So you say to use Verbatims ...

[FelixCold]

Yesterday I tried to burn second of my backup DVDs on this computer & this drive (previously some of my friends had helped me with that as I had just a combodrive, not DVDRW), using the same media as for the first successful burn, but regrettably things didn't happen as expected & were rather strange, keeping in mind all media related advices that can be read at this forum.

 

So, here's the log :

 

 

I 02:44:29 Operation Started!

I 02:44:29 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 02:44:29 Source File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)

I 02:44:29 Source File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes

I 02:44:29 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 02:44:29 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 02:44:29 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 02:44:29 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 02:44:29 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 02:44:29 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 02:44:29 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104

I 02:44:29 Write Mode: DVD

I 02:44:29 Write Type: DAO

I 02:44:29 Write Speed: 4x

I 02:44:29 Link Size: Auto

I 02:44:29 Test Mode: No

I 02:44:29 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 02:44:30 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)

I 02:44:33 Writing LeadIn...

W 02:45:59 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Write Error (my comment - time interval is 1 min 26 sec + 10 sec)

W 02:45:59 Retrying (1 of 20)...

I 02:46:08 Writing LeadIn...

I 02:46:09 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)

I 02:57:11 Synchronising Cache...

I 02:57:12 Closing Track...

I 02:57:20 Finalising Disc...

I 02:57:47 Image MD5: ad63049771261f3ebda07acc86dc7e0b

I 02:57:48 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:18

I 02:57:48 Average Write Rate: 6.115 KB/s (4.4x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.780 KB/s (6.3x)

I 02:57:48 Cycling Tray before Verify...

W 02:57:56 Waiting for device to become ready...

I 02:58:09 Device Ready!

I 02:58:10 Operation Started!

I 02:58:10 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 02:58:10 Source Media Type: DVD+RW (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 4x)

I 02:58:10 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 02:58:10 Image File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)

I 02:58:10 Image File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes

I 02:58:10 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 02:58:10 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 02:58:10 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 02:58:10 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 02:58:10 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)

W 03:00:35 Failed to Read Sector 0 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error

W 03:00:45 Failed to Read Sector 1 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error

W 03:00:47 Failed to Read Sector 2 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error

W 03:00:49 Failed to Read Sector 3 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error

E 03:00:53 Failed to Read Sector 4 - L-EC Uncorrectable Error

E 03:00:53 Failed to Verify Sectors!

E 03:00:54 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:02:43

I 03:00:54 Average Verify Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x)

 

 

Disc isn't accessible at least from windoze OS - when inserted in any drive (ext. USB DVDRW or int. combo) no any label appears & I get an error trying to open it.

 

Besides, that's what ImgBurn displays under "device" about this disc now, after that "burn", & more than this - it thinks it's "ready" to write to it again instead of showing "disc not empty"!

 

LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (USB)

Current Profile: DVD+RW

 

Disc Information:

Status: Complete

Erasable: Yes

Formatted: Yes

Supported Write Speeds: 4x

 

TOC Information:

Session 1...

-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 2295103)

-> LeadOut (LBA: 2295104)

 

Physical Format Information (ADIP):

Disc ID: MCC-004-00

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: MCC-004-00

Book Type: DVD-ROM

Part Version: 1

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: 2.220.959

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)

 

Preferred 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)

 

 

OK, I thought, maybe that was the one & only bad disc amongst all these so good & reliable Verbatims, so I'll just burn another one.

But, after I've looked around in all corners I realized that it was the last one blank DVD of this brand I had at that moment & as you can see that was not the best time (about 3 a.m.) to go out & get some more of them.

The only ones which were still present were cheap ACMEs blank DVDs.

As I wanted to be sure the problem wasn't caused by my drive I decided to test one of these too, to see if it will fail & if yes, then in what exact place.

 

Here's what I got:

 

 

I 05:26:39 Operation Started!

I 05:26:39 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 05:26:39 Source File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)

I 05:26:39 Source File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes

I 05:26:39 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 05:26:39 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 05:26:39 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 05:26:39 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 05:26:39 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 05:26:39 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MBIPG101-R05-01) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 05:26:39 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104

I 05:26:39 Write Mode: DVD

I 05:26:39 Write Type: DAO

I 05:26:39 Write Speed: 4x

I 05:26:39 Link Size: Auto

I 05:26:39 Test Mode: No

I 05:26:39 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 05:26:40 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)

I 05:26:43 Writing LeadIn...

