Erased disc reports 'Disc Not Empty'

[terrypin]

Now that I've installed my new NEC DVD drive I'm cheerfully recovering several of the RW discs I'd previously almost written off with the BTC drive. For the +RW types I'm using Full Erase, and that's working fine, and I've subsequently burned a couple of these successfully. But I've just noticed that after a Full Erase I still get the message 'Disc Not Empty' in the status line.

 

Here's a paste from an example:

 

_NEC DVD_RW ND-4570A 1.02 (ATA)

Current Profile: DVD+RW

 

Disc Information:

Status: Complete

Erasable: Yes

Formatted: Yes

Supported Write Speeds: 2.4x, 4x

 

Physical Format Information (ADIP):

Disc ID: MKM-A02-00

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: MKM-A02-00

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

 

Current 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)

 

---------

I 10:01:07 Operation Started!

I 10:01:07 Device: [1:0:0] _NEC DVD_RW ND-4570A 1.02 (H:) (ATA)

I 10:01:07 Media Type: DVD+RW (Disc ID: MKM-A02-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x)

I 10:01:07 Quick Erase: No

I 10:01:07 Erasing Disc...

I 10:15:41 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:34

 

--

Terry, West Sussex, UK

[Shamus_McFartfinger]

But I've just noticed that after a Full Erase I still get the message 'Disc Not Empty' in the status line.

Silly question: Have you refreshed the drive after formatting?

 

[LIGHTNING UK!]

It should do that anyway shamus.

 

It would appear your format isn't erasing the data on the disc properly or something. Straight after a full format, all sectors should have been put back to 'zero'. Your discs still have a filesystem on and that's why they're showing as 'disc not empty'.

As DVD+RW uses direct overwrite, don't see this as a huge problem, it's not.

[terrypin]

Silly question: Have you refreshed the drive after formatting?

 

No, but I ejected and re-loaded the disc. Just done so again, after restarting ImgBurn, and still get that status. And same after F5. Details in the right pane remain exactly the same as before.

 

Hang on, I'll try erasing it again...

 

Hmm - this time, status reports 'Ready'! Otherwise, all info and log were identical. Took 4 seconds less than last time:

I 12:24:36 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:30

 

Curious...

 

--

Terry, West Sussex, UK

[Shamus_McFartfinger]

It should do that anyway shamus.

Yeah...... it should. No point trying to find an error within the program if it doesn't exist though.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

I just wrote some data to one of my +RW's, then erased it again. No problem with the statusbar line my end. It correctly registers as just 'Ready' rather than 'Ready (Disc Not Empty)'.

 

I 12:34:53 Operation Started!

I 12:34:53 Device: [2:1:0] _NEC DVD_RW ND-4571A 1-01 (J:) (ATA)

I 12:34:53 Media Type: DVD+RW (Disc ID: RICOHJPN-W11-01) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x)

I 12:34:53 Quick Erase: No

I 12:34:53 Erasing Disc...

I 12:49:21 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:27

 

I'm actually not a huge fan of verbatim +RW discs. Had too many occassions where they just didn't initialise in the drive properly - even after just burning them. The verify would fail because the drive never became 'ready' again after cycling the tray.

No such problems with the Ricoh ones so far.

[terrypin]

Yes, thank, that squares with the inconsistent result here. As per my later post, the second attempt with same disc gave the correct result.

 

--

Terry, West Sussex, UK

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Just wondering if that was another brand new disc or one you'd tried to format on your BTC drive? If it was the latter, maybe the BTC screwed it up and that's why it failed first time?!

[lfcrule1972]

I really must get myself some RW's for testing, from the above it looks like I should be buying RICOH ones tho ?

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Get a couple of each... that's what I always do!

[lfcrule1972]

Cheers boss will take a look over at SVP....

[terrypin]

Just wondering if that was another brand new disc or one you'd tried to format on your BTC drive? If it was the latter, maybe the BTC screwed it up and that's why it failed first time?!

 

Good thinking. Yes, it was indeed one that I'd tried with the BTC drive. Specifically (my note-keeping is paying off!) it was stuck for about 90 mins at 99% of ImgBurn's attempt to format it. Therafter it was giving 'No disc inserted' messages etc.

 

Since getting the new NEC drive I've 'recovered' no fewer than 14 RW discs of various types that I'd thought were destined for the bin! Have burned about 4 of these so far (50 min DVD, about 2 GB).

 

--

Terry, West Sussex, UK

[Kenadjian]

There is no doubt that when drive / firmware / media all "match up" everything works as it should.

Glad you sorted it out.