Empty DVD?

[Han Solo1]

So, I recorded for 30 min on a DVD-RW Memorex in my LG RC700N. When I play it on my stand alone player it works fine no problem. When I insert it in my PC's DVD drive, my computer begins to stall and when I look into the disc it says it is empty. When I insert a DVD into my PC I usually get a DVD folder to pop up, in this case it doesn't happen. Also I tried inserting it into another DVD drive in another PC and I get the same problem. I just don't get it.

[filmboss80]

When you mention your stand-alone player, I assume you mean the LG RC700N that the disc was recorded on. If that's the case, then it's most likely that you did not finalize the disc. It won't play on any other player than the recording deck until it's finalized.

If you did finalize the disc, then the only other reasonable explanation would be poor disc media. Memorex has a terrible reputation for coasters. One playback unit may be more forgiving of the Memorex media than the other.

So there are 2 possibilities mentioned. I'm thinking you just didn't finalize.

[jman98]

As filmboss80 points out, Memorex discs are terrible. Verbatim makes the ONLY reliable RW discs available in the USA. End of story.

Also note that in my experience DVD+/-RW discs don't last anywhere near as long as they are supposed to. I have had discs that seem to misbehave after only 1 burn. They're pretty cheap if buy by the spindle so if I have any RW disc that seems weird, I just throw it out and grab another one off the pile. It's not worth dealing with problem discs.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Another possibility is you burned it in VR mode, always burn in DVD Video mode and finalize.

[Han Solo1]

I don't have a lot a problems with Memorex media. I don't think that's the problem. It has to do with the finalization issue. Although in the past I never had this problem, I would just take out the DVD-RW then use it in the PC with no problem. I think it may have to do something with the VR mode. When initializing I am asked either VR/Video mode and I select VR mode. There are more editing options in VR mode then Video mode. Is there a way to finalize w/o erasing the video content? And from now on I am sticking with video mode. PS thanks for all the suggestions.

[jman98]

I don't have a lot a problems with Memorex media. I don't think that's the problem.

If it's not now, it will be soon enough. But it's your money not mine that's going down the toilet here, so good luck with those discs even if it is the VR problem suggested and you fix it.

[MOVIEGEEK]

ImgBurn can finalize a DVD Video but it won't work on a DVD-VR, you can try IsoBuster but you have to buy it to extract UDF.

[johns0]

I dont have to finalize dvdrw from my dvd recorder to edit on my pc,my lg burner doesnt read dvdrw from my dvd recorder finalized or not but my samsung and previous liteon burner can read the dvdrw no problems,might be you got a lg that wont read these types of burns.

Isobuster wont extract from these dvdrw if your burner cant read it.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Isobuster wont extract from these dvdrw if your burner cant read it.

Not true, it can read DVD-VR even if you get the "drive is empty" error.

[Han Solo1]

I dont have to finalize dvdrw from my dvd recorder to edit on my pc,my lg burner doesnt read dvdrw from my dvd recorder finalized or not but my samsung and previous liteon burner can read the dvdrw no problems,might be you got a lg that wont read these types of burns.


Isobuster wont extract from these dvdrw if your burner cant read it.

I think you misunderstood, it's my pc disc drive that won't read the DVD not the lg dvd/vcr recorder.

[PuzZLeR]

Let me count how many successful sessions I've had correcting errors using IsoBuster...

...one, two, ... , carry the five, .... , divide by ...., ..., ....

... WAIT... still counting here...
...., ...., ....

Final count: ZERO!

(Had to make sure I'd give an accurate report here...)

I don't get this app and its hype. It has NEVER worked for me a single time.

I will highly recommend NeroVision for your problem. It has the ability to pull out streams from discs that have never even been finalized to begin with (never mind a faulty one) by several DvD recorders that I've tested it with.

I will suggest however that you forget (re-)finalizing the "faulty" disc since it may indeed be a faulty finalization to begin with. Just extract the video/audio streams with NeroVision's Import function and re-author with a proven app (as opposed to your recorder's built-in wares which may not be designed correctly, which is a real possibility).

You can still use your recorder to acquire the content, but you probably would need better apps to complete the final project later, which is not uncommon with many members from this forum employing this workflow, even with recorders that may indeed finalize properly. I would use RW media for this migration from DVR -> PC, and of course NeroVision and complete it on PC.

Finalizing this RW disc from the LG may be redundant in this process.

