Stunned by DVD RAM complications

[jocaan]

A long time ago when I bought my first CD disk drive, a Sony, I installed it, put in any disks I cared to, and out came my data, music, data, etc, on the CD. I had as much trouble with that CD drive as I did with my floppy or zip drive - none.
First Sony came out with a multi drive including RAM and then Sony stopped uncluding RAM. Then lately Sony came out with an included DVD RAM media drive again and I felt it was now time to buy a DVD drive.
I first bought an LG, then a Mad Dog. With both I have unbelievable problems I never expected. The software, Nero or Roxio is terrible. Nero charged me for support on a new purchase and did not help at all.
When I put in a disk, sometimes I can format, sometimes I get a message to format a disk that is already formatted, almost consistantly My Computer freezes before I get a chance to open the media, sometimes a message says the disk cannot be formatted, sometimes the light on the dvd writer stays on and just stays on, blinking-then the computer freezes. Sometimes there is data or video on the disk and the message says I need to format or the information on the disk cannot be accessed.
Its stunning to look at all the time I have put in and hav not derived anything, nothing at all. Well that's not true-my computer does freeze consistantly when I try to do something with a dvd disk.
I've installed and reinstalled hardware, drivers and updates.
So I am at a loss. A couple of weeks ago I found a format program that is specific to a DVD-RAM disk and I thought my problem was solved. However I am still getting the errors that are described above.
Its not beyond me to do something wrong that is extremely simple if done right but I've covered a lot of ground the past couple of months so I think I'm beyond that stage.
I have a SATA conversion card in a PCI slot and I was looking at a Plextor SATA DVD-RAM multi drive. Maybe some of these cheapo drives are the problem.
It would seem with all these complications any maker of DVD drives would provide initial, extensive trial and error documentation.
I've read a few of the messages on this forum. Maybe I just have to start reading but I would at least like to read something which is spefic to my problem and not read material that goes off for a few hundred pages explaining nothing at all but just giving definitions.
Frank C.

[aedipuss]

why would you even bother with a format like dvd-ram? you spend at least $5.00 u.s. on 1 single sided disc when for the same money you can purchase 20 high quality dvdrs. so you burn the dvdrs once. if the data changes, burn another and throw the first out. unless you use more than 20 you will save money and fustration on a format of discs nothing plays, hardly anyone uses and nobody supports.

[hech54]

I really DO hate RAM discs....waste of time and money.

[jocaan]

Yes, aedipuss, that is true. DVD-RAM has so much potential. Video recording is supposed to be the best quality with DVD-RAM and there are so many people who want to preserve their family VHS recordings and now their DVD recordings, sharing these recordings with family, etc.
DVD-RAM is supposed to be like a floppy or hard drive as far as transferring, copying, reading data and videos. To me that prospect puts DVD-RAM at center stage.
Frank C.

[jocaan]

I really DO hate RAM discs....waste of time and money.

Yes, it has been a waste of time and money so far. See my reply above. Somewhere, sometime somebody has to get it right. LG and Mad Dog, along with Nero and Roxio are not serving the public well if their products do not perform as advertised.
Panasonic, Plextor and Sony may have more dependable DVD drives. Its funny but you wonder about the dependability issue where Sony is concerned. Sony does have its own software (Vegas) but bundles Nero with their DVD drive instead!
Frank C.

[jagabo]

DVD-RAM is supposed to be like a floppy or hard drive as far as transferring, copying, reading data and videos. To me that prospect puts DVD-RAM at center stage.

Use DVD+RW and a packet writing driver like Nero's IN CD. Same thing, far cheaper.

One word of warning though: having multiple packet writing drivers installed is the source of many problems. That could be the problem you're having now with DVD-RAM.

[handyguy]

I like DVD-RAM, you can edit right on it.

[jocaan]

DVD-RAM is supposed to be like a floppy or hard drive as far as transferring, copying, reading data and videos. To me that prospect puts DVD-RAM at center stage.

Use DVD+RW and a packet writing driver like Nero's IN CD. Same thing, far cheaper.

One word of warning though: having multiple packet writing drivers installed is the source of many problems. That could be the problem you're having now with DVD-RAM.

jagabo:
The Nero package with the LG does not work. InCD does not come on. I have InCD in my system tray and when selected it does not open. I discussed this with Nero support. They took some file information from my computer, said they would call me back and never did. I called them again. They said they would get back to me-they never did.
How would I determie I have multiple packet writing drivers?
Thanks, Frank C.

[jocaan]

I like DVD-RAM, you can edit right on it.

handyguy:
What DVD disk drive do you use? What software do you use? What program do you use to format, read and record to DVD-RAM?
Frank C.

