Need help with odd problem with erasing/recording DVD+RW

[fdm2000]

I have encountered recording problems with DVD+RWs burned on my PC
using its internal Ricoh DVD+RW MP5240A 1.11 recorder. If I burn a
video DVD+RW and play it exclusively on my PC, I can later erase it
and burn another video to it with no problem.

However, if I play the recorded DVD+RW on another PC and then return
it to the initial PC that burned it, it sits in the Ricoh recorder
tray with operational lights flashing and locks up my PC and will not
play or erase - when returned to the other PC it reacts in the say way
and refuses to erase or play.

Has anyone had a similar problem? It doesn't seem to matter which
DVD+RW brand I use.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Mary

[yoda313]

+RW are pretty good since you don't need to finalize to play on other players.

HOWEVER you may need to in this instance. Try finalizing the disc in the other pc and then see how it responds. Perhaps that particular disc is more finicky then your typical rw disc.

[sambat]

I had a similar problem using DVD-RW except it was between the PC and a standalone DVD Recorder.
If I recorded on one and erased on the other I found that the disks became unusable after a short time.
I lost half a package before I figured out that I should record and erase on the same unit - now each unit has it's own dedicated disks.

[fdm2000]

Thanks to yoda313 and Sambat for their input.


For background I should have explained that I record files and folders from my PC and give them to my daughter for viewing/use. Once she is done with the disk she returns it to me - I then erase or try to erase the disk for reuse and that is where it generally refuses to work anymore.

Yoda - not sure what you mean by finalizing. As mentioned, my PC is equipped with a Ricoh DVD drive and my burners (Sonic and BurnAware) can do a verification but if one finalizes the disk it closes or fixes the disk so that you cannot write to the disk anymore. That being the case I would be much better off to use DVD+Rs which are cheaper and discard them after the contents are viewed on the other PC.

Sambat - I have been using my PC for both recording and erasing - all my daughter does is play the DVD+RWs and this is what perplexes me? Is it possible that her PC's DVD player is somehow corrupting the disk?

Mary

[Krispy Kritter]

Finalizing closes the session. Which means you cannot add more files to the disc (for that session), also called packet writing. This does not prevent the discs from being reused, especially in the case of RW discs, which you simply erase or overwrite. Closing the session makes the discs more compatible with other players. You should get into the habit of closing discs.

The discs should be unaffected by playback in her PC or any other. The only way to alter the discs, would be if she is trying to burn more data to them.

[usually_quiet]

Have you tried formatting these problem disks? That works for the DVD-RW disks I burn, which are finalized, since they are intended to be played using a standalone DVD player. I use ImgBurn, but I would expect that option is available with most burning software.

[fdm2000]

Thanks for your comments, Krispy Kritter and usually-quiet. I guess I misunderstood the term finalize - the Help file in BurnAware says finalizing closes or fixes the disk so that you cannot write to the disk anymore. From your comments, apparently finalizing means it fixes or closes only that particular session and allows erasing.

Not sure how I would format the disk since once the recorded disk is played in my daughter's PC neither she nor I can do anything with the disk - it simply hangs our PCs. I have even tried erasing (deleting contents) on my stand alone DVD recorder/player with same end result.

Mary

[usually_quiet]

I know it is obvious, but we can all be guilty of overlooking the obvious sometimes (no offense). Have you examined the disks for scratches and other possible physical causes for the problems? Other than that, something would have to be writing to the disk in order to make it unreadable.

If you have eliminated physical damage as a cause, try finalizing the disks before you give them to your daughter. That should protect them from being written to under ordinary circumstances.

Other than that, I am out of suggestions.

[fdm2000]

Thanks again usually-quiet. Will try the finalize on next recording.

Mary

[Midzuki]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong this time, but
AFAIK +RW discs cannot be "finalized".

[yoda313]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong this time, but
AFAIK +RW discs cannot be "finalized".

Well I think they can. It's just not a "permanent" finalization.....

Though I don't know for 100%

[Midzuki]

Well, for recording multi-session DVDs, I have always and only used
Prassi ONES, and this is what its help file says:

Because Pz can manage 5 different types of DVD recordable media, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM, and because a disc can usually be written in “Disc at Once” or “Incremental” mode, there could be 10 potential possible combinations of medium type and recording mode. We consider 3 of these impossible though, and we also set some other limitations to keep all these modes under control and too maximize the reader compatibility. Please check below the 7 combinations that ONES considers legal.

DVD-R At Once

Only blank disc, always closed.

DVD-R Incremental

Blank or Incr. disc, closed or not closed. Link or Not the data already on disc (if not blank).

DVD-RW At Once

Only blank disc, always closed (DVD-R compatibility mode).

DVD-RW Incremental

Blank or Incr. disc, always not closed. Always link data already on non-blank disc (ONES uses the Restricted Overwrite method).

