dbminter

Yeah, this forum isn't dead. It's not jumping and jiving, but it's not dead. Every few days, someone posts some request for help. Even the occasional spam.

You say this has never happened before, but have you always used these MKM discs? Those are the quality Verbatim discs, so you're not using junk discs. If you've had no problem with these discs before and you've burned a good deal of them, then you probably need to replace your drive. If this is your first time trying to burn these MKM discs, it may be your drive doesn't like them. Try updating the firmware if there is one.

I honestly don't use BD DL media anymore. I used to use BD-RE DL to write the monthly Windows data backups to external media. But, since flash drives (And now USB SSD's.) got lower in cost and higher capacities, plus are much faster, I switched to those.

You could try not using the cheap CMC MAG discs. However, if they worked before, changing to something other than cheap media probably wouldn't work. But, you would be able to narrow it down to the drive if you tried the better Verbatim (NOT Life Series.) BD-R and got the same results.

The problem is either your drive or Windows in conjunction with the drive. You say your PS3 recognizes data on these discs but Windows does not? Since the PS3 recognizes data on them, ImgBurn is writing data to them. It's just Windows is not recognizing it. When you get one of these BD that Windows shows is blank, go into Read mode and see if ImgBurn recognizes a disc is inserted. Then, try reading that BD to an image file. If ImgBurn can recognize data on the disc, it's a Windows problem, most likely. If ImgBurn can't recognize data on the disc, I'd be more likely to blame the drive as being problematic.

What do you mean by CDE? Do you mean CDR and it's a typo? So, you're saying the CD-RW boots, but the ISO you made from the CD-RW and you're burning to CD-R doesn't boot? What created the ISO? ImgBurn's Read of the CD-RW or Build mode creating a new ISO?

Of those 3 drives, the only one I would recommend is one you don't have on your list. I use the LG WH16NS60. NOT the 40. The problems with the Pioneer drive: Pioneer has gradually declined in quality until it's unacceptable in its current state. The first Pioneer I had lasted almost 2 years. The last one I had didn't last 2 months. Plus, they keep borking the firmware. They keep messing it up so now it can't properly write to Ritek 8x DVD+RW discs anymore. The problem with the WH16NS40 is precisely what you want to use it for. Data backups to BD media. While single layer BD media is fine in the NS40, double layer BD and BD-RE WILL fail 9 times out of 10! If you don't plan on using BD-R DL or BD-RE DL, it's fine, though. I don't recall too much about the WH14NS40. so it may have been fine. I just don't remember if I ever had that model and if I did, what peculiarities it might have had.

Yeah, if you can buy blanks one at a time, that's definitely cheaper. However, be aware the nature of the beast means one disc can work fine and then the next won't.

You're probably more likely than other to find the drive is the problem. I'd start with the drive first and then work on the discs. Although it is cheaper to try the discs first, probably. However, if the problem lies with the burner, you've got to replace it anyway, and you're out extra money for the discs. And the discs you try may not work right with the new burner. It's the nature of the beast, unfortunately.

I can't guarantee a new burner will solve the problem, though. If you get a new one AND it's different than the last one you had and you still get problems, then the next step would be to try swapping out the Verbatim DVD+R for something else. Maybe Taiyo Yuden DVD+R if they make them. Or try Verbatim DVD-R. I eventually had to switch to TY DVD-R because the LG WH16NS60 stopped liking anything from Verbatim that was DVD+R or DVD-R.

Well, if you've been using this same burner for 4 years, I would definitely look to try to replace it first. Since it's USB, if I remember correctly, it's easy to swap out for a new one. And, to be honest, it's where I'd start first. Given how relatively cheap USB DVD burners are, too. And you can't necessarily write off the discs. If you just started this package of discs, Verbatim could have changed the manufacturing process. They apparently did with DVD+R because my 2nd to last batch of Verbatim DVD+R worked fine in the LG WH16NS60, but the last batch I bought all failed miserably.

Well, you're not using crap discs, so that's not the problem. You say you've had no problems thus far and it just started up? Have you always used these same discs or did you just start recently using them? Even though they're quality discs, your drive may still not like them, like the LG WH16NS60 does. If you've used these discs fine before and now you're getting problems, how long have you been using this DVD burner? It may have just given up the ghost.

Just a guess; LUK will have to verify or deny it, but that Tools read speed option may only affect Read mode operations. Meaning when you're creating an image from a disc. I don't know, but it may not affect Verify rates. However, a Verify is, in essence, a Read operation.

Oh, I think I misunderstood what you were asking. Any operation, read or write, will effectively start at 0x and gradually increase to, say, the 4x you set. The speed of any operation will also fluctuate, depending on a variety of factors.

Like I said, a disc may be rated for X, but the write strategy in the firmware may allow for slower or faster speeds. A lot of 6x rated BD-R will burn at 12x in most drives. My LG will do that. It depends on the firmware write strategies. You said this drive had some kind of quiet setting? You could try disabling it. I always disabled the Quiet mode on my Pioneer drives to get faster read speeds. I don't care if my drive makes noise. I want the fastest speed I can get out of it. ImgBurn has some advanced settings for certain manufacturers like Pioneer where you can disable the quiet setting. Otherwise, the manufacturer of your drive may have a utility of its own to do that. Pioneer also makes its own utility for changing drive settings, but ImgBurn can do them, too, with its Advanced functions.