Question on DVD drives -- how to determine if it can write a DVD as storage drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter byrocat
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byrocat

My system can play DVD's wihtout problems.

However, I'm completely at sea in trying to determine if the drive can
write a DVD blank as a storage device. Drive will easily create a
CD-ROM using the NERO software.

Is there a quick-and-easy way of determining if the drive is DVD
RW-capable?

The front door of the drive does have the DVD symbol with R/RW below
it. This looks like a good sign but I'd like to be sure before I cough
up the cash for a spindle of DVD blanks.

Alternate question: if I use a DVD blank in a drive that is capable of
only writing CD-ROM's, is there any problem?

Reason: Local store has a Christmas spcial on 25-disk spindle of DVD
blanks -- $8Cdn, while the next bin has a 50-disk spindle of CD-ROMS
for $22Cdn.
 
byrocat said:
The front door of the drive does have the DVD symbol with R/RW below
it. This looks like a good sign but I'd like to be sure before I cough
up the cash for a spindle of DVD blanks.
Click to expand...

That's a good bet, but make sure to get the correct "sign", there's
DVD+R and DVD-R which are incompatible. Most drives these days do both
but check carefully.
Alternate question: if I use a DVD blank in a drive that is capable of
only writing CD-ROM's, is there any problem?
Click to expand...

It won't work.
 
Previously byrocat said:
My system can play DVD's wihtout problems.
Click to expand...
However, I'm completely at sea in trying to determine if the drive can
write a DVD blank as a storage device. Drive will easily create a
CD-ROM using the NERO software.
Click to expand...
Is there a quick-and-easy way of determining if the drive is DVD
RW-capable?
Click to expand...
The front door of the drive does have the DVD symbol with R/RW below
it. This looks like a good sign but I'd like to be sure before I cough
up the cash for a spindle of DVD blanks.
Click to expand...

You should be as worried about the quality of the blanks and
their compatibility with your particular writer model and
firmware....
Alternate question: if I use a DVD blank in a drive that is capable of
only writing CD-ROM's, is there any problem?
Click to expand...

No. But it will not burn anything....
Reason: Local store has a Christmas spcial on 25-disk spindle of DVD
blanks -- $8Cdn, while the next bin has a 50-disk spindle of CD-ROMS
for $22Cdn.
Click to expand...

Don't put anything on these that you expect to be radable after
some time. The quality of cheap DVD writables is abysmal...

Arno
 
Ed said:
Just run Nero infotool and check the list that results.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the hint.

Here's what I got from the Nero InfoTool output:
Write CD-R : Yes
Write CD-RW : Yes
Write DVD-R : Yes
Write DVD-RW : Yes
Write DVD+R : Yes
Write DVD+RW : Yes
Write DVD+R DL : Yes
Write DVD-RAM : No
Buffer Underrun Protection


: Yes
Mount Rainier : No
Modes : Packet, TAO, DAO, SAO, RAW SAO, RAW DAO,
RAW SAO 16, RAW SAO 96, RAW DAO 16, RAW DAO 96


Defintiely does look like I can write DVD's.

Also, thatnks everyone for the suggestions.

I'm going to check the manufacturer label after Christmas and then
check around on the quality of the 25-disk spindle to verify if it's a
bargain or garbage.

If nothing else, I can use the spindle to check out my drive and to see
where I can read the DVD from.

I'll definitely chase down the top-quality name (any suggestions,
anyone?!) and start doing backups.

Hope that everyone has a safe, restful and peacefully-blessed Christmas.
 
If the disks are returnable, you can test them with Nero CD-DVD Speed. You
can use Run Test/Create Data Disk to burn a disk, and then click on the Disk
Quality tab and run the test. It will give you a quality rating; some number
out of 100.

If it gets a good rating, that's still not a guarantee that other decks will
like them.
--
Ed Light

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
http://antiwar.com

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
 
Just looked at the Zellers Boxing Week Blowout flyer and they have an
even better deal -- 75 DVD-R or DVD+R blanks for $20Cdn. 25-disk adn
50-disk spindle. Manufactured by Philips.

Anyone have anything to say about the brand or how to determine the
actual quality?
 
byrocat said:
Thanks for the hint.

Here's what I got from the Nero InfoTool output:
Write CD-R : Yes
Write CD-RW : Yes
Write DVD-R : Yes
Write DVD-RW : Yes
Write DVD+R : Yes
Write DVD+RW : Yes
Write DVD+R DL : Yes
Write DVD-RAM : No
Buffer Underrun Protection : Yes
Click to expand...

