tech question about SL dvd-r's

[amichael]

Looking carefully at the datawrite ritek dvd-r G05 and Ridisc (G05 dye) I have noticed a darker very thin cirlce mark about 1 cm in from the centre. What's all that about ?

I normally burn these types of disks (on my Pionner A09) plenty of times without a problem, but recently out of 50 I've had 9 fail with one of 2 problems:
Drive makes plenty of wirling startup noises stays at 1% and then fails to burn and on other occasions it fails (always) at about 8.6%.

Now the reason for my initial question is that my pioneer drive seems to be burning data onto these disks upto that mark on the disk on ALL those occasions ! only once it had not written anything to the disk.

I use nero (v6.6.0.1) to burn (never more than 8 speed, as stated on dvd-r). My Pioneer drive has firmware V1.50. I never have a problem reading disks.

Another point of interest even when the burn is successful is that always when burning dvd-r's the drive seems to be writing fast at the start and then slows right down at about the 8.6% mark then speeds up.

Could this be a bad batch of disks (coincidentally 2 different brands) or the drive playing up ? or some software glitch somewhere ?

One could fail and the next dvd-r could be fine. i.e the problem is not consitant.

[waheed]

I have noticed a darker very thin cirlce mark about 1 cm in from the centre. What's all that about ?

This is a bad burn or bad media.

For more info, see http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

You will find this diagram:



Ive heard Riteks are not suitable for Pioneer burners. Try different media such as Taiyo Yuden.

[amichael]

those picture dvd-r examples are ones that have been burned. Well ALL my disks seem to have this light circle mark in the identical place before burning on them. On the succesful burns the whole of the disk does look like the one in picture one.

I will try and complain about them and seek out the type you mention.