Yesterday I tried to burn second of my backup DVDs on this computer & this drive (previously some of my friends had helped me with that as I had just a combodrive, not DVDRW), using the same media as for the first successful burn, but regrettably things didn't happen as expected & were rather strange, keeping in mind all media related advices that can be read at this forum.
So, here's the log :
I 02:44:29 Operation Started!
I 02:44:29 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 02:44:29 Source File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)
I 02:44:29 Source File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes
I 02:44:29 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 02:44:29 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 02:44:29 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 02:44:29 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 02:44:29 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 02:44:29 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 02:44:29 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104
I 02:44:29 Write Mode: DVD
I 02:44:29 Write Type: DAO
I 02:44:29 Write Speed: 4x
I 02:44:29 Link Size: Auto
I 02:44:29 Test Mode: No
I 02:44:29 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 02:44:30 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 02:44:33 Writing LeadIn...
W 02:45:59 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Write Error (my comment - time interval is 1 min 26 sec + 10 sec)
W 02:45:59 Retrying (1 of 20)...
I 02:46:08 Writing LeadIn...
I 02:46:09 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)
I 02:57:11 Synchronising Cache...
I 02:57:12 Closing Track...
I 02:57:20 Finalising Disc...
I 02:57:47 Image MD5: ad63049771261f3ebda07acc86dc7e0b
I 02:57:48 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:18
I 02:57:48 Average Write Rate: 6.115 KB/s (4.4x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.780 KB/s (6.3x)
I 02:57:48 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 02:57:56 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 02:58:09 Device Ready!
I 02:58:10 Operation Started!
I 02:58:10 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 02:58:10 Source Media Type: DVD+RW (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 4x)
I 02:58:10 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 02:58:10 Image File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)
I 02:58:10 Image File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes
I 02:58:10 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 02:58:10 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 02:58:10 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 02:58:10 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 02:58:10 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)
W 03:00:35 Failed to Read Sector 0 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error
W 03:00:45 Failed to Read Sector 1 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error
W 03:00:47 Failed to Read Sector 2 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error
W 03:00:49 Failed to Read Sector 3 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error
E 03:00:53 Failed to Read Sector 4 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error
E 03:00:53 Failed to Verify Sectors!
E 03:00:54 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:02:43
I 03:00:54 Average Verify Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x)
Disc isn't accessible at least from windoze OS - when inserted in any drive (ext. USB DVDRW or int. combo) no any label appears & I get an error trying to open it.
Besides, that's what ImgBurn displays under "device" about this disc now, after that "burn", & more than this - it thinks it's "ready" to write to it again instead of showing "disc not empty"!
LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (USB)
Current Profile: DVD+RW
Disc Information:
Status: Complete
Erasable: Yes
Formatted: Yes
Supported Write Speeds: 4x
TOC Information:
Session 1...
-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 2295103)
-> LeadOut (LBA: 2295104)
Physical Format Information (ADIP):
Disc ID: MCC-004-00
Book Type: DVD+RW
Part Version: 2
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196.608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2.491.711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0
Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: MCC-004-00
Book Type: DVD-ROM
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196.608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2.220.959
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0
Current Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2.295.104
Size: 4.700.372.992 bytes
Time: 510:03:29 (MM:SS:FF)
Preferred Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2.295.104
Size: 4.700.372.992 bytes
Time: 510:03:29 (MM:SS:FF)
Maximum Format Capacity:
Sectors: 2.295.104
Size: 4.700.372.992 bytes
Time: 510:03:29 (MM:SS:FF)
OK, I thought, maybe that was the one & only bad disc amongst all these so good & reliable Verbatims, so I'll just burn another one.
But, after I've looked around in all corners I realized that it was the last one blank DVD of this brand I had at that moment & as you can see that was not the best time (about 3 a.m.) to go out & get some more of them.
The only ones which were still present were cheap ACMEs blank DVDs.
As I wanted to be sure the problem wasn't caused by my drive I decided to test one of these too, to see if it will fail & if yes, then in what exact place.
