Time to format BD-RE DL 50GB?

[smashey]

Hi,

I got a few BD-RE DL to play with and yesterday I tried to use one with IMGBurn. I formatted it first. Drive > Disc Erase > Full

 

I knew it would take a long time (I assumed a couple of hours) but I left it running overnight and 14 hours later it was still in progress. I eventually force-quit IMGBurn. When I looked at the disc (i needed to reboot to access the optical drive) it seemed like only the tiniest part of the disc had been written to. Like maybe 5% of the disc.

 

I started the process again this morning to see if I would have better luck but 2hrs later still no sign of progress. The optical drive light stays constantly on for most of the time, then flashes brielfly a couple of times. There is very little noise coming from the drive. Unfortunately Windows resource monitor doesn't show the optical drive so I can't see what activity is taking place (eg how much MB/s is getting written).

 

IMGBurn log final entry says 'erasing disc' and thereafter there are no more updates in the log window. It doesn't appear to hang or crash, it just doesn't tell me what is currently happening (status says 99% almost immediately and stays at 99%).

 

How long should it normally take? How long should I give it this time before assuming something is wrong and trying another program to format it?

I 09:23:03 ImgBurn Version 2.5.8.0 started!
I 09:23:03 Microsoft Windows 8 Professional x64 Edition (6.2, Build 9200)
I 09:23:03 Total Physical Memory: 8,187,944 KiB  -  Available: 6,657,252 KiB
I 09:23:03 Initialising SPTI...
I 09:23:03 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 09:23:03 -> Drive 1 - Info: ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 09:23:03 Found 1 BD-RE!
I 09:30:06 Operation Started!
I 09:30:06 Building Image Tree...
I 09:30:06 Calculating Totals...
I 09:30:06 Preparing Image...
I 09:30:07 Contents: 1 File, 0 Folders
I 09:30:07 Content Type: Data
I 09:30:07 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 09:30:07 File System(s): UDF (2.50)
I 09:30:07 Volume Label: [Not Configured]
I 09:30:07 Size: 62,703 bytes
I 09:30:07 Sectors: 31
I 09:30:07 Image Size: 1,310,720 bytes
I 09:30:07 Image Sectors: 640
I 09:30:07 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00
I 09:30:19 Operation Started!
I 09:30:19 Building Image Tree...
I 09:30:19 Calculating Totals...
I 09:30:19 Preparing Image...
I 09:30:19 Contents: 1 File, 0 Folders
I 09:30:19 Content Type: Data
I 09:30:19 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 09:30:19 File System(s): UDF (2.50)
I 09:30:19 Volume Label: [Not Configured]
I 09:30:19 Size: 62,703 bytes
I 09:30:19 Sectors: 31
I 09:30:19 Image Size: 1,310,720 bytes
I 09:30:19 Image Sectors: 640
I 09:30:19 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00
I 09:31:40 Operation Started!
I 09:31:40 Device: [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 09:31:40 Media Type: BD-RE (Disc ID: VERBAT-IM1-000)
I 09:31:40 Media Supported Write Speeds: 2x
I 09:31:40 Quick Erase: No
I 09:31:40 Format Properly: Yes
I 09:31:40 Format Size: Preferred
I 09:31:40 Format With Full Certification: Yes
I 09:31:40 Format Without Spare Areas: No
I 09:31:42 Erasing Disc...

Edited May 14, 2015 by smashey

[LIGHTNING UK!]

It sounds like your drive or system is getting stuck.

A 'proper' format of a BDRE DL disc is a 2 part process. ImgBurn starts by asking the drive to format the disc. The drive is then meant to go off and do that, ImgBurn just polls it every second or so to see if it has finished and get an updated % complete. Once it reports it has finished, ImgBurn will proceed to zero all the sectors on the disc. All in all, it's probably 3 - 4 hours.

 

When yours is stuck on 99%, press the F8 key and see if it's still processing commands. You'll notice entries being written to the log window if it is.

It might be worth booting up in safe mode to see if you have the same issue. Some drivers can mess around with the sense data returned by optical drives. Safe mode sometimes gets around that.

[smashey]

Thanks for the reply, yes, pressing F8 reveals a bunch of repeating errors.

