I had been using an old version of ImgBurn for burning CDs & DVDs, without incident. When I decided to take the plunge and jump into dual-layer disk burning, the online recommendations were to get and use the latest version of ImgBurn (which I did -- ver.2.5.2.0). I also bought "JVC DVD-R DL 2-8x Version 3.0/8x" (JVC is the new name for Taiyo Yuden -- well known as among "the best quality" recording DVDs).
The first disk burned fine (ImgBurn's AWS determined the best write speed) and played back fine on the same burner. An early model burner on another computer refused to recognize the disk at all. Then, in one stand alone DVD player, it played fine except at a certain area near the end of the disk (1st layer), where it stalled temporarily at several places right up to the end. (I've come to know this as a burn problem on cheap disks and is usually remedied with a slower burn rate.) Another stand alone DVD player had no problems at all.
Trying to burn a new disk at a slower rate (manually set to "2x" -- a legal speed for this disk according to ImgBurn) produced the "Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error" and a coaster (ouch! my wallet!). Here's the log for a failed attempt:
I 23:34:12 ImgBurn Version 2.5.2.0 started!
I 23:34:12 Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195 : Service Pack 4)
I 23:34:12 Total Physical Memory: 228,708 KB - Available: 126,964 KB
I 23:34:12 Initialising SPTI...
I 23:34:12 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 23:34:12 -> Drive 1 - Info: LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S PS0B (G:) (ATA)
I 23:34:12 Found 1 DVD±RW!
I 23:36:52 Operation Started!
I 23:36:52 Building Image Tree...
I 23:36:52 Calculating Totals...
I 23:36:52 Preparing Image...
I 23:37:00 Using Layer Break LBA: 2071310 -> 2092896 (VTS_03_0.IFO)
I 23:37:00 Contents: 28 Files, 2 Folders
I 23:37:00 Content Type: DVD Video
I 23:37:00 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 23:37:00 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:37:00 Volume Label: DVD
I 23:37:00 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 23:37:00 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 23:37:00 TV System: NTSC
I 23:37:00 Size: 8,398,135,296 bytes
I 23:37:00 Sectors: 4,100,652
I 23:37:00 Image Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:37:00 Image Sectors: 4,122,544
I 23:37:00 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:07
I 23:37:21 Operation Started!
I 23:37:21 Building Image Tree...
I 23:37:21 Calculating Totals...
I 23:37:21 Preparing Image...
I 23:37:33 Using Layer Break LBA: 2071310 -> 2092896 (VTS_03_0.IFO)
I 23:37:33 Contents: 28 Files, 2 Folders
I 23:37:33 Content Type: DVD Video
I 23:37:33 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 23:37:33 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:37:33 Volume Label: DVD
I 23:37:33 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 23:37:33 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 23:37:33 TV System: NTSC
I 23:37:33 Size: 8,398,135,296 bytes
I 23:37:33 Sectors: 4,100,652
I 23:37:33 Image Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:37:33 Image Sectors: 4,122,544
I 23:37:35 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:13
I 23:37:35 Operation Started!
I 23:37:35 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 23:37:35 Source File Sectors: 4,122,544 (MODE1/2048)
I 23:37:35 Source File Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:37:35 Source File Volume Identifier: DVD
I 23:37:35 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 23:37:35 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 23:37:35 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:37:35 Destination Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S PS0B (G:) (ATA)
I 23:37:35 Destination Media Type: DVD-R DL (Disc ID: TYG11) (Speeds: 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 23:37:35 Destination Media Sectors: 4,171,712
I 23:37:35 Write Mode: DVD
I 23:37:35 Write Type: DAO
I 23:37:35 Write Speed: 2x
I 23:37:35 Link Size: Auto
I 23:37:35 Lock Volume: Yes
I 23:37:35 Test Mode: No
I 23:37:35 OPC: No
I 23:37:35 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 23:37:35 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 2,770 KB/s (2x)
I 23:37:35 Advanced Settings - Force HT: Yes, Online HT: No, OverSpeed: No, SmartBurn: Yes
I 23:37:35 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,092,896
I 23:37:35 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: File System File Start LBA
I 23:37:35 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 23:37:36 Writing LeadIn...
W 23:37:51 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
W 23:37:51 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 23:38:03 Retry Failed - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
W 23:38:03 Retrying (2 of 20)...
W 23:38:12 Retry Failed - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
W 23:38:12 Retrying (3 of 20)...
W 23:38:23 Retry Failed - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
W 23:38:23 Retrying (4 of 20)...
I 23:38:25 Abort Request Acknowledged
W 23:38:40 Retry Failed - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
E 23:38:40 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Power Calibration Area Error
I 23:38:40 Synchronising Cache...
W 23:38:48 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions.
E 23:38:48 Failed to Write Image!
E 23:38:48 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:01:13
I 23:38:48 Average Write Rate: N/A - Maximum Write Rate: N/A
Trying again after a shut-down and restart (just in case of Windows2000-SP4 and/or hardware glitches) produced another coaster. Finally, setting the write speed back to AWS allowed the burn to successfully complete. However, this time I saw assort error messages that I didn't notice after the first successful burn (who looks for errors on a successful burn?). The error was "Write Speed Miscompare!". Here's the log again:
I 23:45:26 Operation Started!
I 23:45:26 Building Image Tree...
I 23:45:26 Calculating Totals...
I 23:45:26 Preparing Image...
