Executive summary: reasons for Nero DVD playback problems

[Almantas]

The following Nero versions were tested for DVD compatibility: Nero 5.5.9.17 and Nero 5.5.10.0.

Problems discovered:
** Incompatibility: problem No.1 ** (fatal)
Nero creates wrong sorted files in VIDEO_TS directory. It displays "sorting/reallocating video files" in status window, but it DOES NOT DO the actual sorting. Some of DVD players have quite restricted logic inside and expect the files sorted exactly as specified on this web site at http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvd#struct, that is, in strict alphabetical order both for filename and extension together. Wrong sorting is introduced already when you drag and drop the files. Try to do that and notice that files are auto-sorted in some unclear way - some of them moved before others doesn't matter where and in what order you drop them into the destination window. Sorting logic and reason is not clear, but it's wrong - not alphabetical.

So instead of placing the files inside VIDEO_TS folder in the correct order:
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB
...
VTS_0X_X.VOB

Nero place them as:
VIDEO_TS.IFO (wrong!)
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VIDEO_TS.BUP (wrong!)
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB
VTS_01_1.VOB
...
VTS_01_0.BUP (wrong!)

To view the original file order in directory type from Command prompt: DIR X:\VIDEO_TS, (x is your DVD drive letter). In Windows Explorer there is no way to see unsorted files, so use DIR command for that. You will see these differences comparing DVDs burn with Nero and all other applications.

*Workaround: NONE. You can't use Nero for burning most compatible DVDs until this is fixed. Only some of DVD players will recognize disks with not properly sorted files.

** Incompatibility: problem No.2 **
If you are using DVD-Video compilation, it creates UDF 1.5 filesystem. Some DVD boxes use ISO some UDF and most of these understand only UDF 1.02 to read the files, so both ISO and UDF 1.02 filesystems must be on disk for universal compatibility.
* Workaround: select UDF/ISO with ISO level 1 and UDF 1.02 versions, as described on this site. Do not select Joliet for most compatibility.

** Incompatibility: problem No.3 ** (introduced in Nero 5.5.10.0)
There is a new bug - wrong bits are placed in the directory structures that forces Power DVD 3.0 and possibly some other players to malfunction (Power DVD does not recognize menus, for example).
*Workaround: Downgrade to Nero 5.5.9.17 (hovewer this version has other problems like finishing DVD+Rs etc.).

Recommendation: as there is no workaround for problem No.1, meanwhile use other tool for writing DVDs, until these compatibility problems are fixed in some next Nero version. I received Nero with burner, those who paid for Nero and do not have other application - try to request the fixes for these problems from techsupport. You can use this text if needed. Meanwhile use trial versions of other software (RecordNow Max or InstantCD/DVD).

Hope this helps, especially for those who paid for lot of DVD+Rs (will be no chance to correct them later)

[Dragonfly2337]

That's it!

Thank You for the information.

Dragonfly2337

[neopunk]

Thanks dude, I agree with that and I think that's the explanation for the nero thing.
I was forced to change to RECORDMAX, this application does do job.
Now I only have problems with the Media that I am using.

[donpedro]

I hope that this will help to solve problems with Nero.

[defense]

Executive summary for using RecordNowMax: KNOWN PROBLEMS:


NONE


CONCLUSION:

NERO SUCKS! USE RECORDNOWMAX and don't waste more time or money screwing around with Nero.

[Peka]

Almantas,

I've been searching to find the DVD spec for file structure and none of them state specifically that the files must be in alphabetical order.

Does anyone have a link to the actual DVD 2.0 for General spec??

Thanks,

______________

Peka + Drugs =

[Almantas]

Peka,

unfort. I do not have a link to specs and the requirement of alphabetical order for files I noticed from practice when I started to analyze why the disk does not play in very old DVD player of my friend when burned with Nero and plays ok when burned with other software (this player refuses to play some complex original DVDs but still it plays Pinnacle Studio 8 DVDs). So I cannot state that Nero is not up to spec. with wrong sorting, but I analyzed the situation and I have the facts that:
- if I put the files in non-alphabetical order, this old player do not accept the disk, and that does not depend with what software I burn it,
- I can't burn with Nero in alphabetical order. Files are always resorted in unclear way,
- ALL other software except Nero do sort the DVD files in aphabetical order,
- all original DVDs I have have files sorted in alphabetical order.
And from these 4 facts I made the conclusion, that alphabetical ordering of files is the de facto requirement to burn the most compatible disk, unfortunatelly I found no way to do this with Nero.

[larry__ellison]

Thanks for the info - this is terrific.

Add to all this the problems with NeroVision Express (no audio playback) and you have a LOT of unhappy customers. It wouldn't be so bad if Ahead's tech support wasn't so abysmal.

