Newbie to DVD burning - MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!!

[mjvgiese]

All today I've been trying to burn my first DVD backup. My DVD writer is an Emprex DVDRW 1008IM, more commonly known as the BTC DRW 1008IM, I guess. Anyway, I had alot of problems earlier today, but I narrowed that down to being bad media, so I went out and got some FujiFilm DVD+RW's, media code RICOHJPN-W01-01.

After getting the FujiFilm DVD+RW's, I came home and tried to burn the ISO image I created when I ripped my DVD earlier today(with DVD Decrypter). I tried to burn with my trial version of Nero 6, but right before the burn process started, the disc tray opened, so of course it didn't burn. So I decided to try DVD Decrypter to burn, and everything went great, or at least I thought. It took about 30min to burn, and it finished up fine, but I had it set to "Verify" after it burned. It opened and then closed the disc tray when it got done burning, but before it started to verify. Then when it tried to verify, I got an error, saying:

I/O Error!

Device [1:1:0] DVDRW IDE1008 0055 (E:)

ScsiStatus: 0x02
Interpretation: Check Condition

CDB: 2A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 00
Interpretation: Write (10) - Sectors 0 - 15

Sense Area: 70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 21 00 00 00 00 00
Interpretation: Logical Block Address out of Range
---------------
I decided to try the DVD-RW anyway, hoping it was just a fluke that it gave the error when it tried to verify. I tried the DVD-RW in my Apex 1110W, and after trying to read the disc for several minutes, in finally said "No Disc". I tried it in my Samsung DVD V2000, and I got the same thing. I even tried it in both my DVD-ROM drive in my PC, and in my DVD writer, but neither of them could read it....

Why would DVD Decrypter burn something that is unreadable? Also, I'd like to note that I've burned several VCD's today with this burner using Nero, and they turn out great. It seems to be just DVD's that are the problem.

Any suggestions? I was so excited to get my first DVD writer, but my excitement is quickly dying.
:(

[Faustus]

1st you have to understand, I've seen Burners that Burn CDs fine, but can't read them, or that Can't Burn but Can read. So it IS possible that there might be something wrong with the burner.

As to why decrypter would write something bad, all it does is pass the info you want burned along to the burner, so both the quality of the info as well as codition of the burner AND the media comes into play.

My first suggestion is to make sure the DVD burner is alone on the IDE chain, followed buy a Name brand good quality disk like a small pack of Apple burnables or something else if your a +R only drive. But I wouldn't use RWs for movies.

Beyond that unless someone else has a better suggestion then I might look into maybe there being a problem with the drive.

[mjvgiese]

Thanks for the reply. My burner is actually a Dual Burner, so it (supposedly) can do DVD-R/W and DVD+R/W, along with CD's. The reason I'm trying to use RW's is that I don't want to end up with a bunch of coasters, I'm just using the RW's to test the burns on. My plan was/is to use the RW's for tests, and then once I got it right, to burn onto DVD-R's. If I had been using DVD-R's for each burn instead of the RW's, I'd probably have 5-6 coasters by now.

I think I'll try ripping my movie using my DVD-ROM drive today, and then burning with the DVD burner. Yesterday I did both with the DVD burner.

There are so many people on these forums that have problems with the burn quality or audio sync, etc, but I'll be jumping for joy if I can just burn a DVD that my computer or standalone players will recognize. It seems that it's really not that hard, but my problems baffle me. I wasted a whole weekend about 2 years ago figuring out VCD's, and I was under the immpression that DVD burning is alot easier.

[DVD_Ripper]

1st you have to understand, I've seen Burners that Burn CDs fine, but can't read them, or that Can't Burn but Can read. So it IS possible that there might be something wrong with the burner.

Agreed....

I have a TDK 840G that burns flawless DVD's but can't always read them post burning. Do you have a ROM drive... if not, spend the $40.00 and get one for your machine. Great for ripping DVD when you don't want to tax your Burner.

[jimmalenko]

I wasted a whole weekend about 2 years ago figuring out VCD's, and I was under the immpression that DVD burning is alot easier.

I'm gathering that you learnt that VCD is easy once you know what you're doing ? DVD is the same.

There are so many possible problems with what you have described so far, so I can't give you the be-all and end-all solution, but I've got some things you can try.

You ripped the original DVD with DVD Decrypter to ISO. I'm gathering that the original was a DVD-5 and so the ISO was under 4.377GB.

The next step is the burning phase. If your burner is no good (could possibly just need a firmware upgrade, it does happen) then it's not gonna matter what media you put into it. Then there's the question of - or +. Then there's the question of media.

The next step is the playing stage. It is generally accepted that your PC DVD Drives should play just about everything. Set top boxes have been known to refuse different brands.

All these things could be contributing to each other though, ie. your burner may be a dual format burner, but your set top DVD player may only play - and not +, or it may play DVDR and not DVDRW. Similarly you may find that ripping and then burning the files and folders using Nero instead of creating an ISO might work for you.

I usually test burning data onto a new RW, and then accessing that data using my DVD-ROM. If I can do that I'm confident that all my boys get along.