[johns0]

I dont have to finalize dvdrw from my dvd recorder to edit on my pc,my lg burner doesnt read dvdrw from my dvd recorder finalized or not but my samsung and previous liteon burner can read the dvdrw no problems,might be you got a lg that wont read these types of burns.


Isobuster wont extract from these dvdrw if your burner cant read it.

I think you misunderstood, it's my pc disc drive that won't read the DVD not the lg dvd/vcr recorder.

Its you that didnt understand what i wrote,my lg burner (which is on my pc) cant read the dvdrw from my dvd recorder but my liteon and samsung burners(pc) can.I dont refer to dvd recorder as a burner.I said you might have an lg burner (pc)that cant read the dvdrw.

[Han Solo1]

Well I quess thanks go to all for your recomendations but especially to MOVIEGEEK. I just bought Isobuster and it worked like a charm. For some reason and this has happened in the past, I extracted a VRO file instead of the regular VOB files. But no matter because it's just a matter of converting the VRO into an avi file using WinFF which is a very good app.

[Seeker47]

As filmboss80 points out, Memorex discs are terrible. Verbatim makes the ONLY reliable RW discs available in the USA. End of story.

Also note that in my experience DVD+/-RW discs don't last anywhere near as long as they are supposed to. I have had discs that seem to misbehave after only 1 burn. They're pretty cheap if buy by the spindle so if I have any RW disc that seems weird, I just throw it out and grab another one off the pile. It's not worth dealing with problem discs.

I don't use Memorex either, but my experience is a bit different than yours. I've been using TDK -RWs (exclusively) for my Pioneer DVDRs, because they are the only ones I've found so far that are 4X speed rated. (I use them on the PC sometimes also.) It's about 4 years now that I've had the 520, and two that I've had the 640. I've gone through quite a few spindles of these discs, and they've been pretty reliable for me. I would not bet money that anything recorded on them will still be readable two years after the "burn" (yeah, it's a different technology -- I know), nor would I bet on how many times they will be reusable before crapping out, but many have material on them one year after the recording which is all still fine. Those should have been just for temp xfer usage, but things inevitably get sidetracked around here, as seemingly more urgent jobs come along.

PuzZLeR, I've also had more encouraging results from IsoBuster than you have, but I can't really say that I've had enough occasion to test it extensively. There are some other programs that claim to be able to do things with VR-recorded material, such as Cyberlink Power Producer. So far, I've not had a pressing need to uncover just which of them actually delivers on such claims, but whenever I do I will report what I found here. I'm definitely interested in having the capability to recover and transform VR reliably, with the PC. Unlike a lot of folks here, I'm not leery of VR, and do find it advantageous for certain things.

[johns0]

Isobuster wont extract from these dvdrw if your burner cant read it.

Not true, it can read DVD-VR even if you get the "drive is empty" error.

What i said is true,i have a lg burner which cant read some dvdrw and isobuster reads them as blank dvd and cant extract anything but my samsung reads the same dvdrw with no problems,if a burner reads a disc as blank and isobuster can read it means the burner did read it but not showing the t.o.c.

[pinetop]

I will highly recommend NeroVision for your problem. It has the ability to pull out streams from discs that have never even been finalized to begin with (never mind a faulty one) by several DvD recorders that I've tested it with.

How do you use Nero to extract VOBs from an unfinalized disc?

[johns0]

I wouldnt use nero to do anything related to videos,just use isobuster thats been already mentioned.

[PuzZLeR]

I just bought Isobuster and it worked like a charm.

PuzZLeR, I've also had more encouraging results from IsoBuster than you have, but I can't really say that I've had enough occasion to test it extensively.

Glad to hear it did work for you – thanks for the feedback. Again I hear good stuff about this app, and again I’m looking at it.

Does anybody know, is it because I’ve been only testing the trial version, which may be limited?

It’s actually a Catch-22 scenario for me – I won’t register it until the trial version works (at least once) but the trial version won’t work until I register it.

Honestly, it’s not the money, it’s the principal for me, but if I do hear more positive comments about the full version (over the trial) then I will trust this forum and break the cycle and register it. It would indeed be a very useful app.

[PuzZLeR]

How do you use Nero to extract VOBs from an unfinalized disc?

Quite simple actually – like any other "normal" disc.

