Problem with TYG02 in my NEC 3500

[slunk]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a 10-pack of FujiFilm 16x DVD-R media from CompUSA. All of my DVD burns thus far have been successful with that media. Its manufacturer code is ProdiscF02.

Yesterday I received a 100-pack of Taiyo Yuden 8x DVD-R media from Supermediastore. I have burned three different DVDs with three different methods on this media, but none are playable in any of the DVD players I have tested them on, including two Panasonic DVD-RV32 players and two different Toshiba players purchased after June '05. The Panasonics display 'No Play', one Toshiba displays 'Err' and the other Toshiba shows the Warning Screen and then freezes. They work fine in a different computer's DVD drive. I burned another copy of one DVD on to the ProdiscF02 media, and it works flawlessly on all DVD players.

Any ideas on what the issue is?

Thanks for any help!

(specs: Fresh WinXP SP2, Nero 6.6.0.16, DVDShrink 3.2, NEC 3500 FW 2.TG)

[slunk]

[ricoman]

I don't like hearing that! I have a 3500 (and a BQ 1640) and just ordered a 100 from supermediastore, I won't get them 'til next Wed. I hear supermediastore is pretty good with rma's, try sending them back. I'll post when I get mine.

[classfour]

Try burning at 4X. I'd suspect that may be a cure - if the discs can be read in a computer drive - it indicates the DVD was correctly authored. It appears it could be an optical issue with the standalones. If burning at 4X solves it, you have an idea of the limit of the drive/disc combination. You didn't say (& your jpgs didn't indicate) what speed you'd burned the TYs. The 8X TYs simply aren't up to 16X burning - even if the firmware and drive allows it. Just because the burn completes is no sign of playback capability. I'd had problems with ProDisc media in the past: It turned out to not be the media's fault - my drive's firmware/write strategy was causing bad burns (after bouncing emails back & forth with Plextor tech support for 5 months) even using the "latest" firmware from the manufacturer. The TY G02s that I've burned on NEC burners (3500, 3520 and 3540) at 4X have all had excellent scans. One that was given to me by a friend burned on a 3540 at 8X had definite playback issues.

Change the NEC's firmware back to the factory version. Not to be critical of Liggy & Dee, but you'll need the factory firmware in the drive if you have to RMA it.

I've been burning TYs from supermediastore for 6 months now without issue on a Plextor PX712A - usually at 4X to ensure quality burns.

What good is speed if you have to toss out half the discs? I've found that I don't save any time with faster burning speeds - even if the machine & drive are capable of them.

I hope this can help.

[slunk]

I knew I'd forget something. I always burn at 4x, never higher. I'll give the NEC firmware a try shortly. That was one of the ideas I needed to get around to. Thanks for your suggestions classfour!

[classfour]

Glad to be of help.

BTW: I did try burning some discs at 2X and did some scans: They were actually as bad as discs burned at 8X!!! I suspect the write strategy has much to do with that.

If it's not the firmware - RMA those discs.

[slunk]

Burned at 4x with NEC firmware 2.1a, and it plays fine on my Panasonic. I'll try the two Toshibas later.

[Skith]

I seem to recall reading on the CDFreaks forum (home to Liggy & Dee's modified firmwares, 2.TG) that many users were having trouble with this particular media and firmware combination (TYG02 & 2.TG). So as suggested, either slow down your speed or use a different firmware (or both). If you are interested in the read, check out the 2.TG discussion thread in the NEC subforum at http://club.cdfreaks.com.

It is because of this that I am sticking with some of the older versions of Liggy & Dee's modified firmwares for my NEC 3500A.

[edit] Classfour, I doubt he could RMA such an old drive, and even if it was an option, I would not recommend it, as it would be illegal since a modified firmware had been installed (thus voiding any warranty).