I 05:28:03 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2024351) (my comment - time interval is 1 min 20 sec)

I 05:38:24 Synchronising Cache...

I 05:38:25 Closing Track...

I 05:38:33 Finalising Disc...

I 05:39:00 Image MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff

I 05:39:01 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:12:21

I 05:39:01 Average Write Rate: 6.519 KB/s (4.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.687 KB/s (6.3x)

I 05:39:01 Cycling Tray before Verify...

W 05:39:09 Waiting for device to become ready...

I 05:39:22 Device Ready!

I 05:39:23 Operation Started!

I 05:39:23 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 05:39:23 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MBIPG101-R05-01) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 05:39:23 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 05:39:23 Image File Sectors: 2.024.352 (MODE1/2048)

I 05:39:23 Image File Size: 4.145.872.896 bytes

I 05:39:23 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 05:39:23 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 05:39:23 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 05:39:23 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 05:39:23 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2024351)

I 05:53:33 Device MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff

I 05:53:33 Image MD5: ff9b8735a8c6fb20153f007d74d930ff

I 05:53:33 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:10

I 05:53:33 Average Verify Rate: 4.763 KB/s (3.4x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 7.857 KB/s (5.7x)

 

 

Well, the chance that previously this was just an accident still was possible, so another day I got some new blank Verbatim DVDs which were slightly different externally, so they couldn't "accidentally" have the same problem, but look what I got when I tried to burn one of these DVDs (I added one more small file to previous build for better recognizing which DVD is which when they're inside the drives) :

 

 

I 16:09:55 Operation Started!

I 16:09:55 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 16:09:55 Source File Sectors: 2.050.592 (MODE1/2048)

I 16:09:55 Source File Size: 4.199.612.416 bytes

I 16:09:55 Source File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 16:09:55 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 16:09:55 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 16:09:55 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 16:09:55 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 16:09:55 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 16:09:55 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104

I 16:09:56 Write Mode: DVD

I 16:09:56 Write Type: DAO

I 16:09:56 Write Speed: 4x

I 16:09:56 Link Size: Auto

I 16:09:56 Test Mode: No

I 16:09:56 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 16:09:57 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)

I 16:09:59 Writing LeadIn...

W 16:11:14 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Power Calibration Area Error (my comment - time interval is 1 min 15 sec + 9 sec)

W 16:11:14 Retrying (1 of 20)...

I 16:11:22 Writing LeadIn...

I 16:11:23 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2050591)

I 16:19:41 Synchronising Cache...

I 16:19:42 Closing Track...

I 16:19:48 Finalising Disc...

I 16:20:21 Image MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3

I 16:20:22 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:10:25

I 16:20:22 Average Write Rate: 8.251 KB/s (6.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.664 KB/s (6.3x)

I 16:20:22 Cycling Tray before Verify...

I 16:20:51 Device Ready!

I 16:20:55 Operation Started!

I 16:20:55 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 16:20:55 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 16:20:55 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 16:20:55 Image File Sectors: 2.050.592 (MODE1/2048)

I 16:20:55 Image File Size: 4.199.612.416 bytes

I 16:20:55 Image File Volume Identifier: OpenSUSE_ALTLinux_DesktopBSD_HirensBootCD-9.3

I 16:20:55 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 16:20:55 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 16:20:55 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 16:20:56 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2050591)

I 16:35:30 Device MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3

I 16:35:30 Image MD5: 7a1160418be8bfa49e30ad797d029ae3

I 16:35:30 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:14:35

I 16:35:30 Average Verify Rate: 4.697 KB/s (3.4x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 7.798 KB/s (5.6x)

 

 

As I was directly monitoring all the process, I can say that the most suspected in all cases, & especially when Verbatims were used, was "writing lead in" moment - at that time drive was performing several loud "burn-outs" (not in CD-DVD terms, but rather in drag racing ones!) & in the last case even a strong enough burnt taste came out of the drive (yes, this wasn't the same as usual!) - I was almost ready to see a smoke getting out of it.

