Compatability is a bugger.

[AlecWest]

I've finally found a DVD player that won't play my Memorex DVD-R 4x burns ... the Sony DVP-S560D. When inserted, the player sits there and says "no disc." I thought I was out of the woods on Sonys since a lady I did a PAL-to-NTSC conversion for has a Sony (model unknown) and the discs played on her model right away.

Then again, maybe it wasn't the media (sigh).

I looked through the user reports on that DVD player and one guy in there says with some conviction that the culprit is Nero ... that Nero burns are not 100% redbook-compatible burns and that the Sony DVP-S560D simply won't play a DVD unless it "is" 100% redbook-compatible. His suggestion was to use Sonic DVDit, not Nero.

Is this redbook compatability problem for real? And if so, does anyone know if Nero is doing anything about this issue? I was about to just go out and buy better media. But, if what this guy says is true ... and if I continue to use Nero ... the new media won't work any better than my Memorex media.

P.S. I'm spoiled. I use an APEX AD-1100W player that plays "anything" with a shiny surface on it (grin). So, these media and/or redbook compatability issues are a bit new to me.

[reboot]

Although I can't really answer, I have a friend with a Sony (model unknown), and his will not play any of my dvd-r, burned with Nero or not. I tried dvd+r, same problem. I too use anything with a shiny surface , and no problems on all the cheap offbrand players I've tried.

[pippas]

I have a friend whose Cyberhome player will not play any discs burnt with Nero -- take the same DVD folders, the same media, make an ISO and burn with DVD Decrytper--- plays fine on both my players, and his -- just seems more 'robust'.

So I just don't burn with Nero any more --- makes life easier!

[p_l]

How about burning the ISO with Nero? That's what I usually do, with no problems so far. I'm sure burning the ISO with DVD Decrypter is fine, too. Or with Alcohol 120%. Anyone ever have an ISO burned with one of these programs not work, while it worked burned with another? I mean, an ISO should be an ISO, regardless of what you burn it with, shouldn't it?

[AlecWest]

I have a friend whose Cyberhome player will not play any discs burnt with Nero -- take the same DVD folders, the same media, make an ISO and burn with DVD Decrytper--- plays fine on both my players, and his -- just seems more 'robust'.

So I just don't burn with Nero any more --- makes life easier!

Hmmm ... then maybe there is something to the redbook-incompatability claim. Interresting. I like the DVD Decrypter idea better since it is free software.

[garryheather]

I have never had any problems with Nero.

My Sony (a 535D) is a right bugger with media, though - I have posted a list of media several times before that work with that player, since I use it for compatibility testing as it's such a nightmare. Generally if a disc plays in that, it will play in anything... although I have come across a Cyberhome and Wharfdale before now which was even worse and wouldn't play anything recordable.

Sony players have improved over the years as far as recordable media compatibility goes, but even those that say they will play such media have a disclaimer in their manuals that it will depend on the media and to only use high quality media.