Yet Another Problem Burnning DL DVDs

[rljk]

First, let me apologize up front for the length of this posting.

 

I’m having trouble burning dual layer DVD’s on my laptop that will play on my Sony DVD player. I don’t really think the problem is with ImgBurn, but I don’t really know where else to look for help.

 

Below is the log that was created when I burned a dual layer disk with about 1hr 50min of video that was captured from a VHS tape. The DVD will play on the laptop used to create the DVD (Dell XPS15 Windows-7 64-bit 3-months old), using windows media player. The DVD will also play on a desktop computer (Dell Dimension 8400 running XP SP2 6+ years old). The DVD will NOT play on the Sony DVD player (actually a combination VHS/DVD unit model RDR-VX535 1-year old), the player spends a couple of minutes trying to load the dvd, but then spits it out and displays a message that says the disk can be played or recorded.

 

A single layer DVD burned on the laptop (XPS15) will play on the DVD player, but the player struggles to load it, taking a minute or two before playback will start.

 

All of the blank dual layer DVD’s used for testing were Memorex DVD +R DL.

 

The “file set” (everything under the “VIDEO_TS” folder) was created with Roxio Easy CD and DVD (Ver 10.3.105). This application was also used to capture the video.

 

A DVD burned with Roxio Easy CD and DVD has the same playback issues as a DVD burned with ImgBurn.

 

If I copy the “file set” to another computer (the Dell Dimension 8400 desktop) and burn a dvd with Roxio Easy CD and DVD (version 9) the DVD does play on the Sony DVD player.

 

If I use DVD Identifier to compare two DVD’s created with the same files but on different computers, the only difference I see relates to the Disk & Book Type that is reported. The “working model” has a Disk & Book type of [DVD +R] [DVD-ROM], and the DVD that won’t play on the dvd player has values of [DVD +R DL] [DVD +R DL].

 

If I take a DVD that is known to play in the DVD player, and make a copy of it (using Roxio Easy CD and DVD), the copy will NOT play in the dvd player, but it WILL play on the laptop in windows media player.

 

If I use ImgBurn to try and change the “Book Type” on my DVD burner, the “current setting” says “Unknown (Failed!) Reason: Invalid Command Operation Code”. I believe my drive is an “LG” based on the model information (HL-DT-ST), but I did try different manufactures, and none of them worked.

 

The DVD burner in the laptop is a factory supplied and installed model “HL-DT-ST DVDRW GT32N firmware rev A200” I checked the Dell website, and they have no firmware updates for this drive. I went to Firmware HQ hoping to find a firmware update there but they don’t have anything listed for the “GT32N” model.

 

I have checked the Sony website looking for a firmware update for the DVD player but there wasn’t one. The documentation for the Sony DVD player clearly states that the unit is compatible with +R DL media.

 

Thinking the problem may be with the dvd burner itself, I contacted Dell support via “online chat”. They came to the conclusion (a little too quickly for my comfort) that the problem is not with the drive or its firmware, but with missing codecs on the computer. They also said they could help me with that but I would need to pay them for the help as codecs were software and not covered by the warranty. In my mind, if missing codecs were the problem, then the copy I made of a known working dvd should have worked, and the single layer DVD should not have played. Since I wasn’t convinced they were right, and they would not guarantee success I declined their offer to take my money.

 

I ultimately convinced them to replace the dvd drive in the laptop. They replaced it with the same make and model, but an older unit. The replacement drive was manufactured in April of 2010 and had firmware rev A101, and the original drive was manufactured in October 2010 and had a firmware rev of A200. The replacement drive did not solve the problem (I didn’t really expect it to once I saw it was the same make and model).

 

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

============================

ImgBurn Log

============================

I 17:53:33 ImgBurn Version 2.5.5.0 started!

I 17:53:34 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Edition (6.1, Build 7600)

I 17:53:34 Total Physical Memory: 3,920,176 KB - Available: 2,330,232 KB

I 17:53:34 Initialising SPTI...

I 17:53:34 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 17:53:34 -> Drive 1 - Info: HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GT32N A200 (D:) (ATAPI)

I 17:53:34 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 18:27:39 Operation Started!

I 18:27:39 Building Image Tree...

I 18:27:48 Checking Directory Depth...

I 18:27:48 Calculating Totals...

I 18:27:48 Preparing Image...

I 18:32:08 Using Layer Break LBA: 1902098 -> 1902112 (VTS_01, PGC: 1, Chapter: 1, Cell: 61, Vob/Cell ID: 1/61, Time: 01:00:00, SPLIP: Yes -> No)

I 18:32:08 Checking Path Length...

I 18:32:08 Contents: 15 Files, 2 Folders

I 18:32:08 Content Type: DVD Video

I 18:32:08 Data Type: MODE1/2048

I 18:32:08 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)

I 18:32:08 Volume Label: Kris Karate Class

I 18:32:08 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled

I 18:32:08 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

I 18:32:08 TV System: NTSC

I 18:32:08 Size: 7,517,646,848 bytes

I 18:32:08 Sectors: 3,670,726

I 18:32:08 Image Size: 7,518,322,688 bytes

I 18:32:08 Image Sectors: 3,671,056

I 18:32:31 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:04:52

I 18:32:31 Operation Started!

I 18:32:31 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 18:32:31 Source File Sectors: 3,671,056 (MODE1/2048)

I 18:32:31 Source File Size: 7,518,322,688 bytes

I 18:32:31 Source File Volume Identifier: Kris Karate Class

I 18:32:31 Source File Volume Set Identifier: 3E56937300380401

I 18:32:32 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.5.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!