-Insert disc and fire up NV.
-"Make DVD"… -> "DVD-Video" (but it has worked with "Editable DVD")
-On the next page, "Import Disc" -> select your drive
-Let it do its checking. Soon enough the discs titles should show up. I personally wait to see a thumbnail for each just to make sure they've been read.
-Select your titles, where to save them, etc, and shortly later it will create/output the corresponding (and lossless) .mpg files for you which will be editable, remuxable and reauthorable for your "final" project.

Hope it works.

[Seeker47]

Does anybody know, is it because I’ve been only testing the trial version, which may be limited?

It’s actually a Catch-22 scenario for me – I won’t register it until the trial version works (at least once) but the trial version won’t work until I register it.

Honestly, it’s not the money, it’s the principal for me, but if I do hear more positive comments about the full version (over the trial) then I will trust this forum and break the cycle and register it. It would indeed be a very useful app.

I'm definitely not the best person to ask, but my impression is that this is one of those apps that is more than skin deep, more complicated than it looks. That is to say, a more technically-oriented person who better understands the underlying principles, knows what he is doing, and is more accomplished with the program can get a lot more out of it. Likewise, what I can do with a spreadsheet, or with PS Elements, is rather primitive, compared with what I've seen a lot of others do with those tools.

[PuzZLeR]

I see your point Seeker47. And you are right about the depth involved in spreadsheet analysis beyond mere filters/sorts and such - you would never know until you actually see it in action.

With ISOBuster, I guess there would be support for its intricacies if I do register it and want help.

Since it's not expensive anyway, and it does get excellent feedback from this forum, I should register it anyway just to have it around. I do know for a fact that if it does work indeed one time it will be more than worth its price.

Ok, I'll give it another shot.

[lordsmurf]

The pay version of ISO Buster works better than the free one. I've said that for years.

[PuzZLeR]

Well that's some kind of comfort.

Next time a situation comes up I will definitely purchase it this time around instead of struggling with a limited trial version now that I know - I do trust this forum's advice.

Thanks for the feedback all.

[Seeker47]

The pay version of ISO Buster works better than the free one. I've said that for years.

I forget what they charge for registration: $25. ? If I'm right, that ain't much. I've already gotten at least 3 free updates from them over the last couple years, and v. 2.6 or whatever is just about to emerge from beta.

[Han Solo1]

Sounds there've been a couple of converts to Isobuster in this thread. As matter of fact for another DVD I burned from my LG, Isobuster detected that the DVD had some corrupt vob files. But it was able to recover the files anyway. And for some reason my LG is recording stuff in very low volume. I took some of those DVDs and was able to play them on the GOVideo VR2940 (this thing plays just about anything) and it played on full volume on both speakers. It could be the memorex DVDs but I'm not sure.

[mochazina]

How do you use Nero to extract VOBs from an unfinalized disc?

Quite simple actually – like any other "normal" disc.

-Insert disc and fire up NV.
-"Make DVD"… -> "DVD-Video" (but it has worked with "Editable DVD")
-On the next page, "Import Disc" -> select your drive
-Let it do its checking. Soon enough the discs titles should show up. I personally wait to see a thumbnail for each just to make sure they've been read.
-Select your titles, where to save them, etc, and shortly later it will create/output the corresponding (and lossless) .mpg files for you which will be editable, remuxable and reauthorable for your "final" project.

Hope it works.

So I have a DVD that I made with a VHS converter (I've since returned it to the store) that plays on my DVD player, but my computer refuses to even acknowledge. I downloaded and attempted to recover the data with both ISOBuster and Nero, to no avail. Any other suggestions??? Short of re-purchasing the converter and finalizing with it, is there hope for fully digitizing this video?

[sunflowerturbine]

is there any risk to your discs with isobuster?
i obviouslyu can't re-record any of the videos since my boyfriend is in them and he's no longer here.

$25 isn't bad, but it kidn of is on a college student's budget =p
looking forward to trying it

[MOVIEGEEK]

is there any risk to your discs with isobuster?
i obviouslyu can't re-record any of the videos since my boyfriend is in them and he's no longer here.

$25 isn't bad, but it kidn of is on a college student's budget =p
looking forward to trying it

No risk to the disks but the free version is limited to ISO9660, to extract UDF you have to pay.

[Leftbehind]

Why the heck does everone slam Memorex never had a issue with them sceech been using them for yikes 8/10 yrs now . . .