Ritek Discs - Could it Really Be?

[nickelzy]

I got a 100 pack of Ritek G04 Printables from Rima.com a few days ago. I burned about 30 discs and only 5 worked, so I gave up. I just figured that my Digital Research burner is one of the few that isn't compatible with the Ritek discs. However, tonight I had an opportunity to try a Sony DRU-530a drive. I installed the drive in my computer and then started burning. However, to my surprise, I experienced the same problem that I did with my Digital Research burner! It burns ok, but when I try and play in my dvd player, it get's rejected and gives me an error message.

Granted, I haven't installed the new 2.0a firmware for the Sony drive, but I doubt that this would make a difference. Could it really be that BOTH of the 50 packs that I got are bad? When the first pack didn't work, I opened up the second pack and same problem. Hard to believe and very disappointing because I REALLY like the print quality of these discs! Guess I'll just go back to my Memorex DVD+R discs which haven't yet let me down.

[adam]

Are you saying that these disks are bad simply because they don't play on your dvd player? The best media in the world may still not play on a particular dvd player, while the crappiest media in the world will. Compatibility with dvd media is still very much a hit or miss thing. A disk is bad if the burn fails, the data gets corrupted, or there are too many reading errors. A disk may also be bad if it is incompatible with too many players. But a disk or brand of disk is not bad simply because it doesn't play on your particular dvd player. From what I have seen Riteks generally have very good compatibility...just not with your player apparantly. And you say you usually use +r's. Well maybe your player just has poor support for -r's.

This is what sample packs are for, so you can determine what brands/types your dvd player supports before you buy the 100 pack spindles.

[nickelzy]

Come on now, don't take me for a complete idiot. I didn't think it was necessary to state that I tried them in 4 separate dvd players (all different manufacturers), but I guess it was. It ain't the dvd players man, trust me on that one. Something else is wrong - and after reading another thread, my problem isn't as uncommon as I originally thought (others have complained about getting complete bad batches as well).

And by the way, thanks for all of the education, that was all stuff that I've never read or heard before... (yeah right). I know all of what you said, and I agree with you, but we're not talking about ONE dvd player - how about 4. Anyway, regardless of what you say, I know it isn't my dvd players.

[adam]

Come on now, don't take me for a complete idiot. I didn't think it was necessary to state that I tried them in 4 separate dvd players (all different manufacturers), but I guess it was.

Of course it was necessary. And this still doesn't really say much. A bad disk is one with high errors, not just one that doesn't play on any dvd players that you happen to have access to.

You my friend have a serious attitude problem. BTW, Rima has a great customer service department. Tell them your problem and they will at least give you store credit...but I guess you already knew that.

[nickelzy]

Adam -

The only one actually acting like an idiot would be... (well you get my point). As for a serious attitude problem, ok, you must be right since you appear to be right with everything else. You can rant and rave all you want and try and educate me (since I have so much to learn from you) about what constitutes a bad disc. However, the bottom line is THEY DON'T WORK IN FOUR SEPARATE PLAYERS. So again, say what you want. But if that seems ok to you, then I've got a stack I'll sell you at a good price. I'll even give you the jackass discount, only 'cause I know you.

But seriously, I don't want to get into a pissing contest with you, that's not why I frequent this forum. So if you have to respond with more rhetoric about how I have a bad attitude or I don't understand, then have it. Otherwise, just let it go. I'd really like to hear from others who may actually be able to share some HELPFUL information.

[jaxxboss]

I farted

[nickelzy]

That's a hell of a lot better response than I've gotten after calling the Ritek discs "bad". Man, for now on, I'll just call them the "good discs that don't work".

I just farted too - time for bed.

[lordsmurf]

Adam is giving good advice, so quit being a rude know-it-all...

More advice is this:
1. The info on the disc may not be DVD compliant. It may be many things, including bad authoring, wrong format, region error (region free does not HAVE to play).
2. Could also be the firmware change.
3. Could be the SONY burner (not the best hardware around, FYI).
4. Could be the discs are bad too. But given that the burn went good, and you repeated this "problem" on a number of discs -- which is known to be good at least 80% of the time on average -- this is the most unlikely error in the entire scenario.
5. Could be the players fault.
6. Test your discs, www.nomorecoasters.com has info on that.

[adam]

It seems that for once, me and Lordsmurf are in complete agreement.

BTW it looks like your smurf farted.

