Checklist on how to avoid general DVD burning problems?

[bek]

I'm on my second DVD burner, and compared to CD burners, they seem problematic. There are lots of general problems that seem to pop up occasionally and stop me from happily burning my video DVDs. For example, I recently installed XP SP2, and found that the default settings on the "Recording" tab conflicted with my third party software, and I needed to disable the XP recording features. Before that, I had an ASPI setup problem that I'm sure somebody ran into before me.

Does anyone know of a general FAQ or checklist dealing with avoiding burner problems? I'd like something I could breeze through and check an item at a time. (I know, I'm probably just wishing.

Thanks for any links or advice.

[normcar]

I suggest reading the following, especially for the DMA setting:
http://www.mrbass.org/dvdnewbie/

[blinky88]

Hi Bek,

Firstly, DVD blank mediia is more fragile than CD media, so handle the blanks carefully. Sometimes the slightest mark on the surface will stop the DVD playing as it should ..and.. at times it may not play at all.

Turn off as many programs as possible running in the background.

I burn at x4 regardless of the speed of the media and rarely have a problem.

Do not multitask whilst burning is in process.

Use DVD Shrink to encode, re-author and shrink the DVD to a single ISO file onto your HDD. Note: The drive you are sending the image to 'has' to be formatted NTFS, if the drive is formatted Fat32, chose ISO images in 1g blocks.

2. Use DVD Decrypter to burn the ISO image.

A simple, quick, 2 stage exercise that will ensure trouble free backups .....
.... More importantly, both applications are FREE.

[bek]

Thanks, blinky. I was thinking of something a bit more technical, though.

[blinky88]

Here is a guide using the two applications mentioned earlier that will help you get it right the first time

Open Shrink and goto the 'Edit' menu and choose Preferences.
Preferences: Check all 3 boxes.
Preview: Uncheck. (Do not check the previev box whilst burning.
Output Files: All boxes checked except 'Split VOB files into 1GB chunks'.
Stream Selections: Choose English under Audio and Subpicture. then, choose AC3 in the audio field.
FileI/O: Check 'Enable overlapped I/O and Check RPC2 drive region code'. Uncheck the other two boxes.

Now click the re-author tab, then double click on the drive containing the DVD.

Drag Title 1 from the right panel into the left panel under 'DVD Structure',
then click the tab 'Compression Settings' and delete all items not needed.
You may find 2 or 3 boxes checked under Audio, only one is required.
I always check No. 1 and uncheck the rest. If the picture is in English and no sub-titles are required, uncheck all boxes under Subpicture.

Then click on the |><| to the left of the word 'Video' and edit the
picture. Choose where you want to start and finish, keeping
in mind what you are trying to achieve is to create an ISO image as
small as you can get it.

Next, click backup.
Under 'Target Device' choose ISO image file, then select the drive you are using to store the image. DVD Region is 'Region Free' by default, leave it that way.
Quality Settings: Check 'Perform deep Analysis'. The other box is 'Sharp' by default', leave it that way for compression rates of 75% or higher and use smooth for compression rates of less than 75%.
Options, uncheck 'Run backup in low priority mode'.
Now click OK and the ISO image will be created.

When completed, open Decrypter.
Under the 'Mode Menu' choose ISO Write, then click on the image of the HDD to disc below. I use 4/8x blank media and I choose to burn 'ALL' at 4x. (15 minutes or less)

Hope this info is what you are looking for.