How to reformat DVD-RW discs for stand alone machines?

[roblobster]

I have some DVD-RW that I used to test DVD copy with on my PC. I hardly use them any more.

I just bought a Lite On LVW 5005 stand alone machine but it won't record on these discs ("Invalid Disc" message) even after erasing. Is there a way to make these discs usable on the standalone machine?

[Supreme2k]

Make sure to do a Full Erase (if you're doing a Quick Erase). Otherwise, maybe do another Full Erase just to be sure.

[roblobster]

I've already done a full erase on the machine itself. Do I need to erase it on the PC like with DVD Decrypter? Is there a specific format I need to select or make?

[Supreme2k]

It has been my experience (I have the 5005) that the "erase" on it is more like a Quick Erase, and not a Full. Use Nero or whatever burning software that you have to do a Full Erase/Reformat. It should work after that (again, from my experience).

[roblobster]

The disc erase on that machine takes about 20-30 min. so it seemed like a full erase. The disc prep took at least 1 hr.

Anyway, DVD Decrypter recognized the disc as also empty but I did a full erase just to be sure. Stuck it back in the machine but the screen says "invalid disc". When i try to do anything w/ it, it prompts me to change the disc.

The discs in question previously had DVD movies on it. But I thought as long as I erase it, it should work.

Do I need to reformat the discs? Maybe the machine uses a diff format. If so, what format and how do I do that?

[Cornucopia]

You have DVD-RW discs from your computer.

The Lite-On LVW-5005 can use -RW discs (although it prefers +RW), but they must be in +VR mode. Could be that you originally were using DVD-Video mode or -VR mode. -VR mode is NOT compatible and would have to have the disc re-formatted to +VR. Video mode should be compatible with +VR (actually the other way around), but you never know.

HTH,
Scott

[roblobster]

Can I now convert them to +VR mode then? Or are these states permanent?