Here's what I got:
I 05:26:39 Operation Started!
I 05:26:39 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 05:26:39 Source File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)
I 05:26:39 Source File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes
I 05:26:39 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 05:26:39 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 05:26:39 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 05:26:39 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 05:26:39 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 05:26:39 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MBIPG101-R05-01) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 05:26:39 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104
I 05:26:39 Write Mode: DVD
I 05:26:39 Write Type: DAO
I 05:26:39 Write Speed: 4x
I 05:26:39 Link Size: Auto
I 05:26:39 Test Mode: No
I 05:26:39 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 05:26:40 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 05:26:43 Writing LeadIn...
I 05:28:03 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2024351) (my comment - time interval is 1 min 20 sec)
I 05:38:24 Synchronising Cache...
I 05:38:25 Closing Track...
I 05:38:33 Finalising Disc...
I 05:39:00 Image MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff
I 05:39:01 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:12:21
I 05:39:01 Average Write Rate: 6.519 KB/s (4.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.687 KB/s (6.3x)
I 05:39:01 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 05:39:09 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 05:39:22 Device Ready!
I 05:39:23 Operation Started!
I 05:39:23 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 05:39:23 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MBIPG101-R05-01) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 05:39:23 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 05:39:23 Image File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)
I 05:39:23 Image File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes
I 05:39:23 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 05:39:23 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 05:39:23 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 05:39:23 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 05:39:23 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)
I 05:53:33 Device MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff
I 05:53:33 Image MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff
I 05:53:33 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:10
I 05:53:33 Average Verify Rate: 4.763 KB/s (3.4x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 7.857 KB/s (5.7x)
Well, the chance that previously this was just an accident still was possible, so another day I got some new blank Verbatim DVDs which were slightly different externally, so they couldn't "accidentally" have the same problem, but look what I got when I tried to burn one of these DVDs (I added one more small file to previous build for better recognizing which DVD is which when they're inside the drives) :
I 16:09:55 Operation Started!
I 16:09:55 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 16:09:55 Source File Sectors: 2.050.592 (MODE1/2048)
I 16:09:55 Source File Size: 4.199.612.416 bytes
I 16:09:55 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 16:09:55 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 16:09:55 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 16:09:55 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 16:09:55 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 16:09:55 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 16:09:55 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104
I 16:09:56 Write Mode: DVD
I 16:09:56 Write Type: DAO
I 16:09:56 Write Speed: 4x
I 16:09:56 Link Size: Auto
I 16:09:56 Test Mode: No
I 16:09:56 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 16:09:57 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 16:09:59 Writing LeadIn...
W 16:11:14 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Power Calibration Area Error (my comment - time interval is 1 min 15 sec + 9 sec)
W 16:11:14 Retrying (1 of 20)...
I 16:11:22 Writing LeadIn...
I 16:11:23 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2050591)
I 16:19:41 Synchronising Cache...
I 16:19:42 Closing Track...
I 16:19:48 Finalising Disc...
I 16:20:21 Image MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3
I 16:20:22 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:10:25
I 16:20:22 Average Write Rate: 8.251 KB/s (6.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.664 KB/s (6.3x)
I 16:20:22 Cycling Tray before Verify...
I 16:20:51 Device Ready!
I 16:20:55 Operation Started!
I 16:20:55 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 16:20:55 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 16:20:55 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 16:20:55 Image File Sectors: 2.050.592 (MODE1/2048)
I 16:20:55 Image File Size: 4.199.612.416 bytes
I 16:20:55 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3
I 16:20:55 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 16:20:55 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 16:20:55 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 16:20:56 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2050591)
I 16:35:30 Device MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3
I 16:35:30 Image MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3
I 16:35:30 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:35
I 16:35:30 Average Verify Rate: 4.697 KB/s (3.4x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 7.798 KB/s (5.6x)
As I was directly monitoring all the process, I can say that the most suspected in all cases, & especially when Verbatims were used, was "writing lead in" moment - at that time drive was performing several loud "burn-outs" (not in CD-DVD terms, but rather in drag racing ones!) & in the last case even a strong enough burnt taste came out of the drive (yes, this wasn't the same as usual!) - I was almost ready to see a smoke getting out of it.
