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

[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.

 

[Paul Rubin]

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.

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?

It won't work.

 

[Ed Light]

Just run Nero infotool and check the list that results.


--
Ed Light

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

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

 

[Arno Wagner]

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.

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?

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.

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

Arno

 

[byrocat]

Just run Nero infotool and check the list that results.

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.

 

[Ed Light]

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.

 

[byrocat]

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?

 

[John Turco]

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

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.

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.

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


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>

 

[John Turco]

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?

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]>

 

[Arno Wagner]

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!

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

 

[byrocat]

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.

 

[John Turco]

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.

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!

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.

Happy New Year!


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>