Problem finalizing Playo DVDs

[bobbanks]

I bought some Playo DVD+Rs from Staples and recently tried to burn them. The DVDs are labled 16X, but my software (TMPeng) only allows maximum 2.4X for them (previously I used Sony DVDs and was allowed to go up to 8X).

When I tried burning the DVD, it got the the finalizing state and TMPeng crapped out, saying "bad media". Strangely enough, the DVD plays fine in my DVD player (Panasonic), but does not want to open in my computer. I tried it again with another DVD and the same results.

I read some reviews on this site and it looks like Playo has bad history. So is there any way for me to salvage them? Is there some other software, preferably freeware, that would not crap out? Or can I possibly finalize the discs I've already made?

Thanks in advance.

[Jim44]

You could try ImgBurn to burn the DVDs. Also, make sure your DVD drive's firmware is up-to-date.

However, the best results will be from using good, consistent-quality media. Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden seem to the most-recommended in terms of being good, consistent media. Lots of on-line sources, and I've found Verbatim's at Best Buy as well.

Good luck,
Jim

[oldandinthe way]

The Playo 16x media are probably not included in the firmware for your burner. The Sony 8x were probably TY 8x and were. 16x Verbatim media which are highly recommended would also not work.

Update the firmware in your DVD writer with the latest from the manufacturer's site. This tells the software how fast the burner can burn this media, and tells the burner how to burn the media. A very large number of drive/,edia compatibility problems are out of date firmware.

These Playo DVDs have been giving people good results in many burners. That is in spite of a belief by some that they are "counterfeit" or "fake" verbatims.

Without firmware which properly supports a speciifc mediaID, the burner uses a default strategy which is almost never appropriate for modern DVDs.

Even if you find burning software which gives better results, it is highly unlikely you will burn reliable movies.

[bevills1]

Make sure selection is made for SL burns in burning software. I sometimes get 2.4x max in Nero when it for some reason shows DL burn mode. Those disks already burned probably can't be fixed if the incorrect burn mode is the problem. Using those same Playos from Staples I got about 60% coasters with the latest MSOR firmware for LiteOn SHM-165P6S, but flash back to MSOP resulted in zero coasters with any media tried thus far. This seems to indicate latest firmware isn't always best.

Nero can be found for around $5 by Google search for "Nero 6 OEM suite" if interested, and IMGBurn is free. However, both these may crap out too if incorrect burn mode is inadvertently selected.