 

More than this, there were the least these "writing lead in" (or "burnout" if you prefer) hi-speed turning attempts exactly with this ACME crap as well as this media didn't get ANY error messages.

As I can remember, the very first successful Verbatim DVD burn almost a week ago also suffered from this "burnout" problem:

 

 

 

I 01:43:56 Operation Started!

I 01:43:56 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 01:43:56 Source File Sectors: 2.253.808 (MODE1/2048)

I 01:43:56 Source File Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes

I 01:43:56 Source File Volume Identifier: Mandriva+PClinuxOS

I 01:43:56 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 01:43:56 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 01:43:56 Source File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 01:43:56 Destination Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 01:43:56 Destination Media Type: DVD+R (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 01:43:56 Destination Media Sectors: 2.295.104

I 01:43:56 Write Mode: DVD

I 01:43:56 Write Type: DAO

I 01:43:56 Write Speed: 8x

I 01:43:56 Link Size: Auto

I 01:43:56 Test Mode: No

I 01:43:56 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 01:43:57 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)

I 01:43:59 Writing LeadIn...

I 01:45:24 Writing Image... (LBA: 0 - 2253807) (my comment - time interval is not less than 1 min 25 sec)

W 01:51:20 Waiting for buffers to recover...

I 01:51:47 Writing Image...

I 01:56:54 Synchronising Cache...

I 01:56:55 Closing Track...

I 01:57:03 Finalising Disc...

I 01:57:28 Image MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39

I 01:57:28 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:32

I 01:57:28 Average Write Rate: 6.532 KB/s (4.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8.769 KB/s (6.3x)

I 01:57:28 Cycling Tray before Verify...

W 01:57:37 Waiting for device to become ready...

I 01:57:50 Device Ready!

I 01:57:50 Operation Started!

I 01:57:50 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 01:57:50 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 01:57:50 Image File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 01:57:50 Image File Sectors: 2.253.808 (MODE1/2048)

I 01:57:50 Image File Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes

I 01:57:50 Image File Volume Identifier: Mandriva+PClinuxOS

I 01:57:50 Image File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.3.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 01:57:50 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn

I 01:57:50 Image File File System(s): ISO9660; Joliet; UDF (1.02)

I 01:57:51 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2253807)

I 02:11:29 Device MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39

I 02:11:29 Image MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39

I 02:11:29 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:13:38

I 02:11:29 Average Verify Rate: 5.510 KB/s (4.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 8.739 KB/s (6.3x)

 

I 02:32:08 Operation Started!

I 02:32:08 Source Device: [0:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1673S JS0C (G:) (USB)

I 02:32:08 Source Media Type: DVD+R (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MCC-004-00) (Speeds: 6x; 8x; 12x; 16x)

I 02:32:08 Source Media Sectors: 2.253.808

I 02:32:08 Source Media Size: 4.615.798.784 bytes

I 02:32:08 Verify Against Image File: No

I 02:32:08 Verifying Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 2253807)

I 02:41:45 Device MD5: b51ae8a5f0ef07575e0fc2a058ad1d39

I 02:41:45 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:09:37

I 02:41:45 Average Verify Rate: 7.812 KB/s (5.6x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 10.975 KB/s (7.9x)

 

 

 

This last part of the log file is another joke (can someone explain me what it was & what could be the sense of it?) but let's go back to the main topic, cos it's time for some interesting questions to arrive:

 

1. Why ACMEs crap media gave the best result competing with famous Verbatim DVDs from different batches?

 

2. If this isn't enough statistical data to make some certain conclusions - how many blank DVDs of both brands & from how much different batches I must try to see as obvious that the Verbatim media is worth it's more than 50% higher price?

(for examle - I've burned about >50 CD-Rs last year, about >20 of which are from ACME & about >30 are Verbatim ones, but I don't see any worth mentioning difference in % of coasters made in both cases)

 

3. What is the cause of such a long "writing lead in" process, especially when writing to DVD discs (compared to CDs) & why it's followed by such a loud hi-speed "burnouts"?

 

4. If some errors appeared during "writing lead in", but then all the written to disc data was verified as correct - does this mean an increased chance of fail in the future, cos the other disc, which gave similar error at the same operation, failed to verify right after burn & exactly in the beginning of the disc, what directly corresponds with an operation which gave the error?

