Pioneer A03 - cannot read DVDs on other DVD drives

[tboydva]

Hope this is the best place to ask... I just purchases a Pioneer DVR-A03. I got it because it is supposed to burn DVD-R and DVD-RW that will be readable in my Apex 660. I have tried burning both DVD-R and DVD-RW and the discs will only play in the Pioneer A03? I've tried Nero (using: http://www.vcdhelp.com/nerodvd.htm), PrimoDVD and with MyDVD.

I upgraded to 1.68 firmware. Still no luck. When I run driveinfo (v2.1), I get the following:

Region code: 1
User: 4 changes left
Manufacturer: 4 changes left
Status: Not permanent

I live in the US (which I think is region 1). Did I perhaps get a returned drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,

Tom

[Jestorius]

I have the Pioner A03 and all the DVDs or VCD/SVCD burned with this drive can be played on a Philips 612.

I guess the problem is in your authoring process.
I burn directly from MyDVD or with VOB.

[tboydva]

Jestorius, have you ever used driveInfo to view the region coding of your burner? If so is it region encoded? When I try with MyDVD, it won't play. I've tried two other computer DVD players (Toshiba and Sanyo <i think>). It won't play on any other player. I've tried ISO, UDF/ISO as well as all the options in-between. Tried VOB too with no luck!

If you run Drive info (http://www.visualdomain.net/files/driveinfo21.exe) what do you get for the region coding?

Thanks!

Tom

[Jestorius]

It's nothing to do with the region code I think. It is the burning/authoring process. You can burn but not play the DVD-R on other than your A03, right? I'm using only Pioneer DVD-RW an R ver.1.1 disc. What is your media.

MyDVD can't make region coding or any other form for protection. It's a easy and nice authoring tool nothing more. It works like a dream for me.

I'm in Norway , so this is the region 2. The other are the same as you have.

At the begenning I couldn't burn anything with the A03. It was becouse the DMA and Aspi layering in the PC. After I fixed the problem I made same DVD-RW project and the disc wouldn't play in the DVD-player only in the PC with software player. It was a authoring bug. The next one did played in the standalone player but not in my PC. And it was a authoring bug as well.

I just found out that if I make a DVD with Impression and I didn't set up a first play item, the disc would play but the movie isn't smooth. It's hanging sometimes.

I don' t know, I'm very happy with this drive. It works well.

[leebo]

Very few set top DVD players will play DVD-RW.
As for your DVD-R disc, is it a Pioneer or a generic brand?.

Try making a test DVD using only one menu and one mpeg clip.
Make sure your mpeg meets the DVD specs.

[Jestorius]

MyDVD supports only one menu.

First make a test with only one mpeg in the firstplay, and burn a DVD-RW directly from MyDVD without test option.

Make a DVD disc - Advanced settings. Is the Joilet and Use long file names activ?

[tboydva]

Sorry, had meetings this afternoon... I have tried using Pioneer DVD-RW (1.1) and now Pioneer DVD-R (now a coaster!). I was able to burn one DVD-RW from MyDVD and have it recognized by the Toshiba DVD in my computer. My laptop DVD (Samsung) was a no-go and the Apex 660 (which is getting raves on the Apex newsgroups with its ability to play Pioneer-burned DVD-RWs) was also unable to play it. Then I tried the DVD-R with MyDVD - same project and it won't play on any player but the Pioneer! I have the Joliet and long file names unchecked (as per the MyDVD instructions).

Perhaps this is a Pioneer tech support issue? Why is everyone but me able to do this!

Thanks for the rapid responses guys!

[asx99]

I just purchase the A03, My stand alone is a daewoo 5000.
I just used disc-copy to a dcd-rw and played fine, but can't get a dvd-r to play in the standalone all the pc dvd drives read ok.
I heard the new Daewoo 5700 (sam's 99.00) plays all just fine.
I'm burning with primodvd 2.0