can NEC 3520 read 2x DVD-RW?

[broadway]

I need to get a new DVD burner.

I purchased the re-badged BenQ 1620, but it can't read my DVD-RW. The light stays on but nothing happens. My old DVD drive were able to read these DVD-RW with no problems.

Before I buy, I need to know that the NEC can read 2x DVD-RW.

[JustPlainDon]

I have a NEC 3520A and the little fella can read and write everything I've thrown at it (including DVD-RW and DVD+RW).

L8r,
JustPlainDon

[lordsmurf]

The Pioneer 109 will read your JVC RW discs, no problem whatsoever. Same hardware here.

[samijubal]

The NEC 3500 reads DVD-RW fine for me.

[broadway]

As a follow-up, I tried 2 more Fuji DVD-RW in the BenQ for a total of 4 tried. the drive was able to read only 1. The disks are still good because I checked them out again the JVC DR-M10.

I hadn't expected this problem. My LG drive that I bought last year had no troubles reading any of the DVD-RW disks.

@Samjubal ---- the NEC is able to read your DVD-RW from your standalone recorder?

[steve2713]

broadway, I'm guessing the problem discs might have been burned as VR discs, not standard DVD Video discs.

NO DVD burner that I know of should have problems reading a -RW disc, given it has a standard file format written on it. VR mode -RW discs are not your average disc, I'm guessing that's your problem. There are threads on here that talk about what programs will see the video contents of these discs, search around.

[samijubal]

Yes, they are Fuji discs recorded on the DR-M10.

[broadway]

broadway, I'm guessing the problem discs might have been burned as VR discs, not standard DVD Video discs.

NO DVD burner that I know of should have problems reading a -RW disc, given it has a standard file format written on it. VR mode -RW discs are not your average disc, I'm guessing that's your problem. There are threads on here that talk about what programs will see the video contents of these discs, search around.

No. These were definitely burned as DVD-Video discs. They have video that I transfered over from my VCR. With the JVC DVD recorder I formated them as DVD-Video.

@samijubal -- thanks. I am going to order one from Newegg. I'd order the Pioneer but it's more $.

[broadway]

Received the dvd burner today from Newegg.com

Installed it. No problems.
Read the DVD-RW discs without any problems unlike the problem I was having with the rebadged BenQ 1620 that I bought from Staples.

[samijubal]

If I remember right it will read the discs done in VR mode too, it's been awile since I tried, so I'm not sure on that one.

[broadway]

Yes, it can read my DVD-RWs some formatted in DVD-Video mode and some in VR mode.

It burned at 6x my Fuji 4x DVD-R. Not sure whether this is a good thing or not.

So far very happy with my purchase.

[sullen]

Man, that search button works great! I am having the same issue with 2x DVD-RWs recorded in Video mode on the DR-M10 and finalized, not being read on the Benq 1620. Trying to simply look at the content in My Computer yields at Corruption Error. DVD Decryptor says it is a Parsing issue. The only recourse I have found is to rip these discs using my old LiteOn DVD-Rom in an external enclosure.

I am using the latest G7P9 firmware.

[broadway]

Yeah, I upgraded to the latest official firmware G7P9 from the Pacific Digital website in hopes it would fix the problem. It didn't, so the dvd burner went back to Staples.

I didn't want to bother with using two drives even though my LG-4082B still could read the disks even thought it cannot burn DVDs anymore. No fault of the LG, it was my stupid actions which broke LG.

Anyway, the NEC 3520A is able to read my DVD-RW disks.

[lordsmurf]

The "magic" and "beloved" BenQ 1620 drive not able to read all media?
Gee, there's a shocker for me.

I can add this to my list of reasons that drive sucks.

I'm glad you were able to narrow down the error. Good job.

[sullen]

The "magic" and "beloved" BenQ 1620 drive not able to read all media?
Gee, there's a shocker for me.

I can add this to my list of reasons that drive sucks.

I'm glad you were able to narrow down the error. Good job.

I bought this because it was supposed to be reliable and affordable. I personally don't have a hard on for this particular drive. If I had the cash or the patience I would have got the Pioneer. I still have my 104 in another computer.

One thing I do have to give this drive is it's ripping speed. Peeked at 15.9 on this thing the other day with an average at 11.2. Better than my dedicated LiteOn DVD-ROM ever did.

[Paul_G]

The 3520 is a fantastic reader (especially using unofficial firmware). i have a benq and it is a crap reader but a good burner, if i knew how poor of a reader it really is i would have never purchased the drive.

[henry_nettles]

I still like my Benq 1620, and it is generally considered to be a fairly good reader. Not great, but good. I wouldn't know anything about "-RW" media, as I have never owned one, and have no intention of ever doing so. In case I ever do run across one (-RW disc), I will endeaver to remember to read it in one of my other drives.