Disc burned perfectly, then shows up as blank

[Eric123]

I know this topic has been posted countless times here, but I could never find a thread that specifically described the problem I'm having now. I just burned a DVD with ImgBurn, and everything from the log is leading me to believe it's perfect. However, when I put it back into my DVD-RW drive, it shows up as a blank disc. The same thing happens when I put it into another DVD-ROM drive, and in my set-top DVD recorder (shows up as blank). I should also mention that none of the drives is "struggling" to read the contents; the blank disc dialog box pops up after just a few seconds. If I flip the DVD over, I can clearly see that data has been written to it so it's not a case of nothing being burned. I have used the same media several times (all from the same spindle) and never had that problem before. Thanks a lot for any help any of you might be able to provide.

 

Here's the log, if that can be of any help:

 

I 20:31:29 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!

I 20:31:29 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 20:31:29 Total Physical Memory: 3,406,252 KB - Available: 2,454,028 KB

I 20:31:29 Initialising SPTI...

I 20:31:29 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 20:31:29 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 20:32:16 Operation Started!

I 20:32:16 Building Image Tree...

I 20:32:17 Checking Directory Depth...

I 20:32:17 Calculating Totals...

I 20:32:17 Preparing Image...

I 20:32:17 Checking Path Length...

I 20:32:17 Contents: 3 Files, 0 Folders

I 20:32:17 Size: 4,401,481,728 bytes

I 20:32:17 Sectors: 2,149,161

I 20:32:17 Image Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 20:32:17 Image Sectors: 2,149,440

I 20:32:17 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00

I 20:32:29 Operation Started!

I 20:32:29 Building Image Tree...

I 20:32:29 Checking Directory Depth...

I 20:32:29 Calculating Totals...

I 20:32:29 Preparing Image...

I 20:32:30 Checking Path Length...

I 20:32:30 Contents: 3 Files, 0 Folders

I 20:32:30 Size: 4,401,481,728 bytes

I 20:32:30 Sectors: 2,149,161

I 20:32:30 Image Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 20:32:30 Image Sectors: 2,149,440

I 20:32:31 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:01

I 20:32:31 Operation Started!

I 20:32:31 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 20:32:31 Source File Sectors: 2,149,440 (MODE1/2048)

I 20:32:31 Source File Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 20:32:31 Source File Volume Identifier: A_R_S

I 20:32:31 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.4.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 20:32:31 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 20:32:31 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet, UDF (1.02)

I 20:32:31 Destination Device: [2:0:0] TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223Q SB03 (D:) (ATA)

I 20:32:31 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MAXELL-002-00) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x)

I 20:32:31 Destination Media Sectors: 2,295,104

I 20:32:31 Write Mode: DVD

I 20:32:31 Write Type: DAO

I 20:32:31 Write Speed: 4x

I 20:32:31 DVD+R Reserve Track: No

I 20:32:31 Link Size: Auto

I 20:32:31 Test Mode: No

I 20:32:31 OPC: No

I 20:32:31 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 20:32:31 Book Type Setting: DVD-ROM

I 20:32:31 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 20:32:32 Writing LeadIn...

I 20:32:48 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 20:32:48 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 20:45:56 Synchronising Cache...

I 20:46:00 Closing Track...

I 20:46:03 Finalising Disc...

I 20:46:19 Exporting Graph Data...

I 20:46:19 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_CDDVDW_SH-S223Q_SB03_OCTOBER-30-2010_8-32_PM_MAXELL-002-00_4x.ibg

I 20:46:19 Export Successfully Completed!

I 20:46:19 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:47

I 20:46:19 Average Write Rate: 5,462 KB/s (3.9x) - Maximum Write Rate: 5,671 KB/s (4.1x)

I 20:53:09 Close Request Acknowledged

I 20:53:09 Closing Down...

I 20:53:09 Shutting down SPTI...

I 20:53:09 ImgBurn closed!

[ianymaty]

Update ImgBurn to current version. See my signature.

 

Use disc from another spindle or better, use some different media, Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden are recommended, to rule out the bad media

 

Provide a full log with burn and verify.

[Eric123]

Update ImgBurn to current version. See my signature.

 

Use disc from another spindle or better, use some different media, Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden are recommended, to rule out the bad media

 

Provide a full log with burn and verify.

 

I'll update ImgBurn soon...although I doubt the problem has anything to do with ImgBurn or the version I'm using because I've been using the same one for 1 1/2 year and never had a problem.

 

I used a Verbatim DVD-R later last night, and it worked fine just like it normally does. I've posted the log below. However, I wouldn't even consider the possibility that the Maxell's are bad or defective because this is the second spindle of those Maxell DVD+Rs I'm using (I've used all 50 in the first spindle, and about 20 in the current one) and it's the first time I'm having any issue. I haven't replaced my burner either so everything I was using 1 1/2 year ago (burner, software, media), I'm still using it today.

