burned DVD-R do not play on DVD player?

[lerxst]

Hello,
I recently began burning my authored DVDs on a new computer using Nero Express and have found that these do not play on my DVD player, as I get an "unknown disc" on the display. However, the DVDs do play on the computer using VLC Media Player. I used to burn these using the same Nero Express version on another older computer and never had this issue before. Exactly the same authoring and burning software, just different hardware.

I thought it could be that the disc was being burned as a multi-session disc, that had not been properly finalized, but it seems like Nero does not have this option for video DVD burning, only for data DVD.

As a test, I took one of those burned DVDs that do not play on the DVD player, loaded it up into TMPGEnc Authoring Works into the older computer and proceeded to re-author the DVD. Because the files were already in DVD format, TMPGEnc used "Smart Rendering", which means that no re-encoding took place. The original DVD did not have a menu and so I did not create a menu for this other DVD. In theory, the two disks should be identical, right? However, when I look at the files on both discs I notice that the last file, VTS_01_05.VOB are slightly different in size and this re-authored DVD does play fine on my DVD player:

Original that does not play on DVD player:


Re-Authored that does play on DVD player:


Could this slight difference in the file size be causing the issue? If so, what could be causing the difference in file sizes? If not, what could be wrong with the burned DVDs on the new computer?

Thank you in advance for any help provided.

[budz]

use IMGBURN to burn dvds....nuff said.....

[hech54]

Author them with whatever you want....but burn them with ImgBurn.
Problem Solved.

[jman98]

The size difference is not the problem. Nero does some data packing that while technically allowed by the DVD spec is a really really bad idea. I don't want to overwhelm you with a big technical explanation of what they are doing and why it is stupid, but that is almost certainly the reason for the difference - TMPGenc probably does not do this. The short explanation is that Nero packs the BUP and IFO files into the same block, which is legal but stupid as it defeats the purpose of BUPs existing in the first place.

What brand of disc and type of disc (DVD-R. DVD+RW, DVD+R DL ,etc.) are you using? How old is your player? Older players are very fussy about media. Most media sold today is of very low quality and some players are very fussy about that.

We really discourage the use of Nero for DVD burning and suggest that you use the free ImgBurn instead.

[lerxst]

Thank you all for your responses. I will try using ImgBurn as you suggest. However, I am still not clear on why is it that I have been able to burn my DVDs using Nero for so many years without having any issues with my DVD player and now that I just switched hardware, using exactly the same Nero version software, I am having this issue.

I am using TDK DVD-R and my player is a Philips, about 5 years old. Again, I have been using this same brand of DVDs on this same DVD player without any issues before, until I began burning my DVDs on the new computer.

[Steve(MS)]

Really your player is getting old, it could be failing.
TDK AFAIK are not known to be quality discs.
Nero isn't well liked here.
However, you can do whatever you want to do.

[jman98]

Man, I wish I could get paid every time someone says "But I've been using these (crap brand) discs for years and they've never had a problem before". They never believe it can be the discs.

The ONLY consistently good quality media left in the world is Verbatim (everything except their Life series is great) and Taiyo Yuden. That's it. If you want to roll the dice on Sony, they use both the best and the worst manufacturers. Everybody else including TDK uses the lowest quality manufacturers to save money. TDK was good MANY years ago, but those years are LONG gone. Probably for the past 5 years or longer they've been using the lowest quality manufacturers to make their discs.

Buy better discs.
Use ImgBurn.
Your problem will likely go away.

[lerxst]

Thanks again. Still, I do not believe it could be the TDK discs or Nero given that I have been using these for many years without any issues. The issue began right at the moment that I changed computer, with a new burner, but same disc/software combination as before. It is either a software configuration issue, or maybe the new burner?

[usually_quiet]

I used TDK in 2005, but about 7 years ago they outsourced production and the manufacturing process changed. Afterwards I began seeing lots and lots of failed burns. Verbatim AZO media has worked reliably for me since then with 3 different burners. Verbatim's manufacturing process and dyes have remained consistent for their AZO lines.

