An Ole' Goodie that Keeps Coming Around

[nickelzy]

I know this issue has been discussed, in a lot of different forms, on this forum but I have sort of hit a wall with my understanding of this problem. When I first began burning discs I kept encountering the often heard problem of freezing/skipping towards the end of the disc. Then I changed some things in how I copied my discs and for the next 125 or so discs that I burned, everything worked beautifully. However, just the other day I realized that I'm having a different problem that I was unaware of until recently. Although I'm not experiencing any problems with freezing/skipping, the discs that I burn now, for whatever reason, now wont't play in my Sony stand-alone dvd player and will only play in my Toshiba player. The first large bulk of copying I did, I never had this problem. However, as I go back and test the last 50 or so discs that I've burned, most play fine in my Toshiba but don't even read in my Sony. The media is the same, the burner is the same and the method of backing them up is the same (nothing has changed that I'm aware of).

In order to try and eliminate this problem, I figured I'd try replacing my, once very steady and dependable Memorex printable dvd+r's, with some TY02 8x printables. However, the last 5 that I've burned have the same problem. However there is one small quirk - two of the five did actually work when using Nero instead of Record Now. I don't know if the software has anything to do with it (since I haven't tested enough of them) but I'm just wondering since I've now tried Memorex, Riteks and TY and they all have issues - what could be the problem. The only thing left in my mind is that either the software is giving me issues with compatibility of my stand-along dvd players (which I don't know if that is very likely) or if it's perhaps my burner (which I really hope not because I don't have the cash right now to replace it!) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[MackemX]

what did you use to backup the DVD's in the first place?

people just like to say 'it's the media' but Sony's are notorious for being fussy with DVD structure also aswell as media. Things such as backup method used (stripping warnings) along with media dye type/quality and burning software can give mixed playback results and even your burner could affect it

[nickelzy]

Not sure if I understand correctly, why does it matter what I did in the first place (that didn't work). However what I have been doing over the past year has been working wonderfully, except lately.

I'm just trying to understand if the software could influence this - because I just burned another TY dvd-r and it didn't work on my sony (but did on my Toshiba) and I burned it using Record Now. However, then I tried using Nero, and it works on both. I've got to do more testing to figure this out, but just curious to what people think. I'm going to now stick my old media (the Memorex DVD+r's in and try using Nero and see if they too work). That ought to tell me if the software is in fact making a difference.

[MackemX]

some backup software can create non compliant Discs depending on what you do to them. Even ripping the DVD can be the source of an issue. Some players like Sony just barf on anything it finds strange but I'm sure burning software deals with the files differently also. You can indeed get different results using different burning software and many have posted Nero 'sucks' yet many say it's never failed them. I've been involved in a few flame wars regarding Nero as it's always worked fine for me and most issues I had were self inflicted. The hardest part is finding an overall combination of the whole process to get a successfully working method for yourself

nothing to do with you , but some people in forums don't seem to accept is that what works for you may not work for the next guy no matter what they do and get quite upset about it . I've decided to grow up now and try not to get involved in the 'best' flame wars

[FulciLives]

Try burning with DVD Decrypter. It is free and the best burning software there is ... yes it burns as well as rips.

DVD Decrypter will only burn from an ISO IMAGE file. If you need to create an ISO IMAGE file then use the CLASSIC version of ImgTools. Again use the CLASSIC version as there is more than one version.

That will pretty much create as compatable a DVD disc as you can get unless you are doing something odd like MackemX hinted ... like stripping out unwanted extras with IfoEdit or even DVDShrink but who knows ... you seem like you want to keep all that a secret.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
NERO sucks at DVD burning

[nickelzy]

OK GUYS - interesting situation - here is what I've found so far with A LOT of different testing:

It doesn't seem to matter what media I use when using Record Now (they all - ritek, TY, memorex - act the same. They work on my Toshiba player but not sony player.

HOWEVER, when I use Nero, all three discs work on BOTH players. Hmmm, I never would have thought that my software burning software would be the culprit. Oh well, I guess my days of using Record Now are over.

One other note... this wasn't the case earlier (last year). I backed up about 100 discs using Record Now and they ALL worked on both of my players. Why there is an issue now, I don't understand. The only thing I can think of is that my problems began just about the same time I started using a new desktop computer. I also loaded a copy of Record Now that someone gave me (but I "think" that it was the same version). I don't know, I'm basically grasping for any kind of explanation right now.

[MackemX]

don't worry about it as there is no easy explanation . If there was the person who could answer it would be the best support available

RNM works for some and not for others and the same can be said about Nero. It will probably depend on the system setup and you say you have changed your PC. You may indeed be using a different RNM install (maybe the same) but that doesn't mean it will work the same

you could do a binary compare of the burnt DVD's (create 2 very small ones for testing) and see if the RNM files are different to the files Nero produces. If they are the same then it may just be the way the files are placed on the DVD

what happens when they don't play in your Sony, does it display 'disc dirty'? or does it just stop randomly during playback?

[nickelzy]

When I play the dvd's burned by Record Now on my Sony DVD player, they simply just aren't read. The player doesn't seem to be able to recognize them at all. Oh well, I agree with what you stated about not being overly concerned with WHY you're having the problem as long as you find a solution because it could be so many different factors. It's just very curious to me since this method use to produce flawless dvd's. However, good news for me is that apparently (at least so far) by using Nero, I'm back to making good dvd's again.

[MackemX]

I got an unexpected free Sony DVD player with my out of stock TV due to an offer that came up that I didn't know about while waiting for new stock

I soon found out how fussy Sony's could really be after doing many tests. Needless to say it was placed in the free adverts paper and sold as new within the week for a nice sum (which also reduced the price of the TV )