a bit OT: Dead DVD-RW discs

ibliss wrote on 7/13/2005, 4:40 PM

Every now and then I will find that a dvd-rw just wont work after a failed burn. I can reuse CD-RW discs that have had a failed write, but the DVD's just lock up whatever program is trying to access them (explorer, Nero) until the disc is removed from the drive. This means I can't erase them and use them again.

Any thoughts?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/13/2005, 4:47 PM

I come across these duds about one out of every 20 or so. My guess is that they really are duds from the factory rather than anything that went wrong when i tried to use them. Probably the process of making them is a lot more delicate than the process for making CD-RWs and the failure rate is higher. For what it's worth, i have much better luck with HP than with other brands.

ibliss wrote on 7/13/2005, 6:12 PM

Thanks for your input, just to clarify, the problem is that I can't erase and re-use a DVD-RW or DVD+RW coaster. I should be able to blank it and start again, right?

cbrillow wrote on 7/14/2005, 3:52 AM

On a couple of occasions, I've had CD-R/Ws fail to the point where they could not be formatted or completely erased. I took some pictures of one of them that looked like it had 'water spots' on the surface, but a careful examination showed that it was actually what appeared to be a weird 'burn pattern' in the dye layer.

I've also noticed that they tend to develop flaws that cause playback hangs after several uses. In this case, a full erase can sometimes improve the performance for a couple of additional burns.

Chienworks wrote on 7/14/2005, 4:06 AM

Theoretically you should be able to erase and reuse a "coaster", which is a disc that failed because of burn issues. What i think i'm finding is actual "duds", which would never have worked to begin with. I suspect that some of your coasters are actually duds instead.

johnmeyer wrote on 7/14/2005, 6:31 AM

I have had the problem you describe. In my case it was caused by my Pioneer A05 burner going bad. I ended up creating coasters out of three other DVD-RW discs before I realized what was going on.

I purchased a Pioneer A09 and put it into the same computer and the problem went away. I still couldn't, however, erase the DVD-RW discs that had gone bad.

There are a few programs that claim to be able to erase using a different approach, but you have to have a drive that has a feature that the Pioneer (including the newer A09) doesn't have.

Anyway, if it happens again, you may need to replace the drive.

craftech wrote on 7/14/2005, 7:57 AM

Don't use Full Erase on them. Use Quick Erase instead. For some reason Full Erase seems to occasionally remove the media ID from the rewritable discs then they won't record any more.

John

B_JM wrote on 7/14/2005, 9:38 AM

if all else fails , put them out in direct sunlight (on a flat surface) for 4-6+ hours ... that will usually wipe out the corrupted sectors ...

ibliss wrote on 7/14/2005, 5:14 PM

Thanks again guys,

B JM - yeah, that has similar results to my 'bend the disc till it shatters' technique... (PLEASE DON'T DESTROY DISCS THIS WAY PEOPLE, OR CLOSE YOUR EYES IF YOU MUST DO IT, AS THE DISC WILL EXPLODE INTO TINY SHARDS OF PLASTIC!!!! CUTTING THE DISC WITH SCISSORS IS A SAFE WAY TO DESTROY IT!)

I think it must be another case of a dodgy DVD drive - the failed burns are basically not due to buffer underruns, but just the fact that the disc apparently never stops burning. I have to reboot to get the disc (coaster) out of the drive. Using a different DVD Drive burns correctly.

B_JM wrote on 7/15/2005, 9:38 AM

i was not joking -- leaving them in the sun will often erase them enough to reuse them ..

it was not a joke -- will not always work, but they didnt work to begin with and nothign to lose ..