HP DVD Writer 640c failing with dual layer DVDs

[pinnacle-project]

I have a HP DVD Writer 640c which burns CDs and single layer DVDs with no issues but I am not able to burn dual layer DVDs. Per HP's product description, it is supposed to do so.

 

I tackled this problem about a year ago without success. At the time, when I went to HP's web site it appeared I was using the most current firmware (version JS04). Today, when I selected firmware for 640c, it forwarded me to the 640i. It was newer firmware so I decided to give it a try (version QS12). It installed fine but I still can not burn dual layer DVDs. I am using Verbatim DVD+R DL 8x media. I have also tried to burn to dual layer DVDs using Windows and Ulead Burn Now without success. My log for ImgBurn is as follows. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

I 09:44:36 ImgBurn Version 2.5.0.0 started!

I 09:44:36 Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition (6.1, Build 7601 : Service Pack 1)

I 09:44:36 Total Physical Memory: 3,275,960 KB - Available: 1,839,820 KB

I 09:44:36 Initialising SPTI...

I 09:44:36 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 09:44:36 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 1 DVD±RW!

I 09:45:13 Operation Started!

I 09:45:13 Building Image Tree...

I 09:45:13 Checking Directory Depth...

I 09:45:13 Calculating Totals...

I 09:45:13 Preparing Image...

I 09:45:13 Checking Path Length...

I 09:45:13 Contents: 4 Files, 0 Folders

I 09:45:13 Content Type: Data

I 09:45:13 Data Type: MODE1/2048

I 09:45:13 File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 09:45:13 Volume Label: [Not Configured]

I 09:45:13 Size: 5,332,488,349 bytes

I 09:45:13 Sectors: 2,603,755

I 09:45:13 Image Size: 5,332,566,016 bytes

I 09:45:13 Image Sectors: 2,603,792

I 09:45:13 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00

I 09:45:19 Operation Started!

I 09:45:19 Building Image Tree...

I 09:45:31 Checking Directory Depth...

I 09:45:31 Calculating Totals...

I 09:45:31 Preparing Image...

I 09:45:31 Checking Path Length...

I 09:45:31 Contents: 4 Files, 0 Folders

I 09:45:31 Content Type: Data

I 09:45:31 Data Type: MODE1/2048

I 09:45:31 File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 09:45:31 Volume Label: Dad's Interview

I 09:45:31 Size: 5,332,488,349 bytes

I 09:45:31 Sectors: 2,603,755

I 09:45:31 Image Size: 5,332,566,016 bytes

I 09:45:31 Image Sectors: 2,603,792

I 09:45:33 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:13

I 09:45:33 Operation Started!

I 09:45:33 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 09:45:33 Source File Sectors: 2,603,792 (MODE1/2048)

I 09:45:33 Source File Size: 5,332,566,016 bytes

I 09:45:33 Source File Volume Identifier: Dad's Interview

I 09:45:33 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.5.0.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 09:45:33 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn v2.5.0.0

I 09:45:33 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 09:45:33 Destination Device: [0:1:0] HP DVD Writer 640c QS12 (G:) (ATA)

I 09:45:33 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x)

I 09:45:33 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824

I 09:45:33 Write Mode: DVD

I 09:45:33 Write Type: DAO

I 09:45:33 Write Speed: MAX

I 09:45:33 Link Size: Auto

I 09:45:33 Lock Volume: Yes

I 09:45:33 Test Mode: No

I 09:45:33 OPC: No

I 09:45:33 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 09:45:33 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,301,904

I 09:45:33 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: ECC Block Boundary

I 09:45:33 Set L0 Data Zone Capacity Succeeded!

I 09:45:34 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 09:45:35 Writing LeadIn...

W 09:46:23 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

W 09:46:23 Retrying (1 of 20)...

W 09:47:09 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

W 09:47:09 Retrying (2 of 20)...

I 09:47:15 Abort Request Acknowledged

W 09:47:55 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

E 09:47:55 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

I 09:47:55 Synchronising Cache...

W 09:48:03 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions.

E 09:48:03 Failed to Write Image!

E 09:48:03 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:02:29

I 09:48:03 Average Write Rate: N/A - Maximum Write Rate: N/A

[mmalves]

I 09:45:33 Destination Device: [0:1:0] HP DVD Writer 640c QS12 (G:) (ATA)

I 09:45:33 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x)

It looks like your burner doesn't support the 8x Verbatim DVD+R DL blanks (notice that it shows only 2.4x as available write speed). Your only chance would be with the 2.4x Verbatim blanks, which are hard to find. Alternatively, a new burner is very cheap these days.

 

By the way, update your ImgBurn.