I 18:32:32 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 18:32:32 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)

I 18:32:32 Destination Device: [0:1:0] HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GT32N A200 (D:) (ATAPI)

I 18:32:32 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: RITEK-S04-66) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 6x)

I 18:32:32 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824

I 18:32:32 Write Mode: DVD

I 18:32:32 Write Type: DAO

I 18:32:32 Write Speed: MAX

I 18:32:32 Link Size: Auto

I 18:32:32 Lock Volume: Yes

I 18:32:32 Test Mode: No

I 18:32:32 OPC: No

I 18:32:32 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 18:32:32 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 8,310 KB/s (6x)

I 18:32:32 Book Type Setting: N/A (Reason: Invalid Command Operation Code)

I 18:32:32 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,902,112

I 18:32:32 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: IFO Cell Boundary

I 18:32:32 Set L0 Data Zone Capacity Succeeded!

I 18:32:32 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 18:32:33 Writing LeadIn...

I 18:32:59 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 3671055)

I 18:32:59 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 3671055)

I 18:32:59 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1902111)

I 18:42:29 Writing Layer 1... (LBA: 1902112 - 3671055)

I 18:50:36 Synchronising Cache...

I 18:51:00 Closing Track...

I 18:51:25 Finalising Disc...

I 18:52:33 Exporting Graph Data...

I 18:52:33 Graph Data File: C:\Users\rljk\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\HL-DT-ST_DVD+-RW_GT32N_A200_TUESDAY-FEBRUARY-22-2011_6-32_PM_RITEK-S04-66_MAX.ibg

I 18:52:33 Export Successfully Completed!

I 18:52:33 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:20:01

I 18:52:33 Average Write Rate: 6,946 KB/s (5.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8,349 KB/s (6.0x)

I 18:52:33 Cycling Tray before Verify...

W 18:53:01 Waiting for device to become ready...

I 18:53:12 Device Ready!

I 18:53:17 Operation Started!

I 18:53:17 Source Device: [0:1:0] HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GT32N A200 (D:) (ATAPI)

I 18:53:17 Source Media Type: DVD+R DL (Book Type: DVD+R DL) (Disc ID: RITEK-S04-66) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 6x)

I 18:53:17 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 18:53:17 Image File Sectors: 3,671,056 (MODE1/2048)

I 18:53:17 Image File Size: 7,518,322,688 bytes

I 18:53:17 Image File Volume Identifier: Kris Karate Class

I 18:53:17 Image File Volume Set Identifier: 3E56937300380401

I 18:53:17 Image File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.5.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!

I 18:53:17 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 18:53:17 Image File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)

I 18:53:17 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX

I 18:53:17 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 3671055)

I 18:53:17 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 3671055)

I 18:53:17 Verifying Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1902111)

I 19:10:33 Verifying Layer 1... (LBA: 1902112 - 3671055)

I 19:25:54 Exporting Graph Data...

I 19:25:54 Graph Data File: C:\Users\rljk\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\HL-DT-ST_DVD+-RW_GT32N_A200_TUESDAY-FEBRUARY-22-2011_6-32_PM_RITEK-S04-66_MAX.ibg

I 19:25:54 Export Successfully Completed!

I 19:25:54 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:32:36

I 19:25:54 Average Verify Rate: 3,753 KB/s (2.7x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 5,307 KB/s (3.8x)

I 19:32:01 Close Request Acknowledged

I 19:32:01 Closing Down...

I 19:32:02 Shutting down SPTI...

I 19:32:02 ImgBurn closed!

[Rincewind]

Yes the problem is the notebook drive, but don't bother hunting for any better drives because there aren't any for burning DL discs. All notebook burners are crap when it comes to DL media. Stick with the drive either in your computer, or go ahead and buy a regular internal burner and a usb2.0 external adapter.

 

Also you should go for the Verbatim DVD+R DL discs instead, rather than the Ritek discs. Strange that your Memorex discs have the Ritek disc id though since it is usually CMC-MAG (even worse quality than Ritek, CMC-MAG is the worst of them all), but I digress.

 

Also though SOME dvdplayer are still a little picky when it comes with DL recorded media, but to increase your chances as I said, go for Verbatim +R DL.

Edited March 3, 2011 by Rincewind

[rljk]

Thanks for the reply. Dell's soluition just didn't make sense to me given the results I was getting with my testing (I guess they were more interested in generating cash flow).

 

My goal is to do the whole process from capture to DVD on one computer so I will look into getting an internal drive for a desktop computer and case with a USB adaptor. The drive in my Dell Desktop is a fairly new TEAC, and I already know that the DVD's it burns work in my DVD player, maybe I'll try to find another one of those.

 

Thanks again.

[Rincewind]

Well also when it comes to single layered dvds, you can perhaps get away with using notebook drives if also there is no other option, so you can always have that for certain uses but yea as I said for DL media just don't bother.

Edited March 4, 2011 by Rincewind

[rljk]

Looks like I have gotten the problem resolved. I purchased a Lite-On iHAS-324-98B burner and a Vantec external enclosure and was able to sucessfully use that combination to burn a dual layer DVD that would play on my DVD player. I think the ultimate issue was the book type setting as even the new burner didn't produce usable DVD's until I changed the book type to DVD-ROM. I had originally tried to change the book type setting on the laptop's internal DVD burner (HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GT32N), but the drive didn't support that feature. While I'm dissapointed that Dell no longer supplies the quality hardware they used to (I have a 2-year old Dell laptop at work with a factory installed DVD burner that produces usable/playable dual layer DVDs), The problem appears to be behind me now, and it didn't really cost me that much more.

 

Thanks everyone for your help.