It is true that some burners will have a better success rate with low-quality DVD media than others do. ...but switching out burners in the hope of finding one that works well with whatever brand you favor is a fool's errand. It is easier and cheaper to use consistent, quality media instead.

[jman98]

usually_quiet - His mind is closed. We're done trying to help here. He's not willing to accept the reality of the situation, so good luck to him in chasing ghosts on his suppositions.

[Richard_G]

He's said it himself, he's been using TDK discs for many years but unless those TDK discs are the same batch that he's had for many years then they are likely to be crap. TDK don't make discs, they brand discs made by whoever they can find who is cheaper than the other suppliers so the quality is crap. They may have been good many years ago but as has been said a number of times in this thread, they aren't any longer.

[GSP_87]

The same thing happened to me the first time I used Verbatim DVD+R on my internal DVD burner. Turns out my internal burner's firmware couldn't burn it right for my Panasonic DVD player to recognize the DVD+R as a video disc, even though my Philips DVD player could play it. I updated the burner's firmware, and that didn't fix the problem, but it fixed a spontaneous reboot problem as briefly noted in the firmware update's description.

[budz]

The same thing happened to me the first time I used Verbatim DVD+R on my internal DVD burner. Turns out my internal burner's firmware couldn't burn it right for my Panasonic DVD player to recognize the DVD+R as a video disc, even though my Philips DVD player could play it. I updated the burner's firmware, and that didn't fix the problem, but it fixed a spontaneous reboot problem as briefly noted in the firmware update's description.

Panasonic DVD players are finicky to begin with. But with the OP his issue is using crappy TDK discs and using NERO to burn.

[Guitardvd]

...

[orsetto]

The issue began right at the moment that I changed computer, with a new burner, but same disc/software combination as before. It is either a software configuration issue, or maybe the new burner?

I agree with what others have said about TDK discs being dodgy quality and Nero being inferior to IMGburn. But leaving that aside, and accepting these dodgy things have been working well for you, I think you're on the right track in thinking it may be the new computer. I have been stymied a few times by new computers with new burners that simply cannot create a playable video DVD no matter what software or media I employ. You can waste a lot of time trying to "fix" such a glitch, or you can cut to the chase and install a different burner. I run up against this constantly with Lenovo laptops and a few of their desktops: the built in burners make video DVDs that are unplayable on any DVD player, but if I connect a known-good external USB burner the resulting DVDs are perfect. No other changes: same files, same software, same computer: only thing I changed was the burner, and that solved the issue.

The cheapest troubleshooting to try first is IMGburn: download it and see if it makes compatible DVDs for you (look for IMGburn version 2.5.6.0, later versions install a lot of crapware). If not, go get some Verbatim AZO blanks and try those with IMGburn instead of your TDKs. If that doesn't work, try a different burner. This is easier with a desktop PC, since you can just swap out the bare drive for another. Laptops can be a hassle: some of the newer ones cannot properly handle certain external burners over USB2 (Windows fails to find the drive at all, or the burns fail immediately with a repeatable hardware error). In that case you would need to install a different internal burner, which is tricky and probably voids your laptop warranty.

[lerxst]

The issue began right at the moment that I changed computer, with a new burner, but same disc/software combination as before. It is either a software configuration issue, or maybe the new burner?

I agree with what others have said about TDK discs being dodgy quality and Nero being inferior to IMGburn. But leaving that aside, and accepting these dodgy things have been working well for you, I think you're on the right track in thinking it may be the new computer.

Thank you orsetto, I certainly appreciate all the other comments but you are the first one to really understand the issue and provide a reasonable troubleshooting solution. I will follow your advice. Thank you greatly.