I 12:44:17 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:17 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:17 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:17 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:17 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:17 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:18 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:18 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:18 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:18 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:18 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:18 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:19 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:19 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:19 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:19 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:19 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:19 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:20 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:21 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:21 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:21 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:21 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:21 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:22 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:22 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:22 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:22 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:22 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:22 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:23 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:23 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:23 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:23 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:23 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:23 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:24 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:24 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:24 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:24 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:24 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:24 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:25 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:25 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:25 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:25 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:25 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:25 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:26 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:26 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:26 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:26 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:26 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:26 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:27 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:27 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:27 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:27 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:27 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:27 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:28 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:28 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:28 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:28 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:28 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:28 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:29 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:29 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:29 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:29 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:29 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:29 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:30 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:30 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:30 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:30 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:30 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:30 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:31 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:31 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:31 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:31 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:31 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:31 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:32 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:32 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:32 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:32 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:32 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:32 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:33 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:33 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:33 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:33 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:33 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:33 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:34 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:34 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:34 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:34 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:34 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:34 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:35 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:35 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:35 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:35 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:35 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:35 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:36 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:36 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:36 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:36 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:36 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:36 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:37 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 12:44:37 CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
I 12:44:37 CDB Interpretation: Test Unit Ready
E 12:44:37 SENSE: 70 00 02 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 04 04 00 80 FF FF
E 12:44:37 SENSE SK Interpretation: Not Ready
E 12:44:37 SENSE ASC/ASCQ Interpretation: Logical Unit not ready, Format in progress - 99%
I 12:44:38 [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)

I will quit and try in safe mode.  I have burned 100s of BD-Rs in this drive and system but only 2 or 3 BD-RE and at the time I formatted and burned those via Windows.

Edited May 14, 2015 by smashey

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Right, ok, so the polling part is still working, it's just the drive (or dodgy drivers) keeps reporting the format is still in progress. The program can only go by what's being reported to it.

 

If you go the route of not formatting properly (i.e. Waiting for the drive to complete things properly), I'm sure it would be possible to proceed to the next stage.

 

The way ImgBurn defaults to doing it is highlighting some issue with your setup/hardware/media.

[smashey]

Thanks for the reply.

 

In the end I did a 'full' format via Windows explorer.... which was clearly not a full format because it took like 10 seconds.

 

But now I can burn it in IMGBurn. It's going at 0.9x instead of 2x which I guess is the hardware defect management. I turned on fast-write and im getting 2x

 

Will burning unimportant data to the disc once and then verifying accomplish the same thing as a full zero of the disc ? The point of a full zero is to identify bad areas and re-allocate them?

Edited May 14, 2015 by smashey

[LIGHTNING UK!]

You should format without spare areas rather than enabling fast-write. It defeats the purpose of them and you're better off having full disc capacity if you want full write speed.

 

For whatever reason, doing a full format on a disc didn't appear to actually empty/zero the sectors. That's why I added the 2nd stage of the full erase for BD-RE so the disc really is left in an 'empty' state.

 

You can use Discovery mode to write made up data to every sector on the disc. Yes, that'll point out any problem sectors. Re-allocation will only occur if spare areas are present AND fast write is disabled. The reason the write is slower (i.e. 0.8x) is because the drive is verifying as it goes and reallocating where necessary.

[smashey]

Okay, so I unticked 'Prefer Properly formatted discs'. And also ticked 'Prefer format without spare areas'.

 

Then I did a full format in IMGBurn. This took a few seconds and reported that it worked fine, and the disc is ready for use now.

 

So everything seems fine now. Thanks again.

 

I will format these BD-RE discs like this in future because burning 50GB at 0.9x is not fun !

 

 

I 19:21:29 ImgBurn Version 2.5.8.0 started!
I 19:21:29 Microsoft Windows 8 Professional x64 Edition (6.2, Build 9200)
I 19:21:29 Total Physical Memory: 8,187,944 KiB  -  Available: 6,065,952 KiB
I 19:21:29 Initialising SPTI...
I 19:21:29 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 19:21:30 -> Drive 1 - Info: ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 19:21:30 Found 1 BD-RE!
I 19:22:02 Operation Started!
I 19:22:02 Device: [0:1:0] ATAPI iHBS112   2 PL06 (D:) (ATAPI)
I 19:22:02 Media Type: BD-RE (Disc ID: VERBAT-IM1-000)
I 19:22:02 Media Supported Write Speeds: 2x
I 19:22:02 Quick Erase: No
I 19:22:02 Format Properly: No
I 19:22:02 Format Size: Preferred
I 19:22:02 Format With Full Certification: Yes
I 19:22:02 Format Without Spare Areas: Yes
I 19:22:03 Erasing Disc...
I 19:22:16 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:14