Weird DVD problem

Avanti wrote on 1/17/2006, 10:17 AM

Three months ago I produced a safety video for a client. I gave them 6 DVD-R (DVD-5) copies burned on Beall brand media, using a Pioneer 106, and DVD Architect. I played all of them on both set top player and computer before giving them to the client. The client also played all of them on both set top and computer with no problems.

The client plays the DVD continuously 8 hours a day on a combo Magnavox 26" LCD HDTV Monitor with DVD Player (26MD255V). Each DVD would last about 2 to 3 weeks before it would stop playing. I see no visible scratches or dirt, and have cleaned them with a Maxell cleaning kit, but none of them will play for me now either.

Any experience or ideas about the cause of this?

Comments

ScottW wrote on 1/17/2006, 11:08 AM
If I had to guess, my guess would be that the constant playing is causing the ink to be degraded over time resulting in a non-playable DVD - kinda like leaving the DVD out in the sun. The only suggestion I would have is to try a higher quality media.

--Scott
Curt wrote on 1/20/2006, 9:23 AM
I've had similar problems recently, where a DVD plays fine for a while, then craps out. My guess is that it's a media quality issue as well.

johnmeyer wrote on 1/20/2006, 10:59 AM
If you want to get scientific about this, burn a new copy of the same disc, using the exact same media and burner. Then, use Nero CD-DVD Speed (free testing tool) or one of the other testing tools to test the error rate on the new and the old DVD (you may have to find a computer that has a DVD drive that reads, but does not write because many of the DVD writers -- including the Pioneer you have -- won't do the error testing).

Record the results and then see what happens after a few weeks of continuous play. You might also try the same thing with some really high-quality Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden media (or the archival quality MAM-A which costs several dollars a disk). I'd be really interested in the results. Sounds to me like you come across a way to do real-life "aging" tests.