Is my authoring software making my players lock up at 1h15m?

[average joe]

Need some advice..classic question, but maybe I can get a new slant on some answers on this!

I have tried all DVD-r media, and currently use Ritex 8x.
I rip with DVD Shrink
I use a Lite-on drive, firmware all updated
I burn with Nero5.5.10 (DVD-video setting)
I have 2 APEX AD-2500s because they play SVCD too, they are about 2 years old I think, at least when I BOUGHT them.
I have a portable Audiovox DVD player
I have a Panasonic player

The problem: On all my burned DVDs, at the 1h 15m mark (approximately), the APEX and AUDIOVOX players lock up, stutter, whatever, you know what I mean. It will hardly ever play past them. The Panasonic seems OK.

I back up A LOT of videos, and this is really annoying now. SO...

Can anyone recommend a fix besides trying them in my friend's players? In fact, after I make them for my friends, a few of them complain of the same thing which makes me think that it is NOT the player

1) Will burning with DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink change that? Hopefully not because I like removing VOBs on startup with VOBrator.
2) In searching the forums I have also seen some advice that once the DVD backup is over 4.1G or so (since DVD Shrink maximizes space to the end of the DVDr) that some players' lasers get finicky. I would like to remain using Shrink because DVDxCOPY makes the files much smaller, and does not utilize the full 4.5G when backing up, making for more compression/pixelation when playing back. I haven't seen a mass exodus from DVD Shrink because it uses the full capacity of a disc when compressing to a DVDr
3) could it REALLY be my players, the APEX and Audiovox portable?
4) Am I being stupid by making you read all this if 1 player out of 3 seems OK and your answer is "forget all the other ones except for the Panasonic"

[mats.hogberg]

Media issue. More errors at edge of disc. Solution? Make max 4.2 GB DVD. Set DVDShrink to custom size.

/Mats

[average joe]

Simple and to the point, thanks. Follow-up: when you say "media" error, do you mean that my players' inability to READ the disc, or are their errors on the end of the DVDr because of the disc's inability to have error-free data burned to it? I though Riteks were stable that's why I went with them.

Thanks

[mats.hogberg]

I's always (it seems) a combination. Take my latest 2 batches of "Platinum" DVD-R. First batch was CMC. Plays perfectly in my PS2. My standalone wont recognize them at all. Second batch was Ritek G05. Plays on both PS2 and on my standalone, that's been very picky lately, not even playing all commercial DVDs.
I think Ritek has lost its previously good reputation, so what I mean is the latter - the media has read errors at the outer edge (a hallmark of bad media). Some players can handle it - some can't.

/Mats

[cyflyer]

though Riteks were stable that's why I went with them.

.....WRONG

Classic answer: Dump the Riteks, get something better. That is your problem, I guarantee you.

[guns1inger]

I have been using G04 and are currently also using G05 Ritek disks. I have never had a problem with them. I burn at 4x to the edge of the disk, and they always work for me.

Fujifilm TY01 had a 50% coaster rate on the same setup.

Bad media is media that doesn't work for you, regardless of brand or manufacturer.

[mats.hogberg]

Bad media is media that doesn't work for you, regardless of brand or manufacturer.

Amen!
/Mats