What program do you guys use to erase DVD-RW disks for re-use?
I have tried a couple, which don't seem to work.
One thing for sure, one cannot simply write on top of previous
writings.
you can just erase using the program that comes with the app. Nero works
well.
beware disks don't like light and can become bad at erasing if left in the
light.
"gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> wrote in message
news:8cq2n35j6ggdcu9n4l39vodjlqvrmuscbo@4ax.com...
> What program do you guys use to erase DVD-RW disks for re-use?
> I have tried a couple, which don't seem to work.
> One thing for sure, one cannot simply write on top of previous
> writings.
>
> Thanks
>
> Gecko
On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 21:20:28 GMT, "Gary"
<Garyspam@spamasmailorder.com> wrote:
>you can just erase using the program that comes with the app. Nero works
>well.
>
>beware disks don't like light and can become bad at erasing if left in the
>light.
>
Here's the thing.
I bought a pack of five DVD-RW disks, and have used each maybe three
times over last few months.
Now, I find three of the five seemingly are unusable - they will not
play nor show what is on them (in Windows Explorer). In fact two of
them will not even stop blinking in the drive.
Is there some procedure or something else that renders these things
unusable? Is there some procedure that one can use to recover their
RW capability? Are they that fragile? Are they that finicky?
H..., one of them even hangs up my DVD drive in such a way that the
only way I can eject the danged disk is to shut down and re-boot!
Otherwise I can't get the disk out of the drive!
"gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> wrote in message
news:7n33n3dd7ipj67kncp7dpnalidv8hsdr1e@4ax.com...
> Here's the thing.
> I bought a pack of five DVD-RW disks, and have used each maybe three
> times over last few months.
> Now, I find three of the five seemingly are unusable - they will not
> play nor show what is on them (in Windows Explorer). In fact two of
> them will not even stop blinking in the drive.
> Is there some procedure or something else that renders these things
> unusable? Is there some procedure that one can use to recover their
> RW capability? Are they that fragile? Are they that finicky?
>
> H..., one of them even hangs up my DVD drive in such a way that the
> only way I can eject the danged disk is to shut down and re-boot!
> Otherwise I can't get the disk out of the drive!
>
> Disgusted....
Lets start by finding out the make and model and firmware version of the
drive and the make of the DVD-RW disks.
--
Brian Gregory. (In the UK) ng@bgdsv.co.uk
To email me remove the letter vee.
On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:56:03 -0000, "Brian Gregory [UK]"
<ng@bgdsv.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Lets start by finding out the make and model and firmware version of the
>drive and the make of the DVD-RW disks.
The DVDRW disks are Staples. I got them so as to try to stop wasting
TY disks which were failing for me too (ie the video disks would not
play, computer or otherwise). The drive is a Lite-On 20X that Everest
calls a ATAPI DVD A DH20A3P.
Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
>On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:56:03 -0000, "Brian Gregory [UK]"
><ng@bgdsv.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>>Lets start by finding out the make and model and firmware version of the
>>drive and the make of the DVD-RW disks.
>
>The DVDRW disks are Staples. I got them so as to try to stop wasting
>TY disks which were failing for me too (ie the video disks would not
>play, computer or otherwise). The drive is a Lite-On 20X that Everest
>calls a ATAPI DVD A DH20A3P.
>
>Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
>speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
>layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
If the disc is indeed double layer, the disc is not rewritable -- you
cannot erase it.
If you have trouble with TY discs, I suspect the burner did not burn
right. What's the rated burn speed of TY and do you remember the speed
it was burned?
> On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:56:03 -0000, "Brian Gregory [UK]"
> <ng@bgdsv.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >
> >Lets start by finding out the make and model and firmware version of the
> >drive and the make of the DVD-RW disks.
>
> The DVDRW disks are Staples. I got them so as to try to stop wasting
> TY disks which were failing for me too (ie the video disks would not
> play, computer or otherwise). The drive is a Lite-On 20X that Everest
> calls a ATAPI DVD A DH20A3P.
>
All the following is IMO only.
To begin with, your writer is not one of the best.
Should go for LG, NEC/Sony or Pioneer for good reliable burns.
Thats not just me readin things about them, I've used a number of drives
from all three makes and they've all been good (for me anyway).
> Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
> speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
> layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
>
I'm curious as to how someone can make that mistake but anyway...
If they are indeed Dual layer then they definately aren't ReWriteable.
Also, if you've previously had problems getting 100% reliability from Taiyo
Yuden discs then either your writer is even worse than I have been led to
believe (possible) or you have some other problem with your machine (also
slightly possible though I cannot guess what it might be).
I can only say that with the three makes of drive I listed above you should
get excellent results with top quality media (Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim) every
time.
When you get it all sorted out, you may want to try using a program called
CD-DVD speed: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/
Use this to do a disc quality check after burning to see how good the burn
is.
On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:36:22 -0700, Curious <Curious@curiosity.net>
wrote:
>>Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
>>speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
>>layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
>
>If the disc is indeed double layer, the disc is not rewritable -- you
>cannot erase it.
>
>If you have trouble with TY discs, I suspect the burner did not burn
>right. What's the rated burn speed of TY and do you remember the speed
>it was burned?
First of all, I always try to choose a slow writing speed because I
read somewhere that slow speeds work better. Usually 2x or 4x.
I don't remember my exact choice in this case.
Secondly, I have two machines, one of which has a double-layer DVD
drive by 'New Technology'. I inherited it from a now deceased friend.
The other has the drive I described previously.
Thirdly, just to increase my confusion, I was wrong about the density
of the DVD-RW disks. It is 4.7GB. On the other hand, I do have a few
8.5GB DVD+RW disks, also inherited. Both are Staples.
Last, I have pilled the double layered drive in favor of a 16X single
layer drive, which Everest simply is DVDRW IDE 16X. The markings on
the front of the drive say RW DVD+ REWRITABLE.
So, I have a mess.
Let me ask these simple (?) questions please.
1) The 'DVD+' designator probably means I shouldn't or can't use
DVD-RW disks in the last above drive, right? I hadn't noticed that
before either.
2) When I wrote on the single layer Staples DVD-RW disks using the
double layer drive with data less that 3GB, would that have rendered
the disk unusable on a single layer drive at that point? By either
DVD drive? And of course, writing the '-' disks on the '+' double
layer drive might have destroyed the disks, right?
3) Do you think I should be able to erase the DVD-RW disks on the
single layer DVD drive in the other machine? Can't seem to.
4) My Taiyo Yudens are unlabelled (so I can print labels on them). I
don't know their ratings. Any way to determine that? I do have some
new ones though in an as-yet unopened package that are supposed to be
8X DVD-R.
>>>Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
>>>speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
>>>layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
>>
>>If the disc is indeed double layer, the disc is not rewritable -- you
>>cannot erase it.
>>
>>If you have trouble with TY discs, I suspect the burner did not burn
>>right. What's the rated burn speed of TY and do you remember the speed
>>it was burned?
>
>First of all, I always try to choose a slow writing speed because I
>read somewhere that slow speeds work better. Usually 2x or 4x.
>I don't remember my exact choice in this case.
Nowadays slow writing speed does NOT write better. With DVD in
particular very slow writing results in a bad burn. Burn at the
whatever speed Nero selected.
>
>Secondly, I have two machines, one of which has a double-layer DVD
>drive by 'New Technology'. I inherited it from a now deceased friend.
>The other has the drive I described previously.
>
>Thirdly, just to increase my confusion, I was wrong about the density
>of the DVD-RW disks. It is 4.7GB. On the other hand, I do have a few
>8.5GB DVD+RW disks, also inherited. Both are Staples.
>
>Last, I have pilled the double layered drive in favor of a 16X single
>layer drive, which Everest simply is DVDRW IDE 16X. The markings on
>the front of the drive say RW DVD+ REWRITABLE.
>
>So, I have a mess.
>
>Let me ask these simple (?) questions please.
>
>1) The 'DVD+' designator probably means I shouldn't or can't use
>DVD-RW disks in the last above drive, right? I hadn't noticed that
>before either.
If the drive is 16x, it will most likely burn both "+" and "-". And it
will likely burn double layer. Go into [Control Panel, System,
Hardware, Device Manager], expand 'DVD/CD-ROM drives'. The last string
is the model number. Search for the spec with the model number.