 

 

Thank you for your attention!

[blutach]

You have a condumdrum.

 

1. You are writing wayyyyyyyyyyyy too fast across a USB port - or trying to. The speed needs to be 2x.

2. The MCC 004s are high speed media (note the lowest burning speed for your drive is 6x)

 

This - more than likely - is resulting in hit and miss burns.

 

So, find some disks wth lower write speeds and lower your speed. If you can, move the burner to an internal IDE channel. You might as well update your firmware, too - http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=2026

 

Regards

[chewy]

Is the drive dying, worn out, dirty?

 

Looks like some real issues.

 

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html#SOHW-1693S

 

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/oc.html

[FelixCold]

Thank you for your replies, great experts, but!

 

1. You are writing wayyyyyyyyyyyy too fast across a USB port - or trying to. The speed needs to be 2x.

Sorry, what on this statement is based?

USB2.0 port has max speed 480 mbit/sec=60MB/sec, lets take a half of it because of system reserve (though as I know it can use just under 30% of bandwidth, not a half) - now we've got 30MB/sec & let's split it further into 2 parts cos some of the files in the build are on the USB flash drives - we'll get 15MB/sec, we can even lower it some more - it's still enough to reach 8x speed when I need just 6x, which is actually slightly exceeded in some of my logs.

I wanted to do a test write at max speed to see what is the real limit, but regrettably this mode somehow isn't supported for DVDs.

 

2. The MCC 004s are high speed media (note the lowest burning speed for your drive is 6x)

This "lowest speed" is the same for ACMEs crap too & as you can see the actual speed is kept by drive close enough to this level rather than to what I've set it!

From readings at this forum I already know it will behave like this so I set 4x speed exactly to force the drive to use the lowest possible & it's actually 6x.

 

If you can, move the burner to an internal IDE channel.

Regrettably, I can't do this, cos there's no physical place for anything else like this inside computer I'm working with now, which is Dell Optiplex GX50.

 

You might as well update your firmware, too ...

Yes, I've already downloaded the next update from that site, just didn't install it earlier cos I had no problems with existing firmware.

Maybe now it's almost a right time to try it - drive warranty will end soon, so I'll be free from danger of loosing it.

 

Is the drive dying, worn out, dirty?

I don't think so.

It was purchased 2006.03.23 with 24 months warranty, so I still have some time of it.

I use it about 4 months after I got it from previous owner & I didn't have such problems with it until now - rather even not with it, but with Verbatim DVDs!

In that time I've burned almost 20 CDs & made just one real coaster because of my own mistake to hit "cancel" button at the wrong time + one time there was a fail with CD-RW which I just rewrote.

 

I've almost already forgotten about such things as burning problems with that drive until this recent case.

 

Thanks for your links chewy, but they just confused me now!

I thought the only one firmware update that can be useful to me is the one presented in the link from blutach & now there's so many different options that I just don't know what & why should I use.

OK, I'll try to study that info.

 

Anyway, the main question still remains open - why I'm getting some similar problems with Verbatim DVDs from different sources when this isn't the case with cheap ACME DVDs!?

 

As I can remember, somewhere at this forum I've seen a statement that Verbatim or TY DVDs have 99% reliability, when other crap is almost 50 to 50%.

It's strange to me again, but what I must think then seeing this:

 

http://www.burnworld.com/dvd/media/burner-media4.htm

Edited February 9, 2008 by FelixCold

[chewy]

I have burned about 200 yuden T02's, 100% success

 

maybe 500-600 tyg01, 2 an 3's maybe one coaster

 

verbatim's maybe 600-700 of the 16x almost all dvd+r's maybe 5 coasters

 

I don't use old drives or outdated firmware or usb burners

 

even with 2nd class media I usually get 96-99% success

 

3rd class I try to avoid

[blutach]

@FelixCold

 

Either you've come for advice or come for a fight. If the former, then you've been given good advice, based on lotsa experience (for example, a search will tell you why you need to burn slow on USB and no amount of argument will change it).

 

If you've come for a fight, then I can't be buggered with you.