[sanlyn]

The same thing happened to me the first time I used Verbatim DVD+R on my internal DVD burner. Turns out my internal burner's firmware couldn't burn it right for my Panasonic DVD player to recognize the DVD+R as a video disc, even though my Philips DVD player could play it. I updated the burner's firmware, and that didn't fix the problem, but it fixed a spontaneous reboot problem as briefly noted in the firmware update's description.

Many players have issues with DVD+R. The universal standard, no matter what they tell you at BestBuy, is DVD-R.

[usually_quiet]

Some picky players that would not play DVD+R discs under normal circumstances would play them if the booktype were set to DVD-ROM during the burning process, but not all DVD burners supported that.

As I recall, for a few years Panasonic's DVD players that could play burned media had a definite preference for DVD-R, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM. On the other hand Philips and Sony were members of the group that developed the DVD+R standard, and their DVD players that could play burned media would play DVD+R, or DVD+RW without any problems.

[jman98]

Thank you orsetto, I certainly appreciate all the other comments but you are the first one to really understand the issue and provide a reasonable troubleshooting solution. I will follow your advice. Thank you greatly.

He restated EXACTLY what I told you earlier, but since he wasn't blunt, you didn't get your panties in a wad over it. Also, he suggested replacing the burner, which probably isn't necessary if you will just use ImgBurn and better media.

Dude, we all understand your issue. It's some combination of declining media quality, new burner maybe not having a good write strategy for that crappy media, and possibly fussy player nonsense. My suggestion does not require you to replace your burner, but hey, if you need everything to be sugar coated, that's not my problem. You were frozen in "But those discs have ALWAYS worked great for me" mode and I have long ago given up trying to get through to people like you who act that way.

As a last ditch effort to save your poor wounded pride, install ImgBurn and burn to your crappy TDK discs, but burn them either at 2x or 4x and no faster and see if they perform better. Sometimes slower burns fix media quality problems.

[lerxst]

Thank you orsetto, I certainly appreciate all the other comments but you are the first one to really understand the issue and provide a reasonable troubleshooting solution. I will follow your advice. Thank you greatly.

He restated EXACTLY what I told you earlier, but since he wasn't blunt, you didn't get your panties in a wad over it.

You were frozen in "But those discs have ALWAYS worked great for me" mode and I have long ago given up trying to get through to people like you who act that way.

As a last ditch effort to save your poor wounded pride, install ImgBurn and burn to your crappy TDK discs.

I don't believe this attitude is necessary. If you are not here to help in a friendly way, you might as well abstain from making these impertinent remarks that only make you look stupid. Besides, you are only displaying your ignorance or lack of understanding as the issue is clearly not due to the discs given that the discs have worked fine for me, as I stated. When you are troubleshooting an issue that suddenly appeared such as this, you have to look at what are the variables that changed at the time the problem began occurring. Blaming the issue on the discs that have proven to work well before is really an ignorant statement. I have burned over 2,000 TDK discs without ever having any issues. From this experience, I can confidently say that this is very reliable media.
Anyway, thanks for nothing.

[Steve(MS)]

LOL with that crappy media, tdk discs are excellent for target practice.

[budz]

Thank you orsetto, I certainly appreciate all the other comments but you are the first one to really understand the issue and provide a reasonable troubleshooting solution. I will follow your advice. Thank you greatly.

He restated EXACTLY what I told you earlier, but since he wasn't blunt, you didn't get your panties in a wad over it.

You were frozen in "But those discs have ALWAYS worked great for me" mode and I have long ago given up trying to get through to people like you who act that way.

As a last ditch effort to save your poor wounded pride, install ImgBurn and burn to your crappy TDK discs.

I don't believe this attitude is necessary. If you are not here to help in a friendly way, you might as well abstain from making these impertinent remarks that only make you look stupid. Besides, you are only displaying your ignorance or lack of understanding as the issue is clearly not due to the discs given that the discs have worked fine for me, as I stated. When you are troubleshooting an issue that suddenly appeared such as this, you have to look at what are the variables that changed at the time the problem began occurring. Blaming the issue on the discs that have proven to work well before is really an ignorant statement. I have burned over 2,000 TDK discs without ever having any issues. From this experience, I can confidently say that this is very reliable media.
Anyway, thanks for nothing.

