Ready to throw DVD burner out the window...

[tomstevens26]

Hey everyone!

OK, I'm coming here before I send what I think is a POS LiteOn 811s back for a replacement. Installed the drive Thursday, and so far I've made about 7 coasters with 0 successful burns. Tried 3 different movies with the same problems. Software I've used is DVD Shrink and Nero 6. Shrink the movie (wasn't necessary on one movie, I just did a backup) and burn using Nero. Using Memorex DVD+R. LiteOn burner has the latest firmware. XP Pro SP1. Movie will start playing fine....let's use Bad Boys II as our example. Plays fine (in 2 standalone players and DVD burner using PowerDVD) until it gets to a certain chapter. Then it sticks there for a few seconds, and then just starts jumping about 45 seconds, plays for a second, jumps 45 seconds...etc... Same results in all players. I have also tried the DVD+RW disc that came with the drive...same result. The drive doesn't make any weird noises or appear to have any other problems. Installation of the OS and all software was done using the burner and I had no problems doing that. I have not tried buring a CD with the unit. Do you guys have any suggestions on what to try? Does it sound like a bad burner?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[Anubis]

no idea but nero 6 only burns coasters for me. i use roxio 6. it works better IMO

 

[drag]

Try a different program, try burning the dvd at it's lowest speed settings.


Make sure that you have DMA access set up for the burner (with nice drivers for your IDE controller chipsets), Make sure that the ide cable is healthy and not smashed against something. (very sensitive stuff) Make sure that the DVD burner is the master and on a different controller then the one were the information is comming from.


(CDROM at least I know are very linear, the information has to keep comming, if the burner outpaces the I/O capabilities of your computer it can't just stop and start off were it let off. Very good chance of a coaster happening.)

Those would be my first guesses.

 

[LostHiWay]

Doesn't sound like the drive is the problem.....more likely the media, maybe you just got a bad batch. Also maybe try a different burning program.

 

[tomstevens26]

Originally posted by: LostHiWay
Doesn't sound like the drive is the problem.....more likely the media, maybe you just got a bad batch. Also maybe try a different burning program.

I would think a bad batch as well, but seeing as how the DVD+RW that came with the drive behaved the same way it makes me doubt it. I don't know...maybe I just have bad luck! I've tried Nero 6, and just created a DVD with ImgTool (which uses the Nero API I believe). The DVD with ImgTool works fine (except for a couple of the special features) in the Toshiba standalone, but doesn't play worth crap in my RCA standalone, but plays great in my LiteOn DVD burner (that made the backup). So, I guess I'm asking are those symptoms/indications of a media problem?

Thanks!

 

[Dug]

Why not try -r and check your dvd's with DVDInfo

 

[tomstevens26]

Thanks for the link! I just installed it. I guess you're talking about using the "TEST YOUR MEDIA FOR READ ERRORS" option in the program? So far no errors... if it does come up with any, how is the best way to determine if it's the media, the application used to burn, or the drive itself?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[tomstevens26]

Well, the "TEST YOUR MEDIA FOR READ ERRORS" did not report any options. Does this tell me that the issue I'm having with playback on the DVD players is perhaps media incompatibility issues? Or something else?

Thanks!

 

[Dug]

It is odd that it reports no errors.
I've tried +R and have never been completely successful. I would try getting a small 5 pack of -R's.
If you can reproduce the same problem, then I would return the drive.

Make sure nothing else is going on in the background when you are burning.

 

[tomstevens26]

Alright, here is a little update. I really would like recommendations on what to do next.

I have tried the following programs to rip the source DVD:
DVD Shrink
DVD Decrypter

I have burned the DVD+Rs (everything from 2x up to 8x) with:
Nero 6
CloneDVD
Alcohol 120%
DVD Decrypter

I have used 3 different forms of media:
Memorex 4x DVD+R
DVD+R (unknown brand that came with the drive)
DVD+RW (unknown brand that came with the drive)

DVDs that I backup are still acting unpredictable. For example, my most recent backup (House of 1000 Corpses) would play fine on my 16x DVD writer in another PC. On my Toshiba standalone player it would play fine until the next to last chapter. On my RCA standalone player it would mess up about halfway into the movie. I would think a bad burn would produce the same problems regardless of what unit it is playing in...correct?

Given all of this, I'm really starting to suspect the drive is bad. My only hesitation with this is the fact that this was a new PC build, and as I mentioned, the OS and application installs were all done with this drive without a problem. I've even burned a couple of data CDRs that verified the data after backup and performed correctly when I copied that data to another PC. So, can the drive read correctly, and burn CDs correctly, but have a hardware problem when burning DVDs?

So, what should I do? Does it sound like a bad drive to you guys? Should I just try some new media just to be sure (what is the general recommendation for the LiteOn 811s?)...should I pull the drive and try it in another PC....should I just pull it and RMA it? I'm at my wits end with thing!!

Thanks for any advice!!
Tom

 

[CDRecorder]

Have you updated to the latest version of the firmware for your 811S? New firmware versions usually improve the writing quality, and the symptoms you have described sound like they are caused by poor writing quality.

 

[mcveigh]

try dvd-r's and report back.

 

[Boobers]

I've burned over 400 disks and the only time I had problems like you, it was due to inferior quality disks or burning disks faster than they are rated.

Don't burn 1x disks @ 2x speed, or 4x disks @ 8x speed. Some software programs will allow you to do this. Don't do it. Slow down the write speed to 1x, and see if your problems don't go away. If they do go away, inferior quality media is probably to blame.