 

By the way, I've also tried recording on a Maxell DVD+R once again this afternoon, and the end result is slightly different. My DVD-RW drive attempts to read it for several minutes and nothing ever shows up, which usually happens with defective media. But again, I would find it very strange that after using about 70 of those discs in that same burner and getting perfect burns every time, the rest of the discs (or at least the 3 discs I've used in the last 3 days) would suddenly fail for no apparent reason.

 

Here's the burn log for the Verbatim disc:

; //****************************************\\

; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log

; Sunday, 31 October 2010, 01:37:19

; \\****************************************//

;

;

I 01:25:59 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!

I 01:25:59 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 01:25:59 Total Physical Memory: 3,406,252 KB - Available: 2,423,848 KB

I 01:25:59 Initialising SPTI...

I 01:25:59 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 01:25:59 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 01:26:44 Operation Started!

I 01:26:44 Building Image Tree...

I 01:26:44 Checking Directory Depth...

I 01:26:44 Calculating Totals...

I 01:26:44 Preparing Image...

I 01:26:44 Checking Path Length...

I 01:26:44 Contents: 3 Files, 0 Folders

I 01:26:44 Size: 4,401,481,728 bytes

I 01:26:44 Sectors: 2,149,161

I 01:26:44 Image Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 01:26:44 Image Sectors: 2,149,440

I 01:26:44 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00

I 01:26:50 Operation Started!

I 01:26:50 Building Image Tree...

I 01:26:50 Checking Directory Depth...

I 01:26:50 Calculating Totals...

I 01:26:50 Preparing Image...

I 01:26:50 Checking Path Length...

I 01:26:50 Contents: 3 Files, 0 Folders

I 01:26:50 Size: 4,401,481,728 bytes

I 01:26:50 Sectors: 2,149,161

I 01:26:50 Image Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 01:26:50 Image Sectors: 2,149,440

I 01:26:51 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:01

I 01:26:51 Operation Started!

I 01:26:51 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 01:26:51 Source File Sectors: 2,149,440 (MODE1/2048)

I 01:26:51 Source File Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 01:26:51 Source File Volume Identifier: A_R_S

I 01:26:51 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.4.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 01:26:51 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 01:26:51 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet, UDF (1.02)

I 01:26:51 Destination Device: [2:0:0] TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223Q SB03 (D:) (ATA)

I 01:26:51 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: MCC 03RG20) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x)

I 01:26:51 Destination Media Sectors: 2,298,496

I 01:26:51 Write Mode: DVD

I 01:26:51 Write Type: DAO

I 01:26:51 Write Speed: 6x

I 01:26:51 Link Size: Auto

I 01:26:51 Test Mode: No

I 01:26:51 OPC: No

I 01:26:51 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 01:26:51 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 01:26:52 Writing LeadIn...

I 01:27:28 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 01:27:28 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 01:36:27 Synchronising Cache...

I 01:36:44 Exporting Graph Data...

I 01:36:44 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_CDDVDW_SH-S223Q_SB03_OCTOBER-31-2010_1-26_AM_MCC_03RG20_6x.ibg

I 01:36:44 Export Successfully Completed!

I 01:36:44 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:09:52

I 01:36:44 Average Write Rate: 7,959 KB/s (5.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8,375 KB/s (6.0x)

I 01:37:19 Close Request Acknowledged

I 01:37:19 Closing Down...

I 01:37:19 Shutting down SPTI...

I 01:37:19 ImgBurn closed!

 

And now the verify log:

; //****************************************\\

; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log

; Sunday, 31 October 2010, 01:55:52

; \\****************************************//

;

;

I 01:50:22 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!

I 01:50:22 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 01:50:22 Total Physical Memory: 3,406,252 KB - Available: 2,449,404 KB

I 01:50:22 Initialising SPTI...

I 01:50:22 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 01:50:22 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 01:50:41 Operation Started!

I 01:50:41 Source Device: [2:0:0] TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223Q SB03 (D:) (ATA)

I 01:50:41 Source Media Type: DVD-R (Book Type: DVD-R) (Disc ID: MCC 03RG20) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x)

I 01:50:41 Source Media Sectors: 2,149,440

I 01:50:41 Source Media Size: 4,402,053,120 bytes

I 01:50:41 Verify Against Image File: No

I 01:50:41 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX

I 01:50:41 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 01:50:41 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2149439)

I 01:55:23 Exporting Graph Data...

I 01:55:23 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_CDDVDW_SH-S223Q_SB03_OCTOBER-31-2010_1-50_AM_MCC_03RG20.ibg

I 01:55:23 Export Successfully Completed!

