Problem playing DVD-R in several CDRW/DVD

[shortytigg]

I've been working on converting some VHS tapes to DVD, and it 'almost' works
The DVDs I've burned so far will play in my standalone DVD player, will play on every PC DVD+-RW I've tried, but will NOT play on any CDRW/DVD I've tried (all Dell, but a variety of drives). The discs are Memorex 16X DVD-Rs. The MPEG2 files created by my WinTV HVR1600 play fine on at least one of the offending computers (haven't tried them all). The CDRW/DVD will play commercially produced DVDs.

I've tried different software players, updated CDRW/DVD firmware, checked region (DVD Region 1). I've created/burned a DVD using Ulead DMF or with DVD Flick (created a .iso and burned that using Roxio), all with the same end results.

On a Dell Precision 370/WinXP-SP3 with both DVD+-RW (Philips 8701) and CDRW/DVD (Samsung SM-352F) I can put a DVD-R in the DVD+-RW and GSpot (v2.70a) reads the .vob files fine, but the same disc in the CDRW/DVD and some of the files give an error, e.g.:

"Unable to open file VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB
Copy Protection Error - The read failed because the sector is encrypted."

Any solutions, or even troubleshooting tips, appreciated.

[tinker]

I do not think there is anything wrong with DVD you created, but it is your CDRW/DVD drive.
Since you tried everything else, only one thing remains. Get some Verbatim disc and burn that to see if it wil work in that drive, if that does not work either, than do not use the drive
Also try to burn at 8x or 12x speed, if that works.

[tomlee59]

Memorex discs are second-rate. Burning slower than maximum speed, as suggested, may help. However, the real cure is to use good media. Verbatim has already been suggested. Taiyo-Yuden is another top-quality brand.

[shortytigg]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I burned the same .iso at 4x last night, and it plays in the laptop CDRW/DVD (wife is happy )

Next time I'll buy better discs.

[jman98]

Next time I'll buy better discs.

This is more important than a lot of people realize. The US market has basically demanded that discs be as cheap as possible, so quality has gone out the door. Almost everybody now outsources to low quality manufacturers to keep prices down. Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden are the only consistently good brands available in North America. You'll have to buy Taiyo Yuden online to get them.
TDK used to have great quality discs some years ago, but now I think they only use the cheap, low quality manufacturers. Sony apparently sometimes uses high quality manufacturers and sometimes low quality manufacturers for what is sold under their name in North America and to buy Sony you have to know exactly what you are getting. Memorex has always been pretty bad though. While I would not say that they are the worst discs on the planet, although they are pretty bad, they are definitely the worst brand I ever bought. I bought a 25 pack once before I learned about media quality. I had more coasters from that 25 pack than any discs I ever bought.

[V Bot]

I have never had a problem with Memorex. I always burn at the slowest speed. I use DVD+Rs. My older players seem to not be able to read DVD-Rs very well. I used to swear by TDK, but as stated above they've gone cheap. I still need to try Verbatim. Sony have been good for me as well.

[shortytigg]

The thing that surprised me was that my cheap standalone player would play these (Memorex 16x DVD-R) discs, but my newer Dell notebook CDRW/DVD would not.

[tinker]

It would not surprise me, but if you are talking about new Dell notebook, I would definitely look for an updated firmware for that drive.