[nickelzy]

Smurf -

A know it all??? What the hell are you talking about? You can call me a lot of things but a know it all isn't one of them. Anyway, like I said earlier, I don't need to waste time with this childish crap - you and Adam can hold hands in agreement if you like - I could care less.

In regards to THE ISSUE:

I do very much appreciate your advice and the info that you gave. I think the bottom line is that I've got discs that don't give me problems (Memorex DVD+R's) and these Riteks do. I've tried multiple dvd players and 2 different burners. Both burners do great with other media, but just not the Riteks. My dvd players do great with other media, but not the Riteks. And please understand, I'm not saying all Riteks - all I can comment on are the ones that I got from Rima.com. The only reason that I tried the Ritek's in the first place was because I got a new R200 printer and wanted to try them (since at that time, I hadn't used Memorex printables before). However, now that I'm doing well using Memorex, I'll just continue with them.

As to your specific points...

1. Nah, not after that many tries (and when I use another media, it works just fine). Wouldn't make sense.

2. I haven't done anything with the firmware. And besides that, maybe you didn't read from above, but I also tried in my other burner - same problem. So it's not a firmware issue.

3. I don't buy that one - I've also tried on another burner - same problem

4. The most plausible explanation - which is what I think is the case

5. The players fault??? I tried on 4 different dvd players - all different manufacturers. I don't think so.

Like I said, I do appreciate your suggestions, but I guess I'll just send these suckers back to rima.com and stick with my new Memorex DVD+R's.

[SoCalMK]

Ritek's are going to hell lately. My Princos are giving me less trouble.

[jbelder]

I got a 100 pack of Ritek G04 Printables from Rima.com a few days ago. I burned about 30 discs and only 5 worked, so I gave up. I just figured that my Digital Research burner is one of the few that isn't compatible with the Ritek discs. However, tonight I had an opportunity to try a Sony DRU-530a drive. I installed the drive in my computer and then started burning. However, to my surprise, I experienced the same problem that I did with my Digital Research burner! It burns ok, but when I try and play in my dvd player, it get's rejected and gives me an error message.

Granted, I haven't installed the new 2.0a firmware for the Sony drive, but I doubt that this would make a difference. Could it really be that BOTH of the 50 packs that I got are bad? When the first pack didn't work, I opened up the second pack and same problem. Hard to believe and very disappointing because I REALLY like the print quality of these discs! Guess I'll just go back to my Memorex DVD+R discs which haven't yet let me down.

Ritek G04 have been going down hill for awhile. Thats why I quit using them.

[QuaiBoy]

Ritek G04 have been going down hill for awhile. Thats why I quit using them.

Good, more for me.
-Evan-

[tkamin]

I usually don't bother to comment on small wars between "know-it-all's" (oops...) and forum managers, but i must say that i've been to quite a few forums and have seen my share of a#@hole moderators and senior forum members, but these guys here (smurf and adam) seem to be really decent, down to earth serious people, they don't fart around, so please keep your cocky attitude to yourself lad...

[Hawseman]

@nickelzy

We've had this discussion before.

I think I've also said something here.

7 weeks ago, You stated here that you have had trouble with Ritek and were not going try them again......you bought 100 more????

Please, check LordSmurf's site. His classification of media is applicable to printables as well. Riteks are harder to classify. There are too many versions out there....and I think their printables are lower than 2nd class.

I strongly suggest to use 1st class media....especially for printable white matte media.

[smearbrick1]

Sounds like an authoring issue to me but:

Did you try running any one of many error checking programs on your discs. Maybe you did, and I missed it because I zoned. If the report comes back clean, you have an authoring issue.

Have you tried burning this specific project on another brand of media?

[nickelzy]

Hey Hawseman - you wrote...

7 weeks ago, You stated here that you have had trouble with Ritek and were not going try them again......you bought 100 more????

Nah, this is the same thread that I started 7 weeks ago. For some reason, someone dug the thread up and wanted to keep it alive. Well anyway, since that time there is NOW WAY I would try Ritek discs again. Nothing really against Ritek, but after my experience, why on earth would I try more especially since my Memorex printables have been producing flawless discs for me. I'm a happy man now (ever since I stopped attaching sticky labels to my discs and started using the R200, stopped using Nero and started using RecordNow, and stopped using Ritek discs and started using Memorex DVD+R printables). In the last 120-140 discs, with the exception of a couple of user caused errors, I haven't had a single problem!