Data DVD-R's Burned On DRU500 But Unreadable On NEC-3520a !

[unloopme]

I guess the subject says it all. I burned some backup data DVD-R's on a Sony DRU500 and when I went to read them on my NEC-3520a, it wouldn't read them.

Actually, it didn't read the "mixed" burns(containing program folders,pics,mp3,etc.) but it opened up the discs I burned with just video files(mpeg,avi) on ithem.

Any thoughts on this subject?
Could it be a driver/firmware issues?
I had read many glowing reviews on the NEC-3520a and it's ability to read and decrypt "anything thrown at it" so this leaves a little bit confused. I bought the drive from newegg, OEM.

[steve2713]

I doubt it has to do with the NEC so much as how you 'structured' the DVDs that aren't being seen (especially since it has no issue with some discs). Sounds like you may have burned them with poor compatibility, what program did you burn them with?

[unloopme]

I used 'CDBurnerXP Pro' to burn them. I didn't really look for, or see any compatibility settings. I just used the "wizard" to make them. Drag, drop, and burn.

[steve2713]

Hrmm, I've never even heard of that program, not familiar with it.

Did you read the reviews of the program on here? It only got a 5.0 rating thus far, and multiple users have pointed out that their discs are not compatible and cannot be read. It definitely sounds like an issue with the way that the program is burning the discs. I've had good luck with Nero for data type discs, I use Decrypter for DVD Video discs. Maybe if you could get ahold of Nero, you can buy Nero Express or whatever it is called online for $5 or less(!), so that may be an option you should consider (I just 'bought' a copy of it for FREE, just pay for shipping, but I just added it to part of an order for free ).

[unloopme]

I guess you get what you pay for, I payed nothing and got nothing

However, I have been able to read them all fine on the DRU500. So I guess the program isn't a total bust if you read from where you burned. But I'm definitely going to invest in some better burn software.
Thanks for the replies.

[steve2713]

I'd just be careful using that program at this point, you may have a headache reading the discs down the road if you need to get anything off of them. Even if you'd burned the discs with the NEC, there's no guarantee that even the NEC would be able to read them, strange as it sounds. For a free program, you might want to look at burnatonce or deepburner, they'll probably give you more reliable results.

[unloopme]

Thanks for the advice.

On another note. Maybe you, or someone else can recommend some kind of tool that will gage a drives ability to rip discs. Maybe provide stats like accuracy and speed...anything out there like that?

[steve2713]

I don't know of any head to head comparison list, that sort of thing. A good way to compare drives is to do transfer rate tests of the same disc and compare the results between drives. It'll show the read speed and if the disc is difficult to read, the drives will show how well they fare.

If you read around, there's general opinions on what is a good and what is a bad reader. I believe the NEC 3520 is considered a decent reader, both in speed and ability to extract marginal discs. NEC's older drives were not so great by comparison.

I will say that I've got about 10 burners and dvd-rom drives, and my Toshiba 5112 burner is the best reader of poor discs by FAR of any of my drives. It doesn't read fast, but it has been able to read several discs that all other drives were unable to read completely (due to read errors).

[dcsos]

The SONY DRIVE shoulda come with some kinda bundled software , NO?
Even if its ROXIO easy cd creator
it will beat out
WINDOWS wizard..
Watch out, as if your SONY DRU fails, nothing may ever read those files you burned using that "WIZARD" ever again!!!!!

NO!!!!! AAARGH..don't use that software that constantly nags you about files its cached that you couldn't find if you were copernicus!!!!
YOU HAVE FILES TO BURN TO CD indeed!!!!
(and I can't help you it should say!)