DVD with DVDdycrptor and a variety of different computer based dvd data restore - but not of them even reads the disk.

Please help!! This is driving me insane thinking why it's working on this one DVD player but no other hardware!

[oldandinthe way]

The DVD specs are "loose" specifications. It is likely that your old DVD player is more sensitive (perhaps higher laser power)and can read a marginal recording. And every piece of equipment or media may be within spec.

If you must have the contents of this DVD you will have to capture the output of the old player on a PC.

All three of your DVDs may be marginal and a backup of the two that read may be in order.

[ajnabe4u]

I know beggers can't be chosers - but how much quality degradation is expected when copying from old DVD player to computer? Also the "loose specs" issue that might be causing this - i'm guessing it would not be possible to read this DVD on computer with different firmware flash's?

Thanks!