Media center video won't play on standalone dvd player

[larrym]

I record video using Windows Media Center on my Vista computer. I have recorded both to DVD+R and DVD+RW discs, however only the DVD+R plays on my Panasonic DMR-ES25 DVD recorder. Both the +R and +RW play on my computer and on another DVD player I have by JVC. The Panasonic manual indicates that the machine plays +RW media. (The error message I get when trying to play the RW disc is that the disc is not formatted properly.)

Speaking to Panasonic support, they suggested updating the firmware might help, but it didn't. (They are sending me another version, but I have not received it yet and there is no indication that they ever knew or solved this particular problem in the firmware anyway.)

They also told me to take an RW disc and record video using the Panasonic recorder. According to them, if this works then there is nothing inherently wrong with the machine and that Panasonic only guarantees that Panasonic burned discs will play on Panasonic players. I was able to format, record, then playback video on the Panasonic player, so at some point soon Panasonic will say "not my problem."

This is annoying, but I wonder if there is some sort of workaround to make my computer-recorded discs play on the Panasonic machine. Perhaps the Panasonic player is looking for some file that I can add through Media Center or otherwise?

Thanks for the help.

Larry

[jameshgross]

I my experience dvd players can be very picky about RW media.
Try a different brand (I think Verbatum is the best).
Stay away from cheap meadia.

[larrym]

Thank-you, jameshgross! I did buy a different brand of RW disk, but before I unwrapped it, I got the firmware update from Panasonic. I updated the DVD recorder firmware and--it now reads the Memorex RW disk, no problem.