Newbie Needs Help - Can't get DVDs to play in Apex player

[jondrejik]

Hopefully, this will be a simple set of questions. I've tried several things...

1. I used a Sony GX7 to copy my video tape to DVD -r. I finalized the disk but it will not play in the Apex. Apex tech spt says only DVD +R & +RW. Is there a way to copy & convert a -R to a +R?

2. Use Sonic MyDVD to direct copy through the PC the same video tape to a DVD +R (TDK). Finishes fine and the disk plays in the PC and Sony GX7 but not the Apex.

3. Used the Sony to copy the video tape to a DVD +RW. It plays on the Apex. Used Sonic Record now to make a copy of the disk to a +R. The +R plays in PC and Sony GX7 but not in the Apex.

4. Used Xcopy express to copy the DVD -R to DVD +R and Xcopy pukes as soon as it starts reading the master created on the GX7. Have to kill the program through task master. Thoughts on why Xcopy just dies?

5. Used Sonic RecordNow to copy the DVD -r to DVD +R. Reads the master fine but will not write to the +R. It keeps asking to insert a blank disk.

Looking for ways to convert -R to +R and for reasons the Apex will not play the +R.

Appreciate any help. I've read several forum msgs and searched but can't see where anyone is asking this question.

Thanks in advance.

[jg0001]

To copy & convert -R to +R, literally just copy the disc. If you don't know how to do this, try using a simple trialware program like CopyToDVD or DVD Decrypter (see tools section). I'm assuming you don't need and 'decrypting' but you just may find that program easier. All you need to do is get the contents of the -R to the +R, there is no 'conversion' to speak of. You can do a direct copy or copy ALL the folders of the -R to your harddrive, then use CopyToDVD and the "Create DVD Video" wizard and it will ask you to point it to the IFO file in the VIDEO_TS folder you just copied from the source disc. Enough said. (This assumes your burner can do +Rs).

[jg0001]

You may also wish to try writing at a lower speed and then also try using a different brand of blank disc. In general, you should avoid the no-name crap. You can also try +RW's or -RW's. Strangely enough, my XBOX (for example) only seems to like +RW's (it won't play any of the -Rs or +R's I've tried in it, but +RWs (memorex) work just fine (these are all movies, not video games).

[jondrejik]

Thanks for the tips. My dvd in the computer is +/- R/RW so that should be OK. I'm using memorex for both +R & -R. Sometimes it copies and sometimes it doesn't.

Does it make a difference if the disk is formatted and had other data on it but is now blank?

The +RWs worked just fine in the player.

Still don't fully understand why the simple copies using Sonic or Xcopy didn't work. Will try the copy to HD and then back to DVD next time.

Thanks again.