DVD-RAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
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Dave

I have a Toshiba P25 with a matsushita DVD-RAM model UJ-811. I have never
successfully recorded anything to DVD - but not for lack of trying. I am
confused as to what exactly I have here, what media type I should be using
and whether or not to format the disks. I thought DVD-RAM came in
cartridges - but my drive only accepts naked disks. I have a utility to
format DVD disks but figure that only rewrittable media can/should be
formatted.
I know next to nothing about this - any help would be appreciated.

Dave
 
Dave

I have exactly the same problem as you. Mine has a Matsushita UJ-811 DVD-RAM
drive and I have had not any success in recording to DVD and also even
struggle to write to CD although after much "fooling around" have had some
joy with these.

I also have problems trying to play DVD's as typically get an "I/O device
error" when I try to play or access from Windows Explorer

I am using Intervideo WinDVD Creator 2 for software

Toshiba have been of little help on this and the manual offers few solutions.

Bob
 
I, too, have a Toshiba-based DVR with DVD-RAM capability.

First of all, DVD-RAM "disks" look completely different from a standard
DVD-whatever, which as we all know by now looks like a CD. There is no way
to confuse the two. The DVD-RAM disk is a cartridge-type medium. It allows
DVRs the exceptionally useful ability to record and play at the same time.
That is awesome.

What is not so awesome is that DVD-RAM really never caught on, so most
players don't support it. To make matters worse, Toshiba's implementation of
the DVR is less than perfect. The players are highly finicky as to what
media they will play. If you read the fine print in your user manual, you
will find suggested media. These are the only ones claimed to work, and
research on the web proves they are, in fact, the only ones that work at all.
So be prepared to use high-quality DVD-Rs (i.e., expensive) with these
players. I use Taikyo-Ushida DVD-Rs that cost way more than joe-blow DVD-Rs.
Look to the web for price breaks.

Similarly, the devices will balk at many disks created on PCs (many of which
now use DVD+R, which the Toshibas usually don't support). Be happy you
didn't purchase the DVR standalone--it's neurotically finicky about DVDs,
region, format, etc.

After much experimentation, I only use AnyDVD and CloneDVD for DVD copying
(legally, of course) with Taikyo-Ushida DVD-Rs, and that finally works.

Good luck.
Jerry
 
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