DVD+R At Once

Not possible.

DVD+R Incremental

Blank or Incr. disc, closed or not closed. Short or Long Lead-out if closed. Link or Not the data already on disc (if not blank). Always record, no test.

DVD+RW At Once

Not possible.

DVD+RW Incremental

Blank or Incr. disc, always not closed. Always link data already on non-blank disc. Always record, no test.

DVD-RAM At Once

Only blank disc, always closed (DVD-R compatibility mode).

DVD-RAM Incremental

Not possible.

[usually_quiet]

Well, it looks like DVD-RW can be finalized, but not DVD+RW. Bummer. Maybe she should switch to DVD-RW?

[fdm2000]

Interesting insights, midzuki, Yoda and usually-quiet. In my case, I am now more than ever confused. My Ricoh recorder only does CD-R, DVD+R and DVD+RWs. My daughters DVD recorder is a TSST CD/DVDW and plays CD-R and DVD-R&RW as well as DVD+R&RW and records CD-R and DVD-R&RW.

The consensus appears to be that her drive will not corrupt the DVD+RW I give her to play and prevent erasing and reuse in my Ricoh drive. It further appears that I cannot finalize a DVD+RW?

Mary

[usually_quiet]

Something is corrupting the disks, and it appears to be tied to your daughter's computer, since when you use the disks in your drive only, nothing goes wrong. No, it shouldn't happen just from reading the disks but apparently it is.

No, your burner is not capbable of writing to DVD-R or DVD-RW, but your drive is possibly four or five years old. Some don't even last that long with frequent use, and Ricoh would probably not be one of the most popular choices among the members here. Have you thought about replacing it with a more versitile one? If you don't want to do that, go with DVD+R and see if that solves the problem.

You have never given information about your PC, or OS, but swapping out a burner is usually not difficult or expensive. A good burner can be purchased at an online retailer for around $30 plus shipping.

If your computer has not ever been opened up, buy a can of compressed air at an office supply store too. Take the computer outside, open it up and blow the dust out before trying to switch the drive. It will be dust-bunny paradise in there no matter how good of a housekeeper you are.

[RabidDog]

I think people are getting mixed up with what's available on different DVD types.. packet writing is done by incd and can only be done on computer, to RW discs..AVOId at all costs.
Finalizing is normally done on DVD-r (writeonce) discs.. in short, if you haven't filled the disc up, not finalizing allows you to add more data, at a later session..finalizing stops further data being written to the disc.
The same function can be applied to RW discs which then need to be erased before re-use.
Your problem fdm2000 sounds like your daughters drive is scratching the discs, making their re-use marginal ,,I would recommend new media AND a new drive(for her), Giving the underside of the discs the eyeball test is the best bet. Also try your media on someone else's drive, possibly even bring it into work to test? You'll probably get the sack for being a data thief, but at least you'll have saved the cost of a few DVD.. result!

I hold no preference for either type of disc but have ended up only using +rw (ridisc) in both two computers and a Dvd recorder, with no problems.

In all truth I have NEVER known dust to be the cause of any computer problems..bugs, yes, dust, no.

[fdm2000]

Appreciate the additional input usually-quiet and RabidDog. Odd thing is if I burn a DVD+R and she plays it in her PC, it is still playable in my PC unlike what happens to the DVD+RWs which in 9 out of 10 instances will just hang my PC when I try to erase them after she plays them?

[usually_quiet]

I think people are getting mixed up with what's available on different DVD types.. packet writing is done by incd and can only be done on computer, to RW discs..AVOId at all costs.
Finalizing is normally done on DVD-r (writeonce) discs.. in short, if you haven't filled the disc up, not finalizing allows you to add more data, at a later session..finalizing stops further data being written to the disc.
The same function can be applied to RW discs which then need to be erased before re-use.
Your problem fdm2000 sounds like your daughters drive is scratching the discs, making their re-use marginal ,,I would recommend new media AND a new drive(for her), Giving the underside of the discs the eyeball test is the best bet. Also try your media on someone else's drive, possibly even bring it into work to test? You'll probably get the sack for being a data thief, but at least you'll have saved the cost of a few DVD.. result!

I hold no preference for either type of disc but have ended up only using +rw (ridisc) in both two computers and a Dvd recorder, with no problems.

In all truth I have NEVER known dust to be the cause of any computer problems..bugs, yes, dust, no.

I was not attributing this problem to dust. I was advising the OP to blow out the dust as the first step for installing a new drive, because it's easier and more pleasant to work on a computer that is reasonably clean inside.

I asked about physical damage to the disks in an earlier post. Apparently there is none.

About the only thing that hasn't been ruled out is malware, which seems like a fairly remote possibility. Well, unless the OP's daughter uses Limewire or does some other questionable downloading or filesharing that leaves her more vulnerable to it.