DVD writing problems

I use Adobe PHotoshop album's backup feature to backup my pics as well as all the 'tag' information I attach to them from that program. I've been backing up onto DVD - I have the BenQ DW1655 DVD burner, and right now have a pack of Fujifilm DVD-RW discs.

I have had ongoing trouble with Album as well as my data backup program (Genie Backup Manager) telling me there's errors or problems with the discs and they can't complete the backup. It's not a compatability issue - I've checked the specs and this drive can write to all R/RW +/- discs. Are DVDs really that unreliable that I end up not being able to use probably half of them? Sometimes they work a few times, and then (like this morning) suddenly decide to not work.

Am I doing something wrong or is this just the flaw of this kind of media? If I have to buy twice as many discs to get a few that work (and even then I don't feel great about it when they quit like this) I'm just going to have to convince my husband somehow that we need to get new hard drives and create backups that way.

Please tell me if I'm doing somethign really stupid!

Hi Dawn in Alberta,

I had a problem with burning CDs recently. One or two out of ten would burn okay. Out of frustration I bought new media and the problem went away. The bad CDs should have been compatible. I haven't had any problems with DVDs.

Have you checked to see if you can burn DVD's with other software?

Dan

Make sure that you have the latest firmware installed for your DVD burner. I had similar trouble with certain brands of DVD media but the problem disappeared after the upgrade.

Also, some brands of DVD media appear to be poor quality. I've had trouble with JVC and Packard Bell discs - a few discs in each pack of 10 just don't write properly. I've never had a problem with TDK, Sony or Imation discs.

There is also the issue of S/W to Burner capatability issue. Some Burning S/W will only support certain burners.

May I ask why you want to use RWs rather then R's. Typically RWs are slower and less stable. With cost of R media around $0.20 each and much more stable, there seems no really good reason to use RW. The fact that it can be use as a removable may be a good argument but the time it takes to forma them before use is way too time consuming to be efficient.

I had the SAME problem with my Dell Cd burner on my laptop. Supposedly it was a +/- writer, but turns out it is ONLY a "-" cd writer...I switched and it has worked fine ever since...

CDs don't have +/- DVDs do!!!

Definitely try new media first and that may solve it...or not.

I had a similar problem last year burning CD's. Some worked, some didn't. After wasting enough to tile a large bathroom, I called up Dell Support (still was under warranty). They shipped a new drive along with a tech to come to my house & install it (even though I could have easily done it). Never had a problem since with any media.

Good luck,

Over the years I've bought about 6 DVD burners. Apart from my original Hewlett Packard +R/+RW drive which is now in my #2 PC and the Pioneer "write-anything" in my #1 PC now, all the others (lesser brands) have died. Over a period of hours or weeks they become unreliable at burning and then cant burn at all. The only exception was one which could not read either. I even returned one of these drives under guarantee to the manufacturer who returned a repared drive which died after 6 months.
To add to that there is DVD media out there that is just rubbish. Sometimes 10% to 20% of a pack will playback poorly. With a good brand like those mentioned already 100% of a pack will burn and playback in 95% of players. The 5% of players don't accept any type of "home-made" disk so failure was guaranteed.
I have upgraded the firmware in my Pioneer and it did make one brand of DVD which was unreliable now totally reilable, so try the firmware route before ditching your drive. I have no experience of BENQ drives, I have a display from them and I'm happy with that but drives are a different kettle of fish.
Just my sad experience.

I agree with lostdoggy, why are you using RW discs??? According to just about everything I've read about backup CD's or DVD's says do NOT! use any RW discs. They tend to corrupt much quicker than regular CD-R's and DVD+/-R's. They also degrade much quicker.
Re-think your use of them. If you take just a few minutes to research the difference, I think you'd be happy you did.

How do i go about upgrading the firmware?

Annabel Doskey wrote in post #2647175
How do i go about upgrading the firmware?

Either your manufacturer or look it up here: http://forum.rpc1.org/​portal.php (Google is your friend)

For DVDs, as others have written, it is best not to use RWs and to use high quality DVDs. particularly as the cost delta from top to bottom is not significant.

Personally, I use 'Taiyo Yuden' from Acca Products (or others, based on price or shipping "deals") http://www.accaproduct​s.com/dvdr.html

Another point....no matter what the rated speed, I would suggest you write at a max. of 4X, i.e. set this specific speed rather than an 'auto' or 'max' mode which your software may have. Faster speed may mean shorter writes, but ususally mean more bad disks. (that means, buying 8X DVDs, as 16X will not be needed). Also, if you can set the SW to make a 'verify' run. Both the speed and verify may mean a little more time doing the write, but will reduce the reruns and/or finding out later, when you need the backup, that it is bad.

John

Thank you everyone for your replies. As to why I was using RWs...I'm not sure, I think years ago when we originally started buying CDs for computer use, it seemed like the RWs were a 'good deal' because you could use them so many times and they were only a little bit more. But now I have done the reading and will definitely go with Rs. I just ordered a pack of TY DVD Rs, so hopefully those will work out better for me. Oh, and upgraded the firmware for my drive as well.

Thanks for all the tips - I'm hoping I will be happier with my burning from now on!

I was having reliability problems with some memorex +R DVDs. Discovered Taiyo Yuden discs on this forum. I have burned ten of them so far with no errors. There are others here that have been using them for a long time with a flawless record. If you make sure you have media that you know is reliable, you will know if you have an issue with your burner.

lostdoggy wrote in post #2645991
CDs don't have +/- DVDs do!!!

SSOOORRRYYYY....

I meant DVD...thats what the OP was talking about in the first post.....LOL