Weird write problem: end of movie corrupted

[doctorj10011]

I am making backups with DVDXCopy using Memorex x2 burner, and recently the end of the movie has some corruption so that it starts to stutter ond freeze up , and finally crashes. This only happens at the very end of the movies. is this the burner going bad? or bad sectors of my HD? weird. It has been working fine for about a year, and this is new. Happened on about 5 discs.
Thanks!
DoctorJ in NYC

[hech54]

Usually that means bad media(DVDR's).
I knew a Dr. J once...he was a dentist..

[bazooka]

It is just like hech said.

You have bad discs.

[doctorj10011]

crap, sure thing? I just bought 100 discs about 2 wks ago.
doctorJ, not a dentist

[fritzi93]

Recommend you get DVDinfoPRO, freeware version available. All kinds of useful info you can get with it, one of the most important being MEDIA CODE. Brand means next to nothing, it's who manufactured the disc that matters.

Also, try DVDShrink, free. In preferences, you can set custom size. (Can you do that in XCopy?). DVDs with the symptoms you describe have problems with the dye being unevenly spread at the edge of the disc. So towards the end of the movie you get glitches. It's possible to get some worthwhile use out of your inferior media by not burning to the edge. Hence you set a smaller "custom size", such as 4200 MB or 4000MB if necessary.

Then buy better media next time. Check over there. <---

Good luck.

[lordsmurf]

www.nomorecoasters.com

[doctorj10011]

The discs are from Americal, and here's what they say about them:
Reduced $3 per 100-Pak - Prodisc 1x-8x White Inkjet Printable DVD-R with AZO Dye, No Stacking Ring Hub Printable, for General Type PC DVD Writers or Home DVD Recorders, Certified Grade A by Pioneer Test Lab, in Spindles
Pioneer test lab? the Memorex burner is I believe a Pioneer product, so I thought. . .
crap.
DoctorJ in NYC

[fritzi93]

The discs are from Americal, and here's what they say about them:
Reduced $3 per 100-Pak - Prodisc 1x-8x White Inkjet Printable DVD-R with AZO Dye, No Stacking Ring Hub Printable, for General Type PC DVD Writers or Home DVD Recorders, Certified Grade A by Pioneer Test Lab, in Spindles
Pioneer test lab? the Memorex burner is I believe a Pioneer product, so I thought. . .
crap.
DoctorJ in NYC

Hmm, if you check under DVD Media ratings, some Prodisc is good, some mixed, others poor. But your standalone enters in the equation as well. Try one with the method I suggested and see.

Most people here recommend Taiyo-Yuden as being most trouble-free. Which is not to say you couldn't find a cheaper disc that works well with YOUR burner, player, etc. My Optorite does CMC just fine at 4200, everybody says they're crap, and they're probably right.

It comes down to finding what works for you. LordSmurf's site should be required reading.

[hech54]

Try using something like DVDShrink too. Not sure about what you use (Dr. J) but....DVDShrink gives you the ability to bit a BIT less on the blank DVDR. That may solve your problem until you solve your media problem.
Look into the settings on your software to see if you can NOT pack the DVDR to the rim....so to speak....might help. I do it all of the time regardless of what media I use.

[doctorj10011]

I will try to shrink the files a bit. DVDXCopy on advanced lets you control the amount of compression.
But I am thinking of trying to return these discs as defective. They are defective, no?
DoctorJ

[hech54]

Just make sure the output size is affected by the compression changes you make. In DVDShrink those two features are separated totally....well....almost totally.
If they are defective....so are 90% of my CHEAPO Princo discs. They really don't burn well to the end......I only use them for non-essential backups.

[mats.hogberg]

Compress down to 4-4.2 GB. That should avoid the troublesome outer parts of the disc, that's the hallmark of bad/low quality media.

/Mats

[doctorj10011]

I checked these discs with DVDInfo. they were sold as Prodisc, but DVDInfo reports them as MCC. Counterfeits?

[hech54]

Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. - NOT one of my personal faves but I believe some Prodisc use that factory/brand....sort of like Memorsux and a box of chocolates....you never know what's inside.
I don't buy Memorsux either.

[lordsmurf]

I tend to wonder about the media simply because it came from Americal.