Have you ever tried re-ripping those burned 2000 TDK discs with your new burner? Members here have many years of experience using different brands of dvd burners & dvd blank media. I am one of them which I once called myself the DVD Burner whore. Because I own a ton of different brands of dvd burners. I can tell you from experience TDK is not considered good quality dvd media. I suggest you do some research at http://club.myce.com/ on dvd burners and dvd media.

If you're able to re-rip your 2000 TDK dvd media then you're lucky. Dvd burners can be picky as well with different type of dvd media. What's your brand of dvd burner? Is your new computer a pre-built one? HP? Dell?

[lingyi]

Download DVD Identifier and check the media info your current batch of DVDs. Then check the media info of your previous burns. It's likely the manufacturer is different since TDK as has been mentioned does not make their own DVDs.

[orsetto]

lerxst, TDK blank media sold prior to 2007 was made with direct TDK involvement: top quality stuff. TDK media mfrd after 2007 is TDK in name only: most of it is bargain-bin quality sourced from CMC Magnetics. A large number of users here have had very bad experiences with CMC-made media, either in the original burning process or later, when the discs go "bad" and develop readability issues. But a lot depends on the burner: most casual users don't notice a problem, and CMC makes the same media for a dozen brands besides TDK.

Both groups are very intense on the subject: the many who've been royally screwed by CMC media find it hard to believe there are just as many who'll swear on their mother they've never had a problem with it. Its understandable you feel personally attacked for standing by your faith in TDK, but people involved in forums like VH tend to seek out the most reliable, most archival media. Only two such brands are left on the market: TY/JVC and Verbatim AZO. When people post about burning problems or playback compatibility issues, the inevitable first question is "what blanks are you using" followed by a suggestion you try TY or Verbatim and see if the problem goes away. The second immediate question is to ask if you used IMGburn, because it is the single most reliable and accurate burning tool out there (with Nero being its evil antimatter counterpart). This situation has been static since 2007, so sometimes people give curt replies when these proven recommendations are resisted.

jman98, I did not urge lerxst to rush right out and buy a new burner. I posted my agreement with the usual IMGburn and media recommendations, but also agreed lerxst might be correct to suspect a problem in the new PC. I advised trying IMGburn and better media first. If nothing improves, it could well be a crummy new OEM burner in the new PC: I've had several fail to burn any playable DVDs for me using IMGburn, Verbatim DataLifePlus AZO, and TY/JVC (I haven't used any lesser media since 2007). The burners included with some new PCs are the cheapest junk they can get away with, if one is included at all: when I switched to other burners, the problem vanished.

[lerxst]

Hello,

Just to report back and in case anyone is interested, I found the source of the problem of my DVDs burned in the new computer not playing on my DVD player. It turns out it is that only DVD+ format works and not DVD-. The way I determined this was from trying different brands (Sony, Verbatim, TDK, Maxell and Imation), all in the DVD+ and the DVD- formats. All those that I tried with the DVD- format did not play on my DVD player, whereas all the DVD+ formats played fine (yes, including the TDKs). I used my familiar Nero burning software as well as the suggested ImgBurn software to see if these made any difference but they did not.

Strangely, those DVD- format disks that I burned and do not play on my Philips DVD player play fine on a Samsung an on a Sony DVD player... hmmm?

So, in conclusion, the problem was not the media or the burning software, the issue is the combination of my new LG DVD burning unit when using DVD- disks and trying to play them on my DVD player. Very strange but that is how it is.

Thank you all for your help.

[lerxst]

By the way, the reason why I have (and love) this Philips DVD player is that it plays both NTSC and PAL discs, which is very uncommon to find, and I do play both of these formats regularly.