CD - DVD - Nero ????

[Ex-Bay]

I'm having trouble with writing to my DVD drive (Pioneer DVR108).
Windows (XP, SP2) seems to think it's a CD (bios doesn't agree).

It plays DVDs OK, but I cannnot write to an RW disc.

I'm using Nero 6.3 in an Athlon 3000, 1GB RAM.
Later versions of Nero seem to do things I don't need.
I have no trouble with the CDRW drive.


A pal of mine has suggested that the drive may be faulty
.
Any helpfull comments welcome, please.


DT_Xtremez_35:


"Women, in those rare occasions when we gain control over the world, can easily surpass men in the exercise of cruelty. I think that may be why men are afraid let us have control of the world".
Empress Euphonia of Byzantium, c1300.

 

[RAF Bird]

I'm no computer geek but when I had problems writing DVD's it was because I was using DVD R - disks rather than DVD R + disks. Now dont ask me the difference or why it matters but when I used the DVD R + disks my computer wrote them no problems at all so you could try that. Goodluck

 

[rugby then work]

Really obvious one to start with but have you restarted you're PC to see if that cures the problem, I assume you have as you've looked at the bios. Next, did this start happening after the installation of any new software?

 

[monobrow]

I'm no computer geek but when I had problems writing DVD's it was because I was using DVD R - disks rather than DVD R + disks. Now dont ask me the difference or why it matters but when I used the DVD R + disks my computer wrote them no problems at all so you could try that. Goodluck

After a quick look for the model number, it does both.....

Write Speed
DVD-R 16x,12x,8x,6x,4x,2x,1x
DVD-RW 4x,2x,1x
DVD+R 16x,12x,8x,6x,4x,2.4x
DVD+RW 4x,2.4x
DVD+R DL (Dual Layer) 4x,2.4x
CD-R 32x,24x,16x,10x,4x
CD-RW 32x,24x,16x,10x,4x

However, if you can get your hands on both, a + and a -, stick em in and see what windows decides on in explorer.

Failing that, download ubuntu (a free OS that can run from a CD instead of installing) and see if that recognises a DVD drive as opposed to a CD drive. A little extreme you might say, but if two OS's can't recognise it as what it should be, crack out the reciept and get a replacement.

 

[Dad Widowmaker]

According to the Specs (listed below) your drive should support both plus and minus media.

You are using a very old version of nero try uninstalling and reinstalling nero and try using a different burning program (alcohal 120 do a free trial

http://trial.alcohol-soft.com/en/



Pioneer DVR-108
Media

DVd
CD
Transfer Rate Read

16X CAV SL DVD-ROM
12X CAV DL DVD-ROM

40X CD-ROM CAV
12X CAV DVD±R
8X CAV DVD±RW

32X CD-RW CAV
2X CLV DVD-RAM
8X CAV DVD+R9

Transfer Rate Write

16X DVD±R Z-CLV

32X CD-R Z-CLV
4X DVD±RW CLV

24X CD-RW Z-CLV
4 DVD+R9 CLV
Access Time

145ms

125ms
Mechanism

motorized Tray load mechanism for horizonal and vertical use
Interface

ATA/ATAPI-5
Burst Transfer Rate

PIO Mode 4, Multi Word DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA Mode 4 (Ultra DMA 66
Cashe Memory

2MB
Supported Media formats

DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-Audio, CD Extra, CD Text, CD-IReady, CD-Bridge, Photo-CD, VideoCD, Hybrid CD
Audio

headphone jack and volume control at front plus digital-out and line-out at the back (MPC compatible)
Writing methods

DAO(disc at once), SAO(session at once), TAO(track at once) with zero gap, variable or fixed packet, multisession
Weight

1.1kgr
Dimensions

148(W) × 42.3(H) × 198(D) mm

 

[Ex-Bay]

Thanks Chaps & Chapesses

Thanks Chaps & Chapesses

After a certain amount ot messing about, I thought 'b*gger it' and went and bought another drive (Pioneer DVR115D which seems to do the same things but faster (not that I'm over-bothered about speed) and I'll be installing it very shortly. Rather to my surprise it comes with a copy of "Nero 7 Essentials" which should sort any software troubles out.

As I write this, 'ubuntu-7.10' is downloading to my PC. . . . . Big, innit ?
I have a little (unfamiliarity) trouble with Firefox in trying to put a download file where I want it, but other than that, it's coming down at 122 kB/sec.

Thanks for all the help.

DT_Xtremez_14:





If you have a problem, ask a Goater. . . . . . . . .

 

[monobrow]

I have a little (unfamiliarity) trouble with Firefox in trying to put a download file where I want it, but other than that, it's coming down at 122 kB/sec.

Go to....

Tools -> Options -> Main

In there you can give it a default download location (like a folder called downloads, default is everything goes to desktop) or you can tell it to ask you every time where you want it to go.

 

[Ex-Bay]

Go to....

Tools -> Options -> Main

In there you can give it a default download location (like a folder called downloads, default is everything go es to desktop) or you can tell it to ask you every time where you want it to go.

GOT IT. thanks!
I also discovered how to make a CD from an ISOP file (Nero 6), and have now installed Nero 7 Essentials (It might do the jobs, but it looks too pink&fluffy for my taste). But it came free with the new drive. . . . . .

 

[Ex-Bay]

According to the Specs (listed below) your drive should support both plus and minus media.

http://trial.alcohol-soft.com/en/



Pioneer DVR-108
Media

16X CAV SL DVD-ROM
12X CAV DL DVD-ROM

40X CD-ROM CAV
12X CAV DVD±R
8X CAV DVD±RW


What's CAV please (and what on earth is a DVD RAM ?)

DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[MontyPlumbs]

Slightly off topic, bin Nero and get Deepburner (it's free). Much better IMHO.

 

[Dad Widowmaker]

CAV

Constant Angular Velocity (CAV)
The CAV mode spins the disc at a constant RPM throughout the entire writing process. Consequently, the data transfer rate continuously increases as the optical head writes from the inner to outer diameter of the disc. For example, a 5x CAV DVD-RAM recorder begins writing at 2x at the inner diameter of the disc accelerating to 5x by the outer diameter of the disc.


DVD RAM

Currently there are three competing technologies for rewritable DVDs: DVD-RAM, DVD+RW and DVD-RW. DVD-RAM is considered a highly reliable format, as the discs have built-in error control and a defect management system. Therefore, DVD-RAM is perceived to be better than the other DVD technologies for traditional computer usage tasks such as general data storage, backup and archival, though the Mt. Rainier standard for DVD+RW somewhat lessens the DVD-RAM format's perceived advantage. Curiously, DVD-RAM has a larger presence in camcorders and set-top boxes than in computers, although the DVD-RAM's popularity in these devices can be explained by the fact that it is very easily written to and erased, which for example allows extensive in-camera editing.

The on-disc structure of DVD-RAMs is closely related to hard disk and floppy disk technology, as it stores data in concentric tracks. DVD-RAMs can be accessed just like a hard or floppy disk and usually without any special software. DVD-RWs and DVD+RWs, on the other hand, store data in one long spiral track and require special packet reading/writing software to read and write