1. Yes, they are about a month old but I have burned other ones in the box before today, so it is not the C.D.'s.
2. No, I have never updated nero, where would the bug have come from?
3. No, the C.D.'s are rated at 1x - 16X and I have tried burning at 4x and 8x.
4. Answer in the above (3.):).