Hello,
I've got an odd issue with a Panasonic 50GB BD-RE disc: I can't format it for re-use.
This might have some bearing on the issue: before writing on a BD-RE disc for the very first time, I need to format all my BD-RE media first with Nero 8, then for a second time with ImgBurn. If I skip formatting by Nero 8, ImgBurn claims the disc is not empty. After that, a quick format by ImgBurn is enough -- though some Philips BD-RE media needs to be re-formatted with Nero 8 every now and then, and I've been forced to do a Full format on a couple of discs too.
I haven't ticked the box "Prefer Format Without Spare Areas", but I have ticked the "DVD-RAM / BD-RE FastWrite" box.
I have two BD drives, a Panasonic LF-MB121 and an LG GGW-H20L, both with latest available firmware. I've tried formatting the 50GB disc on both; tried both quick and full formats as well. The disc has been written on only once; with ImgBurn 2.4.0.0, and it performed flawlessly.
Earlier today I needed to empty the disc and burn something else on it. I did a quick format with ImgBurn, and was surprised to see a pop-up window, displaying a number of media types and asking me to select one. I don't remember seeing such a pop-up before. Anyway, I chose BD-RE and clicked OK. Format appeared to pass without problems, but afterwards ImgBurn displayed a "Disc Not Empty" status message.
Closed ImgBurn, ran Nero 8 and tried to do a quick format, but this popped up:
HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L:
This disc in not rewritable and therefore cannot be erased.
Please insert a rewritable disc.
Next I ran Panasonic's WPTool to see if the disc had somehow been write-protected. The app reported "An invalid disc is inserted." Panasonic's DVDForm tool claims the disc is "Unsupported".
This happens to be my only 50GB BD-Re and I'd really hate to lose it. Any advice is heartily appreciated.
thanks,
:: colin