[masterpug]

I agree, but people should realize that if you burn in Nero 5.5.9.17, select udf/iso format, iso level1, no joilet, physical partition vs 1.02, and use dvd-r's then they will play in just about everything! I've tried very old cheap players, older sony players (that won't play mp3's, cdr's,svcd's,etc), pioneer, jvc, phillips, emerson...trust me, sorting issues don't matter if you do exactly as above. No reason to use anything other than dvd-r's by the way...they are by far the most compatible with stand alone dvd players and they are the cheapest to buy and they hold the same amount of data AND you can get them in 4x already, with 8x and 16x due out this year!!!!

RecordNow Max is a great product, and will work flawlessly. However, people doeing full dvd backups with menus,extras, etc need to know the following!!!

***The only way RNM makes dvd's compatible with stand alone dvd players is with the option "recognize VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders as dvd compliant" checked. Otherwise, you just end up with a data dvd that can only be played on a computer.

That said, some people that make full backups like to actually just delete some of the "extras" vobs so that the total burn size fits onto one dvd and they don't have to re-encode the main movie or any of the extras to make it all fit...plus they never plan on watching the stupid extra anyway. With RNM, if you do this and then try to burn, it will stop right at the beginning and give the error message "data job1 terminated with errors". That's because it is checking the VIDEO_TS folder to make sure all the vobs are there that the corresponding IFO's report, I think, and of course they are not because some were deleted. Anyway, it won't work. However, with Nero it will burn just fine, then when you playback and select and "extra" from the menu it will just return right back to the menu since the vob is gone...just like it would return to the menu after the extra was done playing. Since there's no vob it just stays on the menu. So Nero's the perfect solution to dvd backups where some of the "extras" vobs have been deleted on purpose to make the overall size fit on one cd...and you can go straight from rip to burn without any re-encoding!!! Of course, use the Nero setup as mentioned above. Mike

[Bstansbury]

Thanks a million for this post. I've been having nothing but problems since i upgraded to Nero 5.5.9.17 and then to 5.5.10. Since I use DVD+R
I will have to go back to 5.5.x?

I've posted several problems on the forum about the problems with Nero but never got an answer. You get "member of the Month" Thanks again.

[masterpug]

Cool. Nero 5.5.9.17 is solid and should work perfectly for dvd-r's using udf/iso, iso level 1, no joilet, physical partition vs. 1.02 and keep the content size under 4.37gig.

masterpug

[donpedro]

With +R I will recomend 5.5.9.17.0 (first 5.5.9.17).

[Bstansbury]

DonPedro, The version I have is 5.5.9.17 and the date is August 6, 3:21 PM. How else can you tell if you have the .0 version or the .1 version.

Also, many other are still saying that DVD's crash when playing the final chapters. I've also gone back to my orginal version and it crashed my system when I tried to erase a DVD+RW. Those with the DVD-rw-r seem to work fine. It seems to have a lot to do with the ability to "Close the disk".

[donpedro]

Look here :

How can I tell if I have Nero 5.5.9.17.0 or 5.5.9.17.1 ?

If you have still problem to identify it, please update that post.

[Almantas]

I can still firmly state that there is at least one old DVD player in the world which does not play the disk if files are not sorted in alphabetical order. There is no workaround for that in Nero. Also, with version 5.5.10.0 there is a bug which makes Power DVD and possibly other players to malfunction (menus are not active). You can easily reproduce that - create simple menus with Pinnacle Studio 8, burn (use RW or you loose money) the disk with Nero 5.5.10.0 and try to play with power dvd. No menus! So I just repeat the firm recommendation for the "normal" users:
- make benefit of the time I spent on the research and simply do not waste your time - better use the time to create more beautifull content for your DVDs. Do not use Nero software meanwhile for most compatible DVD+R or DVD-R (one time burning) production, as you paid the money for blank disk and you will have no chance to rewrite disk later, when patches will be released with fixes. Create the VIDEO_TS structure and just drag AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders into tools like RecordNow, Instant CD/DVD etc., install them just before burning job, they have trial offers for 30 days or so. Hope fixes will be released for Nero in the near future for those who paid for the Nero or there is a difference for them to use Nero.

For most compatible DVDs, meanwhile use other software for final burning (any: RecordNow, Instant CD/DVD etc.).

It's the trouble-free disk and content on it what matters, not the burning tool or knowledge about ISO filesystems or UDF versions and other not interesting things that our community here was forced to learn and discuss because of infancy of some software with wrong default setups.

[donpedro]

Almantas, are you sure that there is no different reason for that ? I am going to try it. In mean time. Try to use some backround music for your Studio 8 menu to see if that could be the reason.

[defense]

UNREAL how people can continue to acknowledge the countless flaws with INFERO and complain about them, but on the same hand, continue to say they will search for versions from months past. I have said enough about INFERO, so NUFF SAID!

RNM #1