DVD Ram disc

[pevers3]

Hi, First post, I am having problems with my DVD-Ram Discs,both cartridge type and normal, some now come up in my Panansonic DVD Recorder as "Not Recognised", then I have the option to Format which I try to do but after a while am told that this has failed. Discs are clean,all have been used previously,most have some video alreadt recorded. Could I use a computer to format? Anyone any ideas? Thanks

[jman98]

Most of our members are from the USA (I am too). DVD RAM never caught on here at all. The discs are expensive and difficult to find. Few DVD recorders supported the format and in fact DVD recorders are mostly dead in the USA/Canada given how almost nobody who lives here has any interest at all in saving video. We have a small number of Americans who know something about the format and a few UK people who do, so perhaps one of them will join the thread.

I can only tell you that it is possible to reformat the discs on a computer, but you need a burner that can burn the format. Such burners are not particularly difficult to find, but in general at least in North America by default a lot of burners don't bother with support of what is basically here a fringe format. You'll just have to see if you have a burner in a PC that understand DVD RAM or not. I'd suggest using the free ImgBurn program to try this. ImgBurn won't work if you put a DVD RAM disc in it and the drive can't do anything with it, so you can use it to test.

I am just guessing but perhaps your recorder is simply wearing out and needs to be replaced. This is not meant to be a particular criticism of you, but in general consumers seem to believe that DVD recorders have an essentially infinite lifetime or at worst will last 10+ years when in fact the average lifespan is much smaller. If you've had a DVD recorder last 5 or more years, you've done well. In fact, after as little as 2 or 3 years sometimes the recorder needs to be replaced. Repairs are usually possible but they usually cost so much that it might be cheaper to just buy a new one.

[usually_quiet]

I have a 2005 model Panasonic DVD recorder that uses DVD-RAM discs. While it is possible to format DVD-RAM discs using a PC, if you have a burner with DVD-RAM write support, PC formatted discs probably won't be accepted by your DVD recorder. Also, in the last couple of years, my Panasonic DVD recorder began having problems reading, formatting or recording to DVD-RAM discs. Since my PC drives don't have these problems with the same discs, it seems likely that the Panasonic DVD recorder does because its burner is wearing out.

[sanlyn]

It's a problem with the Panny's optical drive. No DVD-RAM lasts forever, but if they all exhibit the same behavior at once, then you can suspect the drive. I've gone thru three drives on 3 Panny recorders and finally gave up on 'em. Optical drives were always the weak spot in recorders, especially budget models.

usually_quiet is correct about DVD_RAM formatted on a PC not being acceptable to DVD recorders. I don't know why. The recorder expects a certain type of formatting (specifically for video, maybe ? ?), but the disc works if reformatted in the recorder.

It's not just Panasonics that behave this way. I've had one optical drive replaced by a service center on a Toshiba (a model that cost 3 times the price of most budget Pannies), but that drive made hundreds of discs over several years. The Toshiba acted the same way when the drive started to burn out: I'd reformat, but the disc wouldn't work.

[sambat]

My PC burner is DVD-RAM capable.
Using Windows7 Disk Management, I can format Panasonic brand DVD-RAM OK.
The Panasonic DMR-ES20, recorder seems to have no problems with them.

[sanlyn]

Surprised it works it Windows 7. However, that's not enough to make me go with Windows 7. Good to know, though.

[sambat]

There's no option in XP for UDF2.

[sanlyn]

True. But my XP has $3000 in video and graphics software that won't run in W7. But can't one reformat DVD-RAM with ImgBurn? I guess it depends on your workflow. I use DVD-RAM only occasionally, to transfer from a recorder's HDD to a PC for more complex editing than I get on the recorder.

Anyway, when the problem described by the O.P. starts to happen with other DVD recorders I've run across, it's usually a sign of impending optical drive failure.

[handyguy]

Your laser must be clean, so clean it. Once you do this that disk should work just fine.

Panasonic included some software with their machines to use these disks on a computer & edit. But you must have a driver for them.

[jman98]

Your laser must be clean, so clean it. Once you do this that disk should work just fine.

Yes, there is some chance that this MAY be correct. It's easy enough to try and worth the effort. However, I have a problem with your post as written. My experience is that most of the time when DVD recorders start to have disc formatting problems, this doesn't fix it. A repair or replacement is all that will work. Yes, there is some chance that this may work, but you've basically told the guy "I 100% guarantee you that if you do this it will solve your problem" and I'd argue that the odds are under 50% that it will fix his issue.

pevers3 - Try handyguy's suggestion, but if it fails, it's time for a new recorder.

[usually_quiet]

There's no option in XP for UDF2.

That explains why DVD-RAM formatting didn't work for me. I was still using XP when I tried it.

[handyguy]

Your laser must be clean, so clean it. Once you do this that disk should work just fine.

Yes, there is some chance that this MAY be correct. It's easy enough to try and worth the effort. However, I have a problem with your post as written. My experience is that most of the time when DVD recorders start to have disc formatting problems, this doesn't fix it. A repair or replacement is all that will work. Yes, there is some chance that this may work, but you've basically told the guy "I 100% guarantee you that if you do this it will solve your problem" and I'd argue that the odds are under 50% that it will fix his issue.

pevers3 - Try handyguy's suggestion, but if it fails, it's time for a new recorder.

I used a the same recorder & same thing happened & so I cleaned it & it was fine.

[normwag]

Hi, First post, I am having problems with my DVD-Ram Discs,both cartridge type and normal, some now come up in my Panansonic DVD Recorder as "Not Recognised", then I have the option to Format which I try to do but after a while am told that this has failed. Discs are clean,all have been used previously,most have some video alreadt recorded. Could I use a computer to format? Anyone any ideas? Thanks

Hi I found that if you move ram discs between a pan. Recorder and a computor the format of the disc gets 'confused'. Format the disc with the computor using udf 2.5 format Then you can format the disc in the panasonic machine....very annoying but it saves binning the disc.! Make sure it 2.5 format as nothing else seems to work.

[handyguy]

the program you use on your computer for this is Panasonic DVD Movie Album SE.