Appreciate HELP: Unfinalized DVD+Rs recorded on LG RH 177S (DVD Recorder)

[mozzieland]

Hello,

I have received a total of 9 discs of DVD+R (SONY DVD+R ver1.3/1x-16x 'AccuCORE') recorded by my sister on her LG RH177S (standalone DVD Recorder). It contains episodes of a drama series recorded off the television broadcasted in Asia.

However I am residing in Canada and the discs that I recieved from her are 'unplayable' on any other standalone DVD player or computer/laptop, whether Windows XP or Vista. But she say she tested and they were playable on her LG RH 177S. I highly suspect she didn't finalized the discs.

When I tried the discs on a PS2 (dvd player mode) it was unable to read the discs. I also tried on a portable DVD player (those with built-in LCD screen), was unable to read the discs.

I also tried the discs on my IBM Notebook, under Windows XP->"My Computer" it detected the the disc as "DVD-ROM".
When Right-click->Properties-> File System: RAW.
When Double-clicking (opening) it revealed its contents are 'empty'.

I understand that a DVD Video disc would usually have two folders:
- VIDEO_TS folder
- AUDIO_TS folder


I have used DVD Dercypter before (many years), excellent program if not the BEST! I read in forums that the new iteration, 'ImgBurn' is able to manually CLOSE unfinalized DVDs. (Tools-> Driver->Close ->Track/Session/Disc)

Any advise/help is greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Sincerely,
Amos



===================
Troubleshooting Done on
===================
- IBM Thinkpad T43, Windows XP
Ultrabay Slim "MULTI RECORDER" DVD-/+RW
(MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-822S)
- Working on Disc 1 ONLY (1of9)

[mozzieland]

1) On Nero 6
'DiscInfo' -
when UNTOUCHED discs are showed as 'DVD-Video' 'DVD+R'
- Sessions: 1
- Tracks: 2
- Book Type: DVD+R
- Track 01: 0 31,744KB unknown (Mode 1)
- Track 02: 15888 3,509,248KB Data (Mode 1)
(See 1st screenshot)

[mozzieland]

2) Imgburn 2.4.2.0
As advised by LIGHTING_UK in the forums, I HAVE TRIED in this order
- Tools->Drive-> Close -> Track
(After clicking, it seems that it was successful. But 'nothing' happens, no success prompt or any alert)


- Tools->Drive-> Close -> Session
(So I proceeded to try 'Close->Session'.)
(I/O Error:
Interpretation: Check Condition
Intrpretation: Close Track/Session
Interpretation: Illegal Mode For This Track)

- Tools->Drive-> Close -> Disc
(Similar I/O Error)

----------------------------------


Disc 1 (After using Tools>Drive->Close->Track)
=====================================
MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-822S 1.03 (ATA)
Current Profile: DVD+R

Disc Information:
Status: Incomplete
Erasable: No
Sessions: 1
Supported Write Speeds: 2.4x

Physical Format Information (ADIP):
Disc ID: SONY-D21-00
Book Type: DVD+R
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: SONY-D21-00
Book Type: DVD+R
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0





Disc 2 (UNTOUCHED)
=====================================
MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-822S 1.03 (ATA)
Current Profile: DVD+R

Disc Information:
Status: Incomplete
Erasable: No
Free Sectors: 15,872
Free Space: 32,505,856 bytes
Free Time: 03:33:47 (MM:SS:FF)
Supported Write Speeds: 2.4x

Physical Format Information (ADIP):
Disc ID: SONY-D21-00
Book Type: DVD+R
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: SONY-D21-00
Book Type: DVD+R
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

[mozzieland]

Many recomend ISOBuster for DVD video recovery, so I tried it.

3) ISO Buster 2.4
Disc 2 onwards (3,,4,5,6,7,8,9)
- Using its recovery function (lengthy extraction) I was to view and extract out the VIDEO_TS folders to my hard disk. SUCCESS!! (see screenshot)

However on Disc 1
- that was manually "CLOSED" using ImgBurn close function ('Tools->Disc->Close->Track)
- was detected as a blank and unrecognizable
- hence 'unrecoverable'

[victoriabears]

you simply need a LG dvd recorder to finalise them, also would they be in pal or ntsc?

The latest JVC dvd recorders mv-78/79/100 are LG clones and will finalise dvd\s.

Now I thought that +R's didn;t need finalising, however I am victoria BC if you want help , ask away as I have a machine that will finalise for you.

I think ISOBUSTER will take the data from the discs but its a longish process

[mozzieland]

On Feb 13,2009 evening, I brought all the Discs to a nearby FUTURESHOP(Canadian Electronics superstore) in Edmonton, Alberta. I explained the situation and the tech/associate kindly assisted/allowed me to try out on their LG RH398 (DVD Recorder).

Wah Lah!

Disc 2 onwards (3,,4,5,6,7,8,9) - UNTOUCHED
-was viewable/playable on their LG recorder
- the tech confirmed that the discs were not 'finalized'

However ONLY Disc 1
- had difficulty reading the disc
- I suspect ImgBurn close function (Tools->Close->Track) may have "damaged/corrupted" Disc1
- If I didn't use ImgBurn to manually close, Disc1 will probably be able to be played on their LG recorder as ALL disc were burn as a batch together for the drama series.

So now the ONLY Problem is Disc1. Any idea why whether an unsuccessful ImgBurn 'closing' would corrupt the disc or raw data?? thanks!

[victoriabears]

That was very helpful of the much maligned future shop, I have always found them okay.

Try ISOBUSTER with the one remaining disc.

[mozzieland]

Hey "Victoriabears" thanks for your kind response, I didn't expect anyone to reply so soon!

I actually did try ISOBuster on my IBM T43, however it took a very long time to first create the "managed image files ( .IBP and IBQ files), after 4hrs it only moved to 1%. (My notebook's DVD-RW is only a 2x)
Hence tonight I'm trying on my room-mates HP notebook dv3, it seems faster as it progressed to 2% within 1hr+.
It may take days??

I will post and update the progress/results. thanks!

[pchan]

Actually, it shouldn't take that long to copy the file to your hard disk.
Since it not finalized. Can try the those files in VIDEO_RM folder.
Once these files are in your hard disk, change the extension to .mpg.
Use any authoring program to author it back to DVD.