Don't believe the write speed on the packaging, either. Use DVD Indetifier v3.2 to correctly identify write speed and manufacturer.
If it says "1x - [2x]", this means the disk is 1x rated. Most cheap media will not burn correctly at the speed inside the brackets (in this case, 2x).
Inferior disks (CMC come to mind) will exhibit freezing/skipping/lockups. They will not burn properly at any speed.

I now only use Ritek DVD-R G04's. They are true 4x disks and I have had zero bad burns @ 4x speed. (My burner is a 4x LiteOn/Sony).
Don't use DVD+R. There is no point.

BTW, Nero is the best DVD burning program, period. Roxio is probably the worst, with DVD Xcopy and DVDclone tied for second worst.
DVDShrink v3.0 beta 5 is the best ripping software, and it's freeware. I'd like to see any program beat that!

EDIT: Also, after you rip a DVD, watch the rip (from the hard drive) using PowerDVD 5 (or whatever you've got) to make sure the rip was successful. If the file on the hard drive is stuttering and jumping, than the problem is with the ripping process...

 

[tomstevens26]

Originally posted by: Boobers
I've burned over 400 disks and the only time I had problems like you, it was due to inferior quality disks or burning disks faster than they are rated. Don't burn 1x disks @ 2x speed, or 4x disks @ 8x speed. Some software programs will allow you to do this. Don't do it. Slow down the write speed to 1x, and see if your problems don't go away.

I've slowed it down to 2.4x, which is the slowest that Nero will let me burn at. Is there some way to force it to do 1x?

Use DVD Indetifier v3.2 to correctly identify write speed and manufacturer.

Thanks for the tip. I d/led it, installed it, put a blank DVD+R in the drive and it noted the speed range of 2.4x-4x.

Don't use DVD+R. There is no point.

Just curious...but why not?

Also, after you rip a DVD, watch the rip (from the hard drive) using PowerDVD 5 (or whatever you've got) to make sure the rip was successful. If the file on the hard drive is stuttering and jumping, than the problem is with the ripping process...

I just did that for two of the DVDs I ripped that were still on the hard drive. They played fine. So, seeing as how they were fine, and I have burned the disc at 2.4x and still had the problems, what's the advice now? If it's still to try DVD-R then I'll have to go out and pick up a 5 pack. I'll be danged if I buy another 50 pack of media that I apparently can't use! :frown: Do ya'll think that DVD-R will make that big of difference and will perhaps work?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[tomstevens26]

Well, it's official, I'm ready to destroy this POS. I went to BestBuy, picked up a 10 pack of Memorex DVD-R discs, tried burning again (Nero, 2x), and same problem. Movie plays fine until it gets to a certain track, then just starts skipping, and skipping ahead until it hits the end. The picture freezes, but you can see the clock/counter on the DVD player skipping ahead. Is it RMA time? Sure sounds like it to me unless anyone has any more ideas?

Tom

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Anubis
no idea but nero 6 only burns coasters for me. i use roxio 6. it works better IMO

My stand alone DVD players play my Nero made DVD backups, but other people I know have NO luck using Nero burned discs. I use CopytoDVD software and they all work fine, both in mine, and in others' DVD players.

try that software perhaps?

 

[AIWGuru]

I'm going to go stand under your window, tomstevens26.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

When you burn with Nero do you just pick DVD video and drag&drop the VIDEO_TS folder? I haven't used Nero6 as I find my 5.5.x Nero is still getting things done perfectly so I don't know if the way you burn the backup made with DVD Shrink is different now.

 

[tomstevens26]

ARGH!!! It just has to be the drive! I just placed it in my wife's PC. Her PC has never had any burning software installed....ever. I installed Nero 6, burned a movie, same problem. Uninstalled Nero 6 and downloaded the demo version of CopyToDVD (thanks for the recommendation, CraigRT!). I have now tried the writer in two PCs, with several different pieces of software and several different forms of media at several different speeds. Come on...it has to be the drive...doesn't it?! But why the heck would it read CD's just fine, and burn CDRs just fine??? I've even watched an original DVD movie using it!

Fortunately I ordered it from Newegg so I know I won't have a problem RMA'ing it for a replacement. I don't think I've ever had this much trouble with what should be such an easy to use piece of hardware.

Tom

 

[Dug]

Are you getting playback issues on the PC iteself?
Or just the standalone dvd players.
If the problems are on the standalone's, that's what I would blame, not the dvd burner.

 

[tomstevens26]

I'm getting playback issues on both the DVD burner and a 16x DVD ROM drive in another PC. Instead of just skipping like the standalone DVD players do, PowerDVD stops playing the DVD and suggests cleaning it.

 

[RaymondY]

I too was looking at purchasing the LiteOn 811S burner, but I lucked out when my brother got me the Plextor PX-708A burner for X-mas. Have backed up one dvd more so far without any problems (using DVD+R media).

Maybe u should RMA the LiteOn and exchange it for the Plextor

 

[tomstevens26]

I've had nothing but good luck with LiteOn, but this DVD burner has really made me mad. But I'll still go with them in the future....I guess you can get a lemon in everything. I'm about to box it up and get an RMA from Newegg.

So, one last thing before I do....

Is there anyone that has been reading this that stills think it might not be hardware related? I have to admit I'm really skeptical myself. Is it possible that the drive can do everything else (read and write CDs, playback original DVDs, etc...) but just not burn DVDs successfully? I'm going to be even more pissed when I get my replacement and it starts doing the same thing! Geez, I'm so frustrated at this point!!

Tom

 

[BCool]

 

[BCool]

Try using a higher end media like "Boobers" said. I've read In quite a few different places not to use Memerex media for DVDs.