DVDRAM Burning Software?

[leebo]

I'm sorry if this has been asked 100's of times, but I searched and coulden't find the answer.

Please don't kill me (there's been enough of that in the last few weeks).

I bought a Panasonic 311 DVDRAM burner this week and it didn't come with any software for burning.

I have since discovered that Nero dosn't support DVDRAM.

Does anyone know what burning software supports DVDRAM?

Thanks.

[The village idiot]

Well, it should have come with a disk. I have the same drive under the Vivastar name. Damn they are hard to find ! But I did (I think) find it. Try these here: http://www.panasonic.co.jp/dvdram/lim/eoem/index.html

If that doesn't work for you, then maybe we can figure out a way

BTW: it seems that some Sears stores are closing out their stock of Panasonic DVD-RAM disks. picked up 3 for $35 tonight, these are the no cartridge type.

[leebo]

Yes, it came with a driver disc (so Windows can read UDF 2.0 files), but no burning software.

Your link is for the driver software. And even XP's built in burning capabilities won't burn to DVDRAM (I get an error that the disc is write protected).

[The village idiot]

OK, I get the impression that you are thinking of the ram disk the same way I did at first. Once you have the drivers installed, you have to use the format tool to format it (it suggests you use UDF 2.0). After that you may (should) see an extra drive when you open up explorer, and one of them should say it is a ram disk (I think, I'm in the middle of a burn so I can't check). You should be able to click on that drive and see the amount used and available, as well as any files (which being a new disk should be none). Then just drag or cut/paste files to it.

If you can't access that drive, try turning the DMA off (PIO mode). I'm running 2000, so it should be pretty similar.

OH yeah, stupid question but, it is connected to an IDE controller, not like in a firewire or USB2 box, right? It won't work in an enclosure, at least not the RAM part. The Panasonic site said something about not being the master drive, so that might be it too.

[The village idiot]

Sorry, the new drive should say "Removeable Disk"

[leebo]

OK, I get the impression that you are thinking of the ram disk the same way I did at first. Once you have the drivers installed, you have to use the format tool to format it (it suggests you use UDF 2.0). After that you may (should) see an extra drive when you open up explorer, and one of them should say it is a ram disk (I think, I'm in the middle of a burn so I can't check). You should be able to click on that drive and see the amount used and available, as well as any files (which being a new disk should be none).

Yes. That correct.

Then just drag or cut/paste files to it..

Nope! In XP I get an error message: The disc is write protected.

OH yeah, stupid question but, it is connected to an IDE controller, not like in a firewire or USB2 box, right? It won't work in an enclosure, at least not the RAM part. The Panasonic site said something about not being the master drive, so that might be it too.

Master on IDE 2. I on't see why it being the master should matter, but I'll change it to slave for the heck of it.

Edit:
And I forgot to mention one important thing:

I have formatted the disc as UDF 2.0! This is necessary to work with VRO mpeg2 files!!!

I just did a test formatting the disc to FAT32 and it works fine. I can write to it.
But that dosn't help with VRO files!

[The village idiot]

Well it sounds like you are doing everything that I have. It might be an XP thing. Have you tried the newest drivers from the link I gave? Also what is your firmware at? The nwest that I am aware of is A126. I was having some problems with DVD-R's until upgrading the drivers and firmware (I didn't want to find out which one was the problem so I just did everything). I'm not sure where I got that firmware, and couldn't find it on Panasonics site last night.

Since you are using .vro files, that must mean you have a camera that uses those disks? What happens when you record a short clip from the camera, and then put it in your drive and try dragging some files to it?

I remember seeing something about VIA chipsets, and needing the newer drivers/firmware to work properly. I didn't really read it, 'cause I'm not running a VIA chipped board right now. Also said something about getting the newest Via 4in1 drivers for bussmastering.

I just re-read your post, and you can format the disks in either format right? Maybe you have to set sharing to everyone to get it to work????? Could XP be leaving some kind a security thing on them? I only have my 1 drive and nothing else to use it with yet, so I can't check any other drives.

[leebo]

Well it sounds like you are doing everything that I have. It might be an XP thing.

I think it's a UDF 2.0 thing.

Have you tried the newest drivers from the link I gave?

Not yet.

Since you are using .vro files, that must mean you have a camera that uses those disks? What happens when you record a short clip from the camera, and then put it in your drive and try dragging some files to it?

No. I have a set top DVD recorder that records VRO files.
But my recorder records to DVD-RW, and the 311 needs RAM discs. So I'm trying to figure out how to record the VRO file from the -RW disc (using my A-03 drive) to a RAM disc.

Unfortunately, Windows can READ from UDF 2.0 formatted discs (after installing the driver software), but it cannot WRITE to them!

I can write just fine if I format the RAM disc to FAT32, but that does me no good (for my purposes).

[The village idiot]

It's odd, I can read/write to UDF1.5 and 2, haven't tried FAT anything yet. With XP you should natively be able to read UDF2, at least that's what Panasonic said on their site in reference to one of the RAM readers.

[The village idiot]

I just tried a test. You can write protect the disk from the ramdisk tool! Try running that and checking your disk. You should also be able to release it.

[leebo]

It's odd, I can read/write to UDF1.5 and 2, haven't tried FAT anything yet. With XP you should natively be able to read UDF2, at least that's what Panasonic said on their site in reference to one of the RAM readers.

You're saying that you can just drag a file to a UDF 2.0 formatted RAM disc in Windows Explorer???