Hello, byrocat:

Too bad, about the lack of DVD-RAM support; it's the best format,
for backups.

If you use any of the others (which aren't nearly as reliable as
DVD-RAM), be sure to make more than one copy of everything. Treat
the discs very gently, and store them in a cool, dry, dark place
(as free of dust and other contaminants, as possible).
Mount Rainier : No
Modes : Packet, TAO, DAO, SAO, RAW SAO, RAW DAO,
RAW SAO 16, RAW SAO 96, RAW DAO 16, RAW DAO 96

Defintiely does look like I can write DVD's.

Also, thatnks everyone for the suggestions.

I'm going to check the manufacturer label after Christmas and then
check around on the quality of the 25-disk spindle to verify if it's a
bargain or garbage.

If nothing else, I can use the spindle to check out my drive and to see
where I can read the DVD from.

I'll definitely chase down the top-quality name (any suggestions,
anyone?!) and start doing backups.
Click to expand...

It's hard to say, as there's only a relative handful of actual
manufacturers of optical media. Other companies merely relabel
the products, and then distribute them under numerous brand names.

(This situation is far less true of DVD-RAM, incidentally.)
Hope that everyone has a safe, restful and peacefully-blessed Christmas.
Click to expand...

I hope that you had a nice Christmas, too, and will have an
even better New Year's Day!


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>
 
byrocat said:
Just looked at the Zellers Boxing Week Blowout flyer and they have an
even better deal -- 75 DVD-R or DVD+R blanks for $20Cdn. 25-disk adn
50-disk spindle. Manufactured by Philips.

Anyone have anything to say about the brand or how to determine the
actual quality?
Click to expand...


Hello, byrocat:

Philips - like the vast majority of firms, selling optical media -
doesn't really make the discs, which bear its name. Therefore, it
could switch suppliers, at any time, without your knowledge. This
makes it a bit difficult to settle on any particular brand, for
long-term dependability.

Also, individual "burners" can be more or less compatible with certain
blanks. That further clouds the issue -- and hence, it may be a good
idea to experiment, using smaller samples of various vendors' offerings,
before buying the larger "spindles."

Good luck and happy hunting!


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>
 
Previously John Turco said:
Hello, byrocat:
Click to expand...
Philips - like the vast majority of firms, selling optical media -
doesn't really make the discs, which bear its name. Therefore, it
could switch suppliers, at any time, without your knowledge. This
makes it a bit difficult to settle on any particular brand, for
long-term dependability.
Click to expand...
Also, individual "burners" can be more or less compatible with certain
blanks. That further clouds the issue -- and hence, it may be a good
idea to experiment, using smaller samples of various vendors' offerings,
before buying the larger "spindles."
Click to expand...
Good luck and happy hunting!
Click to expand...

It DVD-writable really is a mess. Difficult to figure out, and
if you are unlucky, they change the disks on you right after
you found some that work well. Also completely impossible
to predict long-term stability with such a moving target.

Arno
 
Thanks everyone!

I fired up Nero's quickstart utility, set it to DVD and tried burning a
disk at 16x. Died!

Burned the same files at 8X without errors.

Tried a second disk creation at 12X.

I'll park the data DVDs in a safe container in paper envelopes. Been
downloading a lot of items off of the internet plus what I've received
as attahments on e-mails and want to have a back-up. Yes, have had a
drive die and lost a lot of items.

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions!

Hope that the season has been good to you and yours, regardless of
faith background.
 
byrocat said:
Thanks everyone!

I fired up Nero's quickstart utility, set it to DVD and tried burning a
disk at 16x. Died!

Burned the same files at 8X without errors.

Tried a second disk creation at 12X.
Click to expand...

Hello, byrocat:

Oh, I forgot about that, in my previous responses. It's better to "burn"
at slower speeds, to help ensure successful recordings.
I'll park the data DVDs in a safe container in paper envelopes. Been
downloading a lot of items off of the internet plus what I've received
as attahments on e-mails and want to have a back-up. Yes, have had a
drive die and lost a lot of items.

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions!
Click to expand...

You should also consider an external hard disk, as an extra layer of
backup redundancy. Other than MOD (magneto-optical) and DVD-RAM, I
wouldn't trust any optical medium, entirely.
Hope that the season has been good to you and yours, regardless of
faith background.
Click to expand...

Happy New Year!


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>
 
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