 

Regards

[chewy]

Regarding usb, unlike ata/pata burning, it's more closely related to burning in pio mode, sure the interface is theoretically capable of 480Mb/s, but it can't even handle video capture from cam corders without dropping frames.

Why? The overhead is handled by the cpu not the chipsets. Hence the problem with dropped frames or I guess semaphore timeouts in burning. Using a source usb drive and burning to another usb drive is just plain asking for trouble unless your computer is fully optimized and has enough horsepower to manage the task. All these points I am making are common knowledge. Usb sucks

 

I did run into one guy who swore his old dual cpu power mac could burn 2 dvd's at the same time at 16x with firewire and toast

but the source files were on a raid stripe not another external drive.

 

E-sata would be my choice if I had a laptop with inadequate hard drive space, looking forward to seeing e-sata dvd burners if they can ever get the bugs out of that

[FelixCold]

Either you've come for advice or come for a fight.

I hoped I came here for the first one, but sometimes it tends to turn into the second depending on the quality of the first!

I didn't state anything here without a proof, differently to you guys.

 

I don't use old drives or outdated firmware or usb burners.

...

All these points I am making are common knowledge. Usb sucks

These things are slightly different for those who don't need to burn thousands of discs.

 

If I need to burn in average about 1 disc in a week, I can't consider a drive that is still on warranty as old, I doubt that there's much sense in trying which is the best of many available firmware "updates" one by one (most of them not original) otherwise than from pure interest if the existing one still works good enough & as I prefer to have several more simple & less powerful computers instead of one "super-machine" for the same price (cos sudden problem which can end in losing workability of this one & only & the last working computer can make me much more trouble than the lack of GHz & etc. on those several less powerful), I can't have a most modern DVD writer in every of my computers - instead I have more simple ones there (usually combo-s, except one) & one common portable USB DVD writer for all, especially, when I use DVDs less than CDs & mostly for backups cos I don't care so much if my movies are in some compressed format instead of "true DVD".

 

I see we have slightly different views to solving problems cos I'm more concentrated on the exact trouble I have instead of many general things as you trying to point me to - maybe for those who are constantly burning a big amount of discs this "general" way works, but for the ones like me trying to improve everything in general usually leads to waste of time & money & health for things that rarely give a direct result.

 

I don't understand why are you still pointing me to that USB speed aspect when as I can see it isn't directly or maybe even anyhow related to the problems I have.

 

I don't have problems with limited long-term USB transfer speed from computer to external drive, cos all the main burning process goes fine, I'm having problems at "writing lead in" moment - how they can be caused by USB?

 

How can USB make ACME crap work better than Verbatims?

 

When I came to local computer store yesterday & asked for Verbatim blank DVDs I was presented just with a coloured 5 piece pack instead of ordinary colourless ones & they didn't have a DVDRW of that brand at all (I had to buy ACME), so I asked then why there's so little choice.

 

The answer was: "you know, most of our customers don't care much about brand, they care just about general type (CD or DVD, R or RW) & price, so there's no much sense for us to keep here a wide choice of different products, especially higher-priced".

 

If other "crappy" brands would be the same unreliable as they're cheap (about 1.5 to 1), this should be already well known even for ordinary users as I'm sure in that case they would prefer though more expensive, but more reliable media - as I see, the former statement about higher reliability is at least doubtable.

 

One good thing is that at manufacturers site the previous-to-last original firmware version that my drive still has doesn't already exist for download - that means the last one is now the only that is available there & so I think I can use it without troubles regarding warranty.

 

I'll see if there'll be noticeable changes in my drive behaviour.

 

To be continued later ...

(as I'll burn more DVDs I'll post more logs when they'll be available)

[chewy]

If your verbatim's were made in india, they are made by the same company as your ACME media.

 

My computer is over 2 years old and hardly state of the art when built.

 

My LG burner is about 3 years old and still going strong.

[blutach]

@FelixCold - we don't have time to "prove" everything we say. Again, you either accept the experience and expertise we have here or you do not. Arguing won't make things different. You've been given good advice. Either take it or leave it.

 

Regards

[blutach]

When I came to local computer store yesterday & asked for Verbatim blank DVDs I was presented just with a coloured 5 piece pack instead of ordinary colourless ones & they didn't have a DVDRW of that brand at all (I had to buy ACME), so I asked then why there's so little choice.