More than this, there were the least these "writing lead in" (or "burnout" if you prefer) hi-speed turning attempts exactly with this ACME crap as well as this media didn't get ANY error messages.
As I can remember, the very first successful Verbatim DVD burn almost a week ago also suffered from this "burnout" problem:
I 01:43:56 Operation Started!
I 01:43:56 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 01:43:56 Source File Sectors: 2.253.808 (MODE1/2048)
I 01:43:56 Source File Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes
I 01:43:56 Source File Volume Identifier: Mandriva+PClinuxOS
I 01:43:56 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 01:43:56 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 01:43:56 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 01:43:56 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 01:43:56 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 01:43:56 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104
I 01:43:56 Write Mode: DVD
I 01:43:56 Write Type: DAO
I 01:43:56 Write Speed: 8x
I 01:43:56 Link Size: Auto
I 01:43:56 Test Mode: No
I 01:43:56 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 01:43:57 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 01:43:59 Writing LeadIn...
I 01:45:24 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2253807) (my comment - time interval is not less than 1 min 25 sec)
W 01:51:20 Waiting for buffers to recover...
I 01:51:47 Writing Image...
I 01:56:54 Synchronising Cache...
I 01:56:55 Closing Track...
I 01:57:03 Finalising Disc...
I 01:57:28 Image MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39
I 01:57:28 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:32
I 01:57:28 Average Write Rate: 6.532 KB/s (4.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.769 KB/s (6.3x)
I 01:57:28 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 01:57:37 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 01:57:50 Device Ready!
I 01:57:50 Operation Started!
I 01:57:50 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 01:57:50 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 01:57:50 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 01:57:50 Image File Sectors: 2.253.808 (MODE1/2048)
I 01:57:50 Image File Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes
I 01:57:50 Image File Volume Identifier: Mandriva+PClinuxOS
I 01:57:50 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!
I 01:57:50 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 01:57:50 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)
I 01:57:51 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2253807)
I 02:11:29 Device MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39
I 02:11:29 Image MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39
I 02:11:29 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:38
I 02:11:29 Average Verify Rate: 5.510 KB/s (4.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 8.739 KB/s (6.3x)
I 02:32:08 Operation Started!
I 02:32:08 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)
I 02:32:08 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)
I 02:32:08 Source Media Sectors: 2.253.808
I 02:32:08 Source Media Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes
I 02:32:08 Verify Against Image File: No
I 02:32:08 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2253807)
I 02:41:45 Device MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39
I 02:41:45 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:09:37
I 02:41:45 Average Verify Rate: 7.812 KB/s (5.6x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 10.975 KB/s (7.9x)
This last part of the log file is another joke (can someone explain me what it was & what could be the sense of it?) but let's go back to the main topic, cos it's time for some interesting questions to arrive:
1. Why ACMEs crap media gave the best result competing with famous Verbatim DVDs from different batches?
2. If this isn't enough statistical data to make some certain conclusions - how many blank DVDs of both brands & from how much different batches I must try to see as obvious that the Verbatim media is worth it's more than 50% higher price?
(for examle - I've burned about >50 CD-Rs last year, about >20 of which are from ACME & about >30 are Verbatim ones, but I don't see any worth mentioning difference in % of coasters made in both cases)
3. What is the cause of such a long "writing lead in" process, especially when writing to DVD discs (compared to CDs) & why it's followed by such a loud hi-speed "burnouts"?
4. If some errors appeared during "writing lead in", but then all the written to disc data was verified as correct - does this mean an increased chance of fail in the future, cos the other disc, which gave similar error at the same operation, failed to verify right after burn & exactly in the beginning of the disc, what directly corresponds with an operation which gave the error?
Thank you for your attention!