I would check the DVD Players section to the left to see what people using your player have been able to play.

I would check your burner's manufacturer's website for any firmware updates.

[tekkieman]

First, I will of course, agree with what everyone has said to this point, but to take it a step further, I don't see in your original post if you said you tried the RW in your PC POM or burner to see if it played there. If not, the problem is front end - ripping, shrinking, authoring (re-authoring). If so, the problem is back end - burning (still possible problem even if it plays in PC), media, burner (weak burns), or most likely, DVD player does not support +RW.

[mjvgiese]

I tried ripping (this time with my DVD-ROM) all the files with SmartRipper, and then dragging them all into the Video_TS folder in Nero(I remembered reading how to do this in a guide somewhere). All the time while I'm in Nero my DVD writer is constantly spinning the DVD-RW in the drive, and then it opens the tray, and then closes it again, and then it starts spinning around again. Alot of times I can't even click anywhere because it is so busy doing this. Once I finally get through to the Burn area, I click "Burn", and then it starts the caching of files, it gets through that ok, but as soon as it's done with that the disc tray opens, right before the burn process starts, and then a Nero box pops up saying the burn process failed. I am using a Trial Version of Nero 6, could this be a problem?

I response to some of your questions, I am trying to backup a DVD5, so there is no shrinking involved. I did try the DVD-RW in my PC DVD-ROM and even in the DVD burner, but neither would recognize it. I have checked all three of my players in the DVD players area of this site, and according to that, my two newer players should play DVD-RW's fine.

I have checked about a firmware update, and there is a fairly new firmware release for my burner, but I'm not sure what firmware my burner actually has right now. (I downloaded the "LiveUpdate" program for my burner that is supposed to keep it's firmware updated, but it didn't work. Big surprise....) Anyway, since I don't know what version of firmware I have, would it be a problem if I actually do have the newest one, but I update it anyway?

I have to go run a couple errands right now, if anyone has any suggestions, I'll be happy to try anything when I get back. I don't know enough about this yet to have a good idea of what things to try.....

[mjvgiese]

I just tryed to burn just some data onto my DVD-RW. Just a couple pictures, a small .wav file, etc. I used my trial verson of Nero 6, since I don't have any other burning software right now. It did the same thing as earlier though, it got through the caching of files, but it opens the disc tray right before it starts to burn, and then the burn fails of course, since the DVD-RW isn't in the drive. Could this possibly mean that the drive is faulty/defective? It burns VCD's on CD-RW's great, but I can't get anywhere with DVD's....

Also, this is kind of related, so I thought I'd ask instead of making a new post. I deleted the ISO file that DVD Decrypter made for me yesterday, because I was going to try it again. But now that space is gone from my hard drive. I've heard that when you delete anything over 4gig on XP that you can't get the space back without reformatting. Is this completely true? How do you guys delete your large DVD ISO files without losing that space?

I almost hope this drive is defective. I would hope if it is, then I wouldn't have any problems with a different one.

[oldfolk999]

I understand you used DVD Decrypter to rip a DVD5 (I hope in ISO mode), then use Nero to burn to +RW, WHY??? DVD Decrypter can just burn your ISO image to disk. You save yourself some trouble in using other burn programs.
Just a thought.

[oldfolk999]

One additional thought, why bother using VERIFY. The easiest way to verify is to take the disk created and put in a DVD player and see what happens. Why spend the time and let the computer verify the burn, all it does is to see that it copied all data from one place to another, doesn't guarantee you good burn nor quality.

[mjvgiese]

I updated the firmware for my writer, but it didn't make any difference, I'm still having the same problems.

oldfolk999, in responce to your posts, the reason I'm trying to burn with Nero and not DVD Decrypter is that I did use DVD Decrypter to burn a DVD+RW, but it ended up coming out unreadable, none of my stand alone players or even my PC DVD-ROM or the actual DVD burner could read or recognise it. That's why I'm trying to burn with Nero.

I think I'm done messing with this for the night. I'm going to get the full version of Nero 6 soon, so maybe that will change things. I'm still completely open to any suggestions, though.

[jimmalenko]

I guess the common denominator all along has been the burner. Is it possible to get a friend to burn some video onto both your RWs ?

You could try them in your settop DVD players and your DVD-ROM and see if they play.

[mjvgiese]

jimmalenko, thanks for that suggestion. I had thought about that, but I don't know anyone who has a DVD burner, I'm the first in my little circle to get one. It doesn't really matter now, anyway, because...

I burned a successful dvd today!!! Yip-pee!!!

Okay, it was somewhat successful. I have a couple kinks to work out, but I'm well on the way, I think.

In case anyone is curious, or in case anyone happens to have the same problem sometime down the road, all I did was to get the full version of Nero 6. That trial version from nero.com was pretty buggy I guess. The full version seems much more solid, and it didn't even hesitate burning onto the DVD+RW, it went right at it and was done in about 30min.

But don't worry, this isn't the end of me. ("Oh great", your thinking, right? lol.) I'm going to have a couple questions that only the experts here can answer!