[pinnacle-project]

I 09:45:33 Destination Device: [0:1:0] HP DVD Writer 640c QS12 (G:) (ATA)

I 09:45:33 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x)

It looks like your burner doesn't support the 8x Verbatim DVD+R DL blanks (notice that it shows only 2.4x as available write speed). Your only chance would be with the 2.4x Verbatim blanks, which are hard to find. Alternatively, a new burner is very cheap these days.

 

By the way, update your ImgBurn.

 

I just assumed the drive would burn at the maximum speed it was capable of (2.4x) even though the media was capable of more.

[pinnacle-project]

I decided to try again but this time I manually set the speed to 2.4 in ImgBurn. I also upgraded ImgBurn to the latest version. It failed again. The log appears to be pretty much the same but I will include it anyway. Thanks.

 

I 10:56:26 ImgBurn Version 2.5.5.0 started!

I 10:56:26 Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition (6.1, Build 7601 : Service Pack 1)

I 10:56:26 Total Physical Memory: 3,275,960 KB - Available: 1,545,156 KB

I 10:56:26 Initialising SPTI...

I 10:56:26 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 10:56:26 -> Drive 1 - Info: ASUS DVD-E616P3 1.07 (F:) (ATA)

I 10:56:26 -> Drive 2 - Info: HP DVD Writer 640c QS12 (G:) (ATA)

I 10:56:26 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 1 DVD±RW!

I 10:57:57 Operation Started!

I 10:57:57 Building Image Tree...

I 10:57:57 Checking Directory Depth...

I 10:57:57 Calculating Totals...

I 10:57:57 Preparing Image...

I 10:57:57 Checking Path Length...

I 10:57:57 Contents: 4 Files, 0 Folders

I 10:57:57 Content Type: Data

I 10:57:57 Data Type: MODE1/2048

I 10:57:57 File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 10:57:58 Volume Label: [Not Configured]

I 10:57:58 Size: 5,332,488,349 bytes

I 10:57:58 Sectors: 2,603,755

I 10:57:58 Image Size: 5,332,598,784 bytes

I 10:57:58 Image Sectors: 2,603,808

I 10:57:58 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00

I 10:58:44 Operation Started!

I 10:58:44 Building Image Tree...

I 10:58:46 Checking Directory Depth...

I 10:58:46 Calculating Totals...

I 10:58:46 Preparing Image...

I 10:58:46 Checking Path Length...

I 10:58:46 Contents: 4 Files, 0 Folders

I 10:58:46 Content Type: Data

I 10:58:46 Data Type: MODE1/2048

I 10:58:46 File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 10:58:46 Volume Label: Dad's Interview

I 10:58:46 Size: 5,332,488,349 bytes

I 10:58:46 Sectors: 2,603,755

I 10:58:46 Image Size: 5,332,566,016 bytes

I 10:58:46 Image Sectors: 2,603,792

I 10:58:48 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:03

I 10:58:48 Operation Started!

I 10:58:48 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 10:58:48 Source File Sectors: 2,603,792 (MODE1/2048)

I 10:58:48 Source File Size: 5,332,566,016 bytes

I 10:58:48 Source File Volume Identifier: Dad's Interview

I 10:58:48 Source File Volume Set Identifier: UNDEFINED

I 10:58:48 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.5.5.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 10:58:48 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn v2.5.5.0

I 10:58:48 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 10:58:48 Destination Device: [0:1:0] HP DVD Writer 640c QS12 (G:) (ATA)

I 10:58:48 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x)

I 10:58:48 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824

I 10:58:48 Write Mode: DVD

I 10:58:48 Write Type: DAO

I 10:58:48 Write Speed: 2.4x

I 10:58:48 Link Size: Auto

I 10:58:48 Lock Volume: Yes

I 10:58:48 Test Mode: No

I 10:58:48 OPC: No

I 10:58:48 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 10:58:48 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 3,324 KB/s (2.4x)

I 10:58:48 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,301,904

I 10:58:48 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: ECC Block Boundary

I 10:58:48 Set L0 Data Zone Capacity Succeeded!

I 10:58:49 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 10:58:56 Writing LeadIn...

W 10:59:39 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

W 10:59:39 Retrying (1 of 20)...

I 10:59:49 Abort Request Acknowledged

W 11:00:25 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

E 11:00:25 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead In

I 11:00:25 Synchronising Cache...

W 11:00:46 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions.

E 11:00:46 Failed to Write Image!

E 11:00:46 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:01:57

I 11:00:46 Average Write Rate: N/A - Maximum Write Rate: N/A

[mmalves]

Verbatim 8x DVD+R DL blanks probably didn't exist at the time that burner was sold, so it doesn't know how to burn those blanks, and the generic 2.4x write strategy doesn't work either.

 

Your system seems fairly recent so I'll assume it has at least one SATA port available, so the best burner you can get is a new Optiarc (AD-7240S / AD-7260S or newer will be fine).