 

The answer was: "you know, most of our customers don't care much about brand, they care just about general type (CD or DVD, R or RW) & price, so there's no much sense for us to keep here a wide choice of different products, especially higher-priced".

Showing, yet again, how little retailers know or care about their customers. They do care, however, about their profits. Also, shows how little the general customer knows (which is why there are so many "burning error" threads littered about the forums).

 

I buy decent disks online at a trusted supplier.

 

Regards

[FelixCold]

If your verbatim's were made in india, they are made by the same company as your ACME media.

Regrettably, I can't find any info about this on my DVDs & their boxes - all I have with state of origin posted on are several Verbatim CD stacks - two are made in China & two in India.

 

I guess there's no any sense for traders to import better media to our lands ... #39;(

 

Later I'll try to look on DVD packages at more local stores, but it already seems like until now I've been paying extra for something that isn't really present?

 

And "MCC-004-00" is just another two-faced Janus ...

 

Again, you either accept the experience and expertise or not.

I can try to accept them until they're denied by my own experience.

I can't already state this for sure as I have too little statistics but some obvious things in it are very suspicious.

[volvofl10]

Anyway, the main question still remains open - why I'm getting some similar problems with Verbatim DVDs from different sources when this isn't the case with cheap ACME DVDs!?

 

dfferant media responds to drives in differant ways. not everybody uses the same brand and type of media with the same writer with the same make and model of PC , and then plays it on the same make and model of dvd player .

for some people the cheapest crap media works, but for many others it doesnt, hence our recommendation of taiyo Yuden or Verbatim .

both taiyo and Verbatim have given the most consistency over recent years . ( info gained from experience within this forum)

As I can remember, somewhere at this forum I've seen a statement that Verbatim or TY DVDs have 99% reliability, when other crap is almost 50 to 50%.

see my last reply above

It's strange to me again, but what I must think then seeing this:

 

http://www.burnworld.com/dvd/media/burner-media4.htm

I just checked your link, and honest opinion is that the results are done by people who have either

A) not watched all the dvds they wrote 6 months previously

B ) are not really bothered about quality

C) buy the cheapest media available to them

 

if cheap media works for you then stick with it. if you dont want to follow the advice youve been given already then fine as well HOWEVER , if you dont follow thw advice youve been given you will probably never resolve the original problem

[FelixCold]

I just checked your link, and honest opinion is that the results are done by people who have either

A) not watched all the dvds they wrote 6 months previously

B ) are not really bothered about quality

C) buy the cheapest media available to them

My first impression was somehow similar after all I've read at this forum, but I'm confused because of quantity numbers shown there - they're talking about millions!

 

if cheap media works for you then stick with it. if you dont want to follow the advice youve been given already then fine as well HOWEVER , if you dont follow thw advice youve been given you will probably never resolve the original problem

The case isn't about to stick with cheap media, but rather about not being able to stick with such called "high quality" one, as I originally wanted & was ready to advice the same to others.

Accidentally my Verbatim DVDs ended in the middle of the night (somehow I was sure I still have more of them) & I used remaining cheap brand which suddenly performed better!

Now as I still see little difference between these media I'll use both of them for further investigations & I'll be very careful with spreading advices I've read at this forum.

[dontasciime]

When buying recommended media, it should be noted that most people recommending it are assuming you have a modern/ recent writer.

 

These newer models have the newer media code implemented.

 

I may have missed some info in this post but seems to me that the drive you have has not seen a media code table update for a while hence that media code not being part of the write strategy for your drive.

 

I burn a lot over usb on my systems and I know how fast I can go and I do not subscribe to Usb being crap, I like it, that does not mean it's not fraught / prone to error(s) in my case it's always the same error that arises [semaphore Timeout Error] a miscommunication between enclosure chipset/ drive / usb controller/

 

Try and get some 8x media TYG02 or MCC02RG0

[chewy]

Donta,

you are particular about your enclosures for usb and with testing have eliminated substandard or even average chipsets

 

the new nec ones seem quite up to the task

 

according to dee and a few others over at cdfreaks

 

I overgeneralize when I say usb sucks

[Pain_Man]

Yeah, we're too old and too battle-scarred to muck about with fighting these days. A useless expenditure of emotional and psychical energy.