[A_T]

I like DVD-RAM, you can edit right on it.

handyguy:
What DVD disk drive do you use? What software do you use? What program do you use to format, read and record to DVD-RAM?
Frank C.

You don't need any program except Windows Explorer. In XP with DVD-RAM you can drag and drop, rename files etc. as if it were a hard drive.

[handyguy]

Yes you can.

"What DVD disk drive do you use? What software do you use? What program do you use to format, read and record to DVD-RAM? "

I use several panasonic dvd recorders, plus a panasonic DVD-RAM drive (This one came with software for importing/recording/ creating dvd disks) & a samsung DVD-RAM drive.

[jocaan]

I like DVD-RAM, you can edit right on it.

handyguy:
What DVD disk drive do you use? What software do you use? What program do you use to format, read and record to DVD-RAM?
Frank C.

You don't need any program except Windows Explorer. In XP with DVD-RAM you can drag and drop, rename files etc. as if it were a hard drive.

'

handyguy:
What format program do you use?
Frank C.

[jocaan]

I like DVD-RAM, you can edit right on it.

handyguy:
What DVD disk drive do you use? What software do you use? What program do you use to format, read and record to DVD-RAM?
Frank C.

You don't need any program except Windows Explorer. In XP with DVD-RAM you can drag and drop, rename files etc. as if it were a hard drive.

Handyguy:
Yes I understand the drag and drop part. But when you put a new disk in the DVD drive you have to format the disk don't you? Do you right click the drive in My Computer or in Windows Explorer and use the format option on the drop down list (if such a command does show up there)?
Frank C.

[handyguy]

I format mine on the dvd recorder, it only takes a few seconds.

[jocaan]

[quote="handyguy"I format mine on the dvd recorder it only takes a few seconds.[/quote]

"On the dvd recorder" you mean on a set top dvd recorder, on top of your television? Or your computer DVD-RAM drive?
thanks, Frank C.

[handyguy]

Any of those format my disks. But since Im recording on my panasonic, I format on my panasonic dvd recorder.

[jocaan]

Any of those format my disks. But since Im recording on my panasonic, I format on my panasonic dvd recorder.

Handyguy:
Sorry handyguy I'm not getting through to you, you don't understand my problem so I have to become more detailed. I know a little bit about computers. I've built a few for my family and have had computers since 1988. I'm not an expert and as you can see know zero about DVDs as I've just started using DVDs.
I take you to mean you format DVD RAM disks on your set top box, that is hooked up to your television and that you use to record straight from your tv (although you could record using your dvd disk drive on your computer if you so wish. I think this is true from different software descriptions I have been reading).
Anyway, I am interested in how you format your DVD RAM disks that you use in your DVD disk drive installed on your computer. From what you write I take it that you format your DVD RAM disks used on your computer from your DVD recorder (set top) hooked up to your television.
However, you say you could format your DVD RAM disks or you do format infrequently from your DVD disk drive hooked up to your computer and that you know the exact way to do this.
My question to you is: How Do You Format Your DVD RAM disks (although unfrequently) From Your DVD Disk Drive Installed In Your computer???
Thanks, Frank C.

[piano632]

If you have Windows XP, you can format RAM discs with FAT32 using Disk Management just like a small hard drive. But I prefer UDF format, since FAT32 seems awefully slow at some things. I thought RAM discs came pre-formatted with UDF 2.00 anyway. If not, just use some UDF packet writing software to do it (Nero InCD or whatever). I've had no significant problems with RAM discs either on my PC drive or a standalone DVD recorder.

As to those people who think RAM is a waste, well I used to think so too until I started using it. First off, they are more reliable than +/-RW and can be overwritten thousands more times than +/-RW. Second, most if not all RAM discs have a tough anti-scratch coating on them, which makes them more durable. Thirdly, RAM can be write-protected so you don't accidently erase something valuable. And if you shop around you can find them for less than $5 each. Best Buy recently sold out their inventory of Fuji RAM for $7.99 per 5-pack - and these were top-quality "made in Japan" discs. I've heard that some audio recording studios are using RAM discs as long-term storage of music tracks.

[A_T]

You can use the free Matsushita driver from here:

http://www.bhacorp.com/download/utilities/dvdram.html

This includes a utility DVDForm.exe that will format dvd-ram in UDF 2.0, 1.5 and FAT32. I use it for my Lite-On 165P6S and LG GSA-4167B.

[Captain Satellite]

Die-hard DVD-RAM user here, been using it for almost 5 years. Is there another format that I don't know about that will allow me to record 5 minutes to then transfer to my computer w/o finalizing and wasting a whole disc? I'd be sunk w/o them. There may be another way, but why change now?