>
>2) When I wrote on the single layer Staples DVD-RW disks using the
>double layer drive with data less that 3GB, would that have rendered
>the disk unusable on a single layer drive at that point? By either
>DVD drive? And of course, writing the '-' disks on the '+' double
>layer drive might have destroyed the disks, right?
If the drive is "-" only burner, it would not have burnt to "+" media.
As mentioned it's highly unlikely that 16x burner is "-" only.
>
>3) Do you think I should be able to erase the DVD-RW disks on the
>single layer DVD drive in the other machine? Can't seem to.
If the dvd was burned at too slower a speed than the rated diisc
speed, the dvd would have been a coaster. In that case, the dvd-rw
cannot be erased. Was the dvd-rw readable right after the burn? What
steps are you using for erase?
>
>4) My Taiyo Yudens are unlabelled (so I can print labels on them). I
>don't know their ratings. Any way to determine that? I do have some
>new ones though in an as-yet unopened package that are supposed to be
>8X DVD-R.
The 'Disc Info' tab of [Nero Tools, Nero CD-DVD Speed] will list
writing speeds. Burn at the highest speed listed.
>>>Hey, I just noticed that the labeling on the Staples' disks says 2.4X
>>>speed, but more importantly 8.5.GB. Does that mean I bought double
>>>layer disks by mistake? Oh wow..................
>>
>>If the disc is indeed double layer, the disc is not rewritable -- you
>>cannot erase it.
>>
>>If you have trouble with TY discs, I suspect the burner did not burn
>>right. What's the rated burn speed of TY and do you remember the speed
>>it was burned?
>
>First of all, I always try to choose a slow writing speed because I
>read somewhere that slow speeds work better. Usually 2x or 4x.
>I don't remember my exact choice in this case.
Nowadays slow writing speed does NOT write better. With DVD in
particular very slow writing results in a bad burn. Burn at the
whatever speed Nero selected.
>
>Secondly, I have two machines, one of which has a double-layer DVD
>drive by 'New Technology'. I inherited it from a now deceased friend.
>The other has the drive I described previously.
>
>Thirdly, just to increase my confusion, I was wrong about the density
>of the DVD-RW disks. It is 4.7GB. On the other hand, I do have a few
>8.5GB DVD+RW disks, also inherited. Both are Staples.
AFAIK, there is no double layer "RW".
See the thread "RW confusion".
>
>Last, I have pilled the double layered drive in favor of a 16X single
>layer drive, which Everest simply is DVDRW IDE 16X. The markings on
>the front of the drive say RW DVD+ REWRITABLE.
>
>So, I have a mess.
>
>Let me ask these simple (?) questions please.
>
>1) The 'DVD+' designator probably means I shouldn't or can't use
>DVD-RW disks in the last above drive, right? I hadn't noticed that
>before either.
If the drive is 16x, it will most likely burn both "+" and "-". And it
will likely burn double layer. Go into [Control Panel, System,
Hardware, Device Manager], expand 'DVD/CD-ROM drives'. The last string
is the model number. Search for the spec with the model number.
>
>2) When I wrote on the single layer Staples DVD-RW disks using the
>double layer drive with data less that 3GB, would that have rendered
>the disk unusable on a single layer drive at that point? By either
>DVD drive?
No to both questions.
>
> And of course, writing the '-' disks on the '+' double
>layer drive might have destroyed the disks, right?
If the drive is "-" only burner, it would not have burnt to "+" media.
As mentioned it's highly unlikely that 16x burner is "-" only.
>
>3) Do you think I should be able to erase the DVD-RW disks on the
>single layer DVD drive in the other machine? Can't seem to.
If the dvd was burned at too slower a speed than the rated diisc
speed, the dvd would have been a coaster. In that case, the dvd-rw
cannot be erased. Was the dvd-rw readable right after the burn? What
steps are you using for erase?
>
>4) My Taiyo Yudens are unlabelled (so I can print labels on them). I
>don't know their ratings. Any way to determine that? I do have some
>new ones though in an as-yet unopened package that are supposed to be
>8X DVD-R.
The 'Disc Info' tab of [Nero Tools, Nero CD-DVD Speed] will list
writing speeds. Burn at the highest speed listed (and that speed is
most likely the write speed Nero selects).
How Erase DVD-RW? 
Linear Mode