 

 

=

 

 

These friends of mine are some of the tech savviest people you're ever going to run into; many of them are just plain some of the smartest people you're going to run into.

 

I understand that you're having a frustrating problem; a long time ago I was told to avoid USB burners if I could. And I've stuck to that advice. I've even tried SATA II burners--both of them were demonstrably slower than IDE versions of the same make!.

 

Fortunately, Plextor's retail distributor (can't remember the name at the moment) is very flexible and easy to deal with. Both times they swapped out the drive for it's IDE equivalent with a minimum of amount of bullshit.

 

AS FOR MEDIA...

 

I concur with blu. I've burned scores and scores of Taiyo Yudens. My best results (SL) have been with model number: Yuden000-T02-00

(@8x to 12x max burn depending upon burner, et al).

 

But I've had good luck with every flavor of First Quality Goods from Taiyo. I've never tried their "bargain bundles" of old 4x stock. I don't know if they are overstock of Seconds (i.e. some manufacturing defect, usually slight, but something that makes the run of discs fail their QC test); given that Taiyo invented the dye-based CD-R, my guess is that they are probably ok. But I stick with First Quality.

 

I suggest you grab a disc reader such as this FREE one:

Vso-Soft Inspector.

 

As you can see, this applet gives you stats as to how it's performed using Vso's burning software & the burner in question. A 5% failure rate out of 556,000 burns gives you a good idea of how well this medium is going to perform.

 

 

 

As for Verbatim, one has to be a little carefuller these days. I bought at least one 50 pack of Verbatim-badged CD-Rs that turned out to be CMCs. Oddly enough, they've not given me any trouble. In fact, I've had more coasters from Sony's yellow label model# 50CDQ80LS3

 

In general, however, their DVDs are good gear. In fact, I can't remember--knock on wood--the time I had a coaster with model #MCC 03RG20/95037, a 16x +R. A 95.6% success rate out of 3.77 million burns. Excellent. (Even higher on my Plextor 760A.)

 

 

As a general rule, with DVDs, there's no good reason to burn as fast as your hardware can handle it. I've gotten my best results with Single Layer discs by burning them @8x. Sure, it costs some extra minutes, but the quality improvement is worth it, imo.

As for DVD+R DLs: Verbatim is the only way to fly.

 

FYI: I'm only my 512th burner and I've yet to see any of them meet the maximum speed for burning DLs. The Plextor 760A box touts it as burning DLs at 10x. Nah. 6x is the fastest I see. Which isn't a problem since, again, with DVD-Video, the slower the burn, the better the result (and this isn't exclusive to optical media... )

 

The other brand I've tried, Memorex is G-A-R-B-A-G-E. They are rebadged CMC's--one of the companies with the worst rep--and deservedly so. While, in my experience, their CD-Rs are acceptable, not so their DVDs.

 

Out of one ten pack, nine were coasters. My wife bought me a 15-pack (I think it went on her company's tab, so what the hell). Every single one of them has coastered so far; I've still got 7 or 8 of them left. I use them only for data (especially song backup, e.g. ripping a bunch of albums to .ape format for storage). Using them for DVD-Video (home recorded, private video only, OF COURSE!!!).

 

I have burned about 200 yuden T02's, 100% success

 

maybe 500-600 tyg01, 2 an 3's maybe one coaster

 

verbatim's maybe 600-700 of the 16x almost all dvd+r's maybe 5 coasters

 

I don't use old drives or outdated firmware or usb burners

 

even with 2nd class media I usually get 96-99% success

 

3rd class I try to avoid

[Pain_Man]

according to dee and a few others over at cdfreaks

 

I overgeneralize when I say usb sucks

 

 

I keep hearing the same thing...and from multiple sources. USB burner = bad idea. Unless you have no other choice, i.e. a laptop that didnt come with a burner, etc.

[chewy]

we have been troubleshooting a lot of usb problems at a high traffic forum, added to the system resource problem we run into a lot of power issues which are sometimes solved by adding a pci usb card, may be even a powered usb enclosure draws some power from the motherboard?