Well, I can't.

And the write protect app reports that write protect on this disc is turned off! I know it was anyway, because otherwise I woulden't be able to format it.

And like I said: when I format the disc to FAT32, I can write to it. But not when I format it to UDF 2.0.

[The village idiot]

Yes, I just drag files, to or from. It acts just like a slow hard drive. maybe your drive is defective? It doesn't seem so since you can format the disks, and there are no visible signs that the disk has been formatted, at least not with mine.

I just tried setting things like write protect, and write/not write for cartridgeless disks, and for cartridge type. And as expected, I could not format when write protect, or when dsik write was otherwise not enabled.

Only thing I can suggest is to un-install the Ram drivers, and install the newer ones. Also make sure you have the newest firmware.

edited see below

[leebo]

Thank you.
I'll check that in a bit.

But yeah, I have no problem writing to the disc - as long as it's formatted to FAT32!

[The village idiot]

Found the firmware: http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/dvdf/D310_A126.zip

A link from this thread got me there (also has some XP RAM problems): http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=90313&highlight=panasonic+firmware

Those might help. Might also de-region and de-macro, didn't really read the text.

[leebo]

Gracias! No need to email me the file I guess.

I'll let you know!

[leebo]

Forget the above.

That firmware is only to A113:

If you can get firmware revision A113, you complete updating
firmware.

Oh wait, I gues the readme is old, but the file is A126. OK.

[leebo]

OK, Flashed to A126.

Still cannot write to the RAM disc as long as it's formatted to UDF 2.0.

I tried un-installing the RAM driver software and installing the version you suggested.

No go.

[The village idiot]

I thought the same thing while reading the readme. I upgraded mine last night, and burned a DVD-R (and watched it), and copied some stuff to RAM, and formated a RAM. So I think it is working. OFFICIAL Panasonic is still at A120 OFFICIAL Vivastar is at A123 I'm also using the "newest" drivers from the Panasonic site for win2000.

Thinking a little more about this, and reading over at the firmware site, it seems that your RAM driver is not entirely installed, or is too old/conflicting with the XP native UDF reader. Just another thought

[leebo]

Thinking a little more about this, and reading over at the firmware site, it seems that your RAM driver is not entirely installed, or is too old/conflicting with the XP native UDF reader. Just another thought

I'm thinking the same thing.
But both RAM driver discs (I have one that came with the drive, and one that came with the Panasonic Movie Album software) say they're for Win XP.

I've tried both, but after formatting to UDF 2.0 (which is the only reason for me to keep this drive), Windows can't write to the disc!

Weird!

[The village idiot]

Could it be conflicting with your other DVD drive? Or other CD drive? That's the last thing I can think of. Or maybe it is broken somehow. This might be a waste of money but, have you tried any of the Panasonic DVD-RAM that are preformatted to UDF 2.0? The ones I mentioned at SEARS are preformatted. Can you format in your standalone recorder? Damn, can't really think of anything else, short of trying another of the same drive, or trying that drive in another machine. Or maybe installing win2000, and see if it then will work.

[leebo]

Damn, can't really think of anything else, short of trying another of the same drive, or trying that drive in another machine.

I "think" I got it, and partially thanks to you.

You concured with me on the idea that something was not right with the RAM driver (actually software to let Windows read and write to a disc formatted to UDF 2.0 file system).

The "drivers" I tried using seemed only to give my system the ability to READ from this format. but not write to it.

So I found other software, and now I can write as well.
Read this copy of a post I made on the AVS forum:

I suspect it's not Nero that wont write to it. Nero can't write to a file format that Windows has some issue with.
If I can't write to a UDF 2.0 formatted RAM disc using Explorer, I can't write to the disc using ANYTHING.

However...

I FINALLY got my system to write to this disc!!!
I am so excited!

Heres what I did:

Went to http://www.vob.de/us/index.htm and downloaded a demo program called "VOB InstantWrite ".

This I guess installed it's own UDF 2.0 write capable driver on my system.
After re-booting, Explorer was able to write to the disc. I copied the DVD_RTAV folder to the RAM disc and voila! MA was able to access it!!!!

[The village idiot]

Very interesting! Maybe you should contact Panasonic and let them know of your problems and how you were able to fix them. That way they might write some better XP drivers. Seems they got the other OS's right, but XP was still fairly new when the wrote those drivers.

[BJ_M]

the latest version of nero supports UDF 2.0 and dvdram it seems .. well i just wrote a 4.4gig file on a dvd disk and wrote it in UDF 2.0 (on a dvd-r recorder) ...

then of course i couldnt read it so i came here and also checked nero site and saw dvd ram support mentioned ..


http://www.vob.de/us/index.htm free reader software fixed my problems anyway ..

prassi will not write a larger than 4 gig file andalso doesnt support udf 2.0 ...

nero does ..

[leebo]

I see from your post that you did not try to burn to DVDRAM, did you?

And your link is the same one I already posted above. Did you get it from Ahead's site?

[BJ_M]

I see from your post that you did not try to burn to DVDRAM, did you?

And your link is the same one I already posted above. Did you get it from Ahead's site?

no i got the link from your post -- i meant to say in short way your suggestion worked except i just installed the free reader..

[leebo]

I see.
But did you try letting Nero write to a UDF 2.x formatted DVDRAM disc?

I tried and Nero told me it wasn't compatable.

Anyway, no big deal. Now I know that you can simply use Windows Explorer to write to the disc.