Double Layer DVD

[X-ray]

I just got a new NEC DVD rewriter down at the computer fair for £50. It does all the formats except DVD-RAM and also does dual layer writing.

My question: any recommendations on good brands of 8gb blank DVDs? And what software is best? I am currently using Easy CD and DVD creator V6 and it writes data DVDs okay, haven't tried movies just MP3s and pix. I am using standard 4gb disks because I want to find out from you people before I buy expensive dual layer disks.

[Etho]

I've also got an NEC DVD Writer but I've not tried dual layer media yet.

Dual layere media is available here:

http://www.dvd-and-media.com/dual-layer-dvdr-media.htm

As for software I use Nero for Data and Nerovision for video, they both work well with no probs.

[X-ray]

Thanks Etho

Let me know if you burn a DL before I do...

[X-ray]

Okay, I got 2 DL DVD writables today, they were £5 each. I have an NEC DL drive and I just changed from Easy CD Creator 6 to Nero 6 (full version). That was the cheapest option, £60 for a serial number download version.

Here's my problem: the disk comes up as being 8.5gb in Nero, and I get the right size estimate prior to burning (I'm trying 8gb of data files, nothing fancy).
But...I can't burn DL. I get 'no seek complete'. This happened with a Traxdata and a Ridata disk.

I intend to contact Ahead/Nero on Monday about this, but if anyone has a tip for me now I can try it over the weekend. I am hoping this is a media problem rather than a drive/software problem, but I thought that at least the Traxdata would work. Fortunately they are not yet 'coasters'


@ Etho: have you burned an DLs yet? :-?

[Etho]

X-ray

I've only tried one with a disc I got from work. It seemed to go fine and it played back on my DVD Player. But it would only write at 1x.

You might try updating nero with any patches that are out, have look here:

http://www.nero.com/en/nero-up.php

Also I think NEC produced some of the first Dual Layer DVD Writers, so there may well me a new firmware available. In fact that's how I enabled Dual Layered writing on my NEC.

Try here:

http://www.herrie.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1#cat

Since I've only tried one I'm afraid I can't me more help.

[X-ray]

@ Etho

Thanks for the feedback. My NEC is running on 2.16 firmware and the Nero I downloaded off Ahead's site today  (version 6.3.1.20).
An interesting thing is that when the burn process was just about to start, it was at 2.4 speed on both discs.

I'll go back and see if I can force it to 1 x.

[X-ray]

Update: doesn't work at any speed, any book type, still says 'no seek complete'

Edit: @ Etho: what disc did you use (manufacturer)?

[Etho]

X-ray

I used a Verbatim disc, it's all we have in work. BTW what model NEC have you got?

One other thing to try from the Nero website:

Poor IDE cable or incorrect cable - if you use the 40pin cable you can have all sorts of unusual symptoms. It would be best to use an ATA-133 80 wire cable.

[mikeymike]

My DVD writer isn't dual layer, though I've sworn by TDK since I first got a CD writer, and Imation is my second choice.

I have had one dud TDK DVD (no dud TDK CDs), though my DVD writer is USB-based (for my laptop primarily), and I don't think USB likes being able to do its thing when the system is busy.

[Brian]

Just got hold of my first DVD burner. Look sweet... Philips DVD+RW824 (despite the name it take all formats except DVD-RAM :-D, ow and no double layers :-().

Anyway... bought myself a 25pack of lowquality PCLine DVD+R's and hope it'll take me across the first hurles of dud burns etc.

Only thing so far to complain about is that the philips homepage is crapp and I simply can't find my product there, let alone any help about it or possible updated firmware etc. :pissed:

[X-ray]

@ Etho and MM:

Problem solved!!

The latest NEC firmware is 2.16 (I have an NEC ND-2510A) and my drive came with version 2.15. So I had originally updated with NEC's 2.16 and I still couldn't burn the Traxdata or Ridata.

I saw your link to Herrie, but his version was listed as NEC v2.16 so I initially didn't try it, thinking it was the same.

Took a big chance and flashed it anyway...problem solved!
I just burned a DL disk (8,2gb at 2.4 speed). So I'm a happy bunny for now.

I think NEC's original 2.16 would have written the Verbatim, but not the Traxdata or Ridata (I understand they are similar or practically the same).

So, there we go. Thanks to Herrie and his "patched" NEC firmware. And thanks to YOU for pointing me in that direction      :-)

[Etho]

Handy site that Herrie's it's thanks to him I was able to convert my NEC 2500A into a dual layer writer, for FREE!

Anyway I'm glad you got it sorted.

[X-ray]

@ Etho: according to the reviews I've read, your drive and mine are physically the same, only the firmware (as shipped) is different.

So if you have flashed Herrie's V2.16 (patched) then you should also be burning dual-layer discs at 2.4x.
I presume that Verbatim you used is not limited to 1x ?

Edit: oh, I suddenly realised...you wrote video and I wrote data..that must be the reason

[Etho]

Hmmm, I'm using 1.07 beta5 and judging by the compatibility list for different media the Verbatim isn't even supported. So I'm lucky I could burn anything at all.

I might give the 2.16 a go, from what I gather it simply ads support for more media most notably Ritek.

[Etho]

@Brian

Philips web sites are useless, I could never find info on my old DVD player. The drive is listed here though:

Philips Product Selector