I 01:55:23 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:04:41

I 01:55:23 Average Verify Rate: 15,267 KB/s (11.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 21,845 KB/s (15.8x)

I 01:55:52 Close Request Acknowledged

I 01:55:52 Closing Down...

I 01:55:52 Shutting down SPTI...

I 01:55:52 ImgBurn closed!

[ianymaty]

I think you answered yourself...

 

Just compare the speeds supported on MAXELL media

Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MAXELL-002-00) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x)

with speeds supported on Verbatim media

Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: MCC 03RG20) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x)

and you'll know it is a drive/firmware/media combination issue.

 

ImgBurn don't care about the disc, it repports what the drive can do with that disc and all it does is sending data to drive the rest is up to drive if it can correctly write that disc.

 

The update to current version of ImgBurn is reccomended cause we can't/won't support all the released versions, just the latest, and are countless bug fixes and improvements in every version released.

[Eric123]

I think you answered yourself...

 

Just compare the speeds supported on MAXELL media

Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MAXELL-002-00) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x)

with speeds supported on Verbatim media

Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: MCC 03RG20) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x)

and you'll know it is a drive/firmware/media combination issue.

 

ImgBurn don't care about the disc, it repports what the drive can do with that disc and all it does is sending data to drive the rest is up to drive if it can correctly write that disc.

 

The update to current version of ImgBurn is reccomended cause we can't/won't support all the released versions, just the latest, and are countless bug fixes and improvements in every version released.

 

The speeds reported by ImgBurn are correct: the packaging for the Maxell DVD+R's says they are certified up to 8x, and the Verbatim packaging says they are certified up to 16x. I burned the Maxell's at 4x so I don't think that's the source of the problem.

 

And I updated ImgBurn to version 2.5.2.0 yesterday, however that didn't change anything and I had the same problem with a disc I burned after updating. Could it be an issue with the disc's table of contents or something that is erroneous in the first few sectors?

 

But here's the best part: after burning the disc for the first time, I flipped it over to make sure data had been recorded onto it and I clearly saw the area that had been burned. Then, I put it back in the drive and the disc was reported as blank. So I started ImgBurn once again and burned the DVD a second time. To my biggest surprise, I never got an error message and the burn sequence started just as if the disc was actually blank. After that, I could see that the burned area of the disc had darker circles in certain places (which makes sense, since it was burned twice). Hopefully this will not damage the drive...

 

But what puzzles me the most is that, after burning approximately 70 discs from the same two spindles with the same DVD-RW burner (and the same firmware), at the same speed (4x) and with the same program (ImgBurn) and never having a problem, I didn't even get one good burn out of the last five I've made. Now I'm almost scared to try burning any more of those discs because I'm almost sure they'll turn into coasters. Would anyone have any other ideas? Thanks again for your help.

[ianymaty]

Sounds like your drive is going down.

 

If it still produce good job on Verbatim, you better stick to Verbatim.

 

If you don't want Verbatim, buy a new drive that burn those Maxell disc correctly.

[Eric123]

Sounds like your drive is going down.

 

If it still produce good job on Verbatim, you better stick to Verbatim.

 

If you don't want Verbatim, buy a new drive that burn those Maxell disc correctly.

 

That would also be surprising, considering I've had it for 1 1/2 year and don't use it that often (maybe once a week). Then again, there was another difference between the Verbatim and the Maxell DVDs: the Verbatim discs were DVD-R and the Maxell discs were DVD+R so maybe the drive is using a different laser for each and the one that burns DVD+R is screwed up?

 

I'll try the Maxell discs in another drive when I can find one to make sure the DVDs are not the problem...although as I said, it would surprise me if they were.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

I'll try the Maxell discs in another drive when I can find one to make sure the DVDs are not the problem...although as I said, it would surprise me if they were.

 

Wouldn't that just be a complete waste of time?

 

The best you could hope for is that it also fails to produce a working disc... but what if it doesn't?

 

It doesn't change the fact that your current burner won't produce a working disc with them.

 

You need a decent drive/firmware/media combo to get decent burns. If your combo isn't doing that, you need to change something about one of those three.

 

So you can change the write speed, update the firmware, clean the drive, swap to different media or buy a new drive.

 

They're your options... pick one.

 

Saying that you won't accept this answer and you won't accept that answer isn't doing you any favours. Remember you came to us saying there's a problem, not the other way round.

 

If nothing was wrong with anything (as you seem to be claiming), you wouldn't be here!

[Eric123]

 

You need a decent drive/firmware/media combo to get decent burns. If your combo isn't doing that, you need to change something about one of those three.

 

So you can change the write speed, update the firmware, clean the drive, swap to different media or buy a new drive.

 

They're your options... pick one.

 

Saying that you won't accept this answer and you won't accept that answer isn't doing you any favours. Remember you came to us saying there's a problem, not the other way round.

