DVDinfo - LBA error means ???

[blinky88]

Is there a guide explaining what the errors found actually are ..and.. what the various colours represent in an error scan.

Thanks in advance to those members who respond.

[babyboo]

I am going to bump this because I would like to know as well...Thanks

[Hawseman]

I'm no DVD media expert....but it stands for Logical Block Address. Basically, a logical block is a small section of data on the disk that has error checking capability. If the data burned in that block doesn't match the error correction code (like CRC)...it's FUBAR. The LBA is just where, on that disk, the reading error occurred.

I think that the first written LBA is 0 and it counts hexadecimal from there....

I never really cared about that...I just use the graphical representation to see about where on the disk the error was found....LBA is the precise location.

DVDInfoPro read tests will attempt a retry when a bad block is found:

If the block is green = successful readback (no error, clean read, good)
If it's white = error, but retry successful - (iffy)
If it's red = all retry's failed (definetly bad)

Hope this helps....

[babyboo]

Hawseman...Thanks for the info. As a follow up, do you know if there is a difference between the types/ammount of errors displayed when doing an CD/DVD Read Error Test as opposed to a CD/DVD Speed Test? They both return read errors. Is there any real benefit to running a speed test as it seems to take somewhat longer to complete?

[Hawseman]

This is the way I see media testing.....members may correct me as needed. -sorry it's so long...it's not a short subject.

Readback tests are more of a pass-fail, while the speed tests show a better representation of the quality of the disk. There is really no need to do a speed test if it fails a read back test. That disk is going to have issues. If it passes (all green), you can check the quality of the disk by running a speed test. This is the way I check media quality with speed testing:

Generally, I use a full burn (4.38gb) and test on a drive that ISN'T the drive I used to burn on. Dvd burners will be the most forgiving, while dvd-rom drives will give you an honest, unbiased result (much more representative of a standalone player).

RESULTS:
If the graph is relatively linear (smooth and rising), the disk is very good. If there are jagged drops, the disk may not be bad, but the test drive is struggling to read the media. Of course, if the test cannot complete...it's junk.

Most subpar media most commonly have balancing issues (outer edge or last 300kb or so, see www.nomorecoasters.com). Speed testing is an excellent way to separate the excellent media from the mediocre. As the drive climbs to max speed, the end of the disk is tested at high readback speeds. This tests the (usually) weakest part of most disks at the maximum read speed...double wammy. If it passes without spin down (no jagged drops), it's very good media.

I feel that the best quality media is crucial in its longevity. Just by the normal handling of burned media, you are going to introduce additional readback error (small scratches, fingerprints, dirt, etc.).....especially at the outside edge of the disk. These additional errors may push mediocre readable media into the non-readable category.

I now use Kprobe on my Liteon burner to give me an even better look at the quality of my media...that's a whole nother ball game.

Make sense? or am I babbling like a drunk.....

[babyboo]

Thanks again...I have actually tried Kprobe, however it doesn't seem to recognize my Lite-On 811S. It shows all of my virtual drives OK but my Lite-On 811s just show as a string of numbers. I tried it anyway by selecting the numeric string and the test showed an incredible amount of PI/PO errors on what I have found to be a perfectly playable disk and error free in DVDINFOPRO. I assume Kprobe isn't working properly since it didn't officially recognize my drive as a Lite-On (When selecting Disk Info tab the drive is identified as a DVDRW but not as a Lite-On)