I 23:45:31 Using Layer Break LBA: 2071310 -> 2092896 (VTS_03_0.IFO)
I 23:45:31 Contents: 28 Files, 2 Folders
I 23:45:31 Content Type: DVD Video
I 23:45:31 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 23:45:31 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:45:31 Volume Label: DVD
I 23:45:31 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 23:45:31 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 23:45:31 TV System: NTSC
I 23:45:31 Size: 8,398,135,296 bytes
I 23:45:31 Sectors: 4,100,652
I 23:45:31 Image Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:45:31 Image Sectors: 4,122,544
I 23:45:34 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:08
I 23:45:34 Operation Started!
I 23:45:34 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 23:45:34 Source File Sectors: 4,122,544 (MODE1/2048)
I 23:45:34 Source File Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:45:34 Source File Volume Identifier: DVD
I 23:45:34 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 23:45:34 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 23:45:34 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:45:34 Destination Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S PS0B (G:) (ATA)
I 23:45:34 Destination Media Type: DVD-R DL (Disc ID: TYG11) (Speeds: 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 23:45:34 Destination Media Sectors: 4,122,544
I 23:45:34 Write Mode: DVD
I 23:45:34 Write Type: DAO
I 23:45:34 Write Speed: MAX
I 23:45:34 Link Size: Auto
I 23:45:34 Lock Volume: Yes
I 23:45:34 Test Mode: No
I 23:45:34 OPC: No
I 23:45:34 BURN-Proof: Enabled
W 23:45:34 Write Speed Miscompare! - MODE SENSE: 11,080 KB/s (8x), GET PERFORMANCE: 4,432 KB/s (3.3x)
I 23:45:34 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 4,432 KB/s (3.3x)
I 23:45:34 Advanced Settings - Force HT: Yes, Online HT: No, OverSpeed: No, SmartBurn: Yes
I 23:45:34 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,092,896
I 23:45:34 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: File System File Start LBA
E 23:45:38 Failed to Reserve Track! - Reason: Command Sequence Error
E 23:45:39 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:00:04
I 23:45:39 Average Write Rate: N/A - Maximum Write Rate: N/A
I 23:49:00 Operation Started!
I 23:49:00 Building Image Tree...
I 23:49:00 Calculating Totals...
I 23:49:00 Preparing Image...
I 23:49:08 Using Layer Break LBA: 2071310 -> 2092896 (VTS_03_0.IFO)
I 23:49:09 Contents: 28 Files, 2 Folders
I 23:49:09 Content Type: DVD Video
I 23:49:09 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 23:49:09 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:49:09 Volume Label: DVD
I 23:49:09 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 23:49:09 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 23:49:09 TV System: NTSC
I 23:49:09 Size: 8,398,135,296 bytes
I 23:49:09 Sectors: 4,100,652
I 23:49:09 Image Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:49:09 Image Sectors: 4,122,544
I 23:49:10 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:10
I 23:49:10 Operation Started!
I 23:49:10 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 23:49:10 Source File Sectors: 4,122,544 (MODE1/2048)
I 23:49:10 Source File Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 23:49:10 Source File Volume Identifier: DVD
I 23:49:10 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 23:49:10 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 23:49:10 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:49:10 Destination Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S PS0B (G:) (ATA)
I 23:49:10 Destination Media Type: DVD-R DL (Disc ID: TYG11) (Speeds: 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 23:49:11 Destination Media Sectors: 4,171,712
I 23:49:11 Write Mode: DVD
I 23:49:11 Write Type: DAO
I 23:49:11 Write Speed: MAX
I 23:49:11 Link Size: Auto
I 23:49:11 Lock Volume: Yes
I 23:49:11 Test Mode: No
I 23:49:11 OPC: No
I 23:49:11 BURN-Proof: Enabled
W 23:49:11 Write Speed Miscompare! - MODE SENSE: 11,080 KB/s (8x), GET PERFORMANCE: 4,432 KB/s (3.3x)
I 23:49:11 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 4,432 KB/s (3.3x)
I 23:49:11 Advanced Settings - Force HT: Yes, Online HT: No, OverSpeed: No, SmartBurn: Yes
I 23:49:11 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,092,896
I 23:49:11 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: File System File Start LBA
I 23:49:11 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 23:49:11 Writing LeadIn...
I 23:50:48 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 4122543)
I 23:50:48 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 4122543)
I 23:50:48 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 2092895)
I 23:58:38 Writing Layer 1... (LBA: 2092896 - 4122543)
I 00:06:17 Synchronising Cache...
I 00:07:19 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:18:08
I 00:07:19 Average Write Rate: 8,884 KB/s (6.4x) - Maximum Write Rate: 11,158 KB/s (8.1x)
I 00:07:19 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 00:07:26 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 00:07:51 Device Ready!
I 00:07:55 Operation Started!
I 00:07:55 Source Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S PS0B (G:) (ATA)
I 00:07:55 Source Media Type: DVD-R DL (Book Type: DVD-R) (Disc ID: TYG11) (Speeds: 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 00:07:55 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 00:07:55 Image File Sectors: 4,122,544 (MODE1/2048)
I 00:07:55 Image File Size: 8,442,970,112 bytes
I 00:07:55 Image File Volume Identifier: DVD
I 00:07:55 Image File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 00:07:55 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 00:07:55 Image File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 00:07:55 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX
I 00:07:55 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 4122543)
I 00:07:55 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 4122543)
I 00:07:55 Verifying Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 2092895)
I 00:16:54 Verifying Layer 1... (LBA: 2092896 - 4122543)
I 00:25:29 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:17:34
I 00:25:29 Average Verify Rate: 7,830 KB/s (5.7x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 11,263 KB/s (8.1x)
So, if I try a lower write speed for a more reliable burn, it makes a coaster, and if I let it burn the way it wants, it burns out of DVD spec (?) and cause playback problems on random players. Any recommendations? Perhaps a previous version of ImgBurn ... or a new version with a fix? Thanks!