Have to Finalize twice on my Samsung DVD-R130 to work with other players

[jmatteis]

I have tried this a couple of times so far, and if I record something from TV, finalize the DVD-RW disc on the recorder, then play it on another player or even my computer, it is not found. What I have to do is unfinalize the disc and finalize it one more time, then all is well. Anyone know of a fix for this machine? Other than this I am very happy with the unit, does everything I need it to.
I have checked Samsung's site, and there are no firmware updates and nothing in their FAQ's about it.

Any help would be appreciated!

[MissIrisM]

I have tried this a couple of times so far, and if I record something from TV, finalize the DVD-RW disc on the recorder, then play it on another player or even my computer, it is not found. What I have to do is unfinalize the disc and finalize it one more time, then all is well. Anyone know of a fix for this machine? Other than this I am very happy with the unit, does everything I need it to.
I have checked Samsung's site, and there are no firmware updates and nothing in their FAQ's about it.

Any help would be appreciated!

I use DVD-Rs rather than -RWs, and so I can't personally speak to your problem. That having been said, it's another clue in the database that could help me with my own problem with it! I wish I could unfinalize mine!

It's kind of a shame, such a handsome little unit is starting to be so problematic! It's too much money to spend on something so unreliable! I hope there is a fix.

[jmatteis]

I still haven't had a chance to, but this week I am calling Samsung, to try and figure out this problem. On top of that, I have now discovered that if I finalize a DVD-RW disc, I can play it on my computer and other DVD players, but I cannot copy that disc using burning software on my computer. For instance, I record a program off TV using the normal DVD-RW, such as the Grammy's. For some reason,I want to put it on permanent record, so I want to burn it to DVD-R to save and reuse the DVD-RW. Right near the end of reading the disc, I get an error.

Do most people just keep using DVD-R's? I bought this unit to replace my VCR for recording and rerecording weekly TV shows.

[FulciLives]

You bought a shit ass DVD recorder ... that's the problem.

It's not entirely your fault ... most DVD recorders are shit. That's just the way it is.

However you could have done some homework on it as well to find out what is and isn't good.

I'll make it easy for you. The only really two good models are (in no particular order):

1.) Pioneer DVR-640H-s
2.) Toshiba RD-XS35

It pretty much boils down to one of those two units.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[samijubal]

Almost everything Samjunk makes is problem prone. Scrap it and buy something better.

[jmatteis]

I had a Toshiba one home first, that sucked, and even after calling Toshiba and getting the new firmware, it was worse.. it went back to the store and will never have Toshiba in the home again. Pioneer i like, but the price is usually double or triple, which is understandable, you get what you pay for, but that is also comparing apples to oranges, simple single disc dvd recorder, or dvd recorder with 160 GB harddrive, at 4 times the price. But other than the slight problems I have had with the Samsung, it has been easy to use and does the job intended... I really only use it for weekly programs and to watch DVD's either recorded, burnt or bought. For the money I paid, I can put up with it for now and next year or the year after when Hard drive ones are more reasonable can upgrade then!

[MissIrisM]

I still haven't had a chance to, but this week I am calling Samsung, to try and figure out this problem. On top of that, I have now discovered that if I finalize a DVD-RW disc, I can play it on my computer and other DVD players, but I cannot copy that disc using burning software on my computer. For instance, I record a program off TV using the normal DVD-RW, such as the Grammy's. For some reason,I want to put it on permanent record, so I want to burn it to DVD-R to save and reuse the DVD-RW. Right near the end of reading the disc, I get an error.

Do most people just keep using DVD-R's? I bought this unit to replace my VCR for recording and rerecording weekly TV shows.

If I can offer something more helpful, The Grammy Awards is a copyrighted show with the RIAA all over it; there could be something in your recorded that prevents copying. I found out that there are some shows rated "Copy Once", "Copy Never", and so on. I didn't read where your computer isn't reading the disc you made, it's just not copying it. So maybe that plays into it.

Not knowing most of the 6-plus billion people, it would be hard to accurately say what "most" of them are doing about any given problem! A majority of so many is a lot of opinion...As for me alone, all I've ever used is DVD-R for my Samsung. First, some falsely-advertised Taiyo value discs, and lately some Maxell 16X discs.

I also acquired a second Samsung DVD-R130, so we'll see what luck I have with mine. Right now, it's working nearly perfectly, like my other was. Maybe there's something in them, some copy-protection software, that makes them eventually screw up.