 

If nothing was wrong with anything (as you seem to be claiming), you wouldn't be here!

 

You are right, something was wrong...and I'm not saying I won't accept the answer you just gave me. I'm just utterly puzzled as to why it is happening.

 

As I said earlier, my drive/firmware/media combo has been the same for 1 1/2 year. The drive is pretty much as clean as it was when I bought it. I could change the write speed but I have always used the same speed with that particular media with nary an issue. As far as I know, there is no newer firmware available for my drive (plus it's been working fine the whole time), and the media has been very reliable so far.

 

As I said, I do accept those answers, and I thank you for your help. But how in the world can a drive suddenly "dislike" discs it has been burning perfectly for several months (and still burn other media just fine)? I don't know how common that is...although at this point it wouldn't surprise me.

[hollywood]

Are all of these read fails with burns of the same image or files? If yes, have you tried to to make an image from a disc that you know reads well, like a driver disc, use Imgburn READ to make an image, and WRITE that image and see if your drive reads that.

[ianymaty]

But how in the world can a drive suddenly "dislike" discs it has been burning perfectly for several months (and still burn other media just fine)?

Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden the are two top media producers known for constant quality, other producers are subject to change in quality due to the factory process and the dye/MID they use.

 

I don't know how common that is...although at this point it wouldn't surprise me.

As you observe, it is common and no surprise at all, at least for us. It is a surprise to novices, who can't believe how they don't work if it worked in past

[Eric123]

Are all of these read fails with burns of the same image or files? If yes, have you tried to to make an image from a disc that you know reads well, like a driver disc, use Imgburn READ to make an image, and WRITE that image and see if your drive reads that.

 

I didn't try that but I don't see how it would be different from burning anything else since my drive has no problem reading anything. The only issue here was with burning a specific type of media.

[Eric123]

Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden the are two top media producers known for constant quality, other producers are subject to change in quality due to the factory process and the dye/MID they use.

 

Which is partly why it surprised me that those Maxell's turned into coasters. Those were the "good" Maxell's (Made in Japan with media code MAXELL-002-00), which may not quite be Taiyo Yuden's but are much better than cheap no-name or CMC/Ritek media.

 

As you observe, it is common and no surprise at all, at least for us. It is a surprise to novices, who can't believe how they don't work if it worked in past

 

I don't know...in nearly 10 years of burning CD's and DVD's this is the first time it happens to me. Normally, if my drive doesn't "like" a certain type of media, it never does. Either it will burn nothing but coasters or it will just not recognize the media (which is what happens most of the time). It won't burn 70 discs without a hitch and then suddenly burn coasters with discs from the same spindle. I've even had good luck with lower-quality media in the past (Memorex, CMC, etc.) but I can't really give a fair assessment of the level of success I've had with those since I've used them so rarely.

[Eric123]

By the way, here's an update. I was able to try my DVD+R's in another burner, and everything was fine...no bad sectors, every file passed the CRC check, etc. So it appears it is a drive issue. I'll try burning at faster speeds just in case, but I might have to replace the burner anyway (or stick to DVD-R's only). Again, thanks a lot for your help!

[ianymaty]

I'm glad you start to think outside the box.

 

It was obvious from the beginning and we told you that is a drive/firmware/media incompatibility related.

[Eric123]

I'm glad you start to think outside the box.

 

It was obvious from the beginning and we told you that is a drive/firmware/media incompatibility related.

 

That's what it seems to be...but any idea as to what the cause could be? Faulty laser? Drive just randomly dying? That's weird 'cause it happened just the same way a human being would suddenly develop an allergy.

[Eric123]

Alright...just an update: I was fortunate enough to find (Samsung-branded) Taiyo Yuden DVD+R's today and my only burn so far is perfect. Which means it wasn't a DVD-R/DVD+R issue...so, again, I'd hate to sound annoying but...what causes a DVD-RW drive to suddenly stop producing successful burns with a specific type of media?

[LIGHTNING UK!]

We don't make the hardware, why would we know more than you?

 

Things die over time (hardware), things change over time (the dye on the discs).

 

A combination of the two seems to have been enough to leave you with unsuccessful burns.

[Eric123]

We don't make the hardware, why would we know more than you?

 

Things die over time (hardware), things change over time (the dye on the discs).

 

A combination of the two seems to have been enough to leave you with unsuccessful burns.

 

At first, given all of the details I mentioned (drive still works, never failed producing successful burns with that same media before, discs are fine - they work with other burners and my drive can still read them), I thought the problem was a software issue (a setting that had accidentally been changed, etc.). However it doesn't seem to be the case...so I'm just as puzzled as you are about what the causes are.

 

But thanks for your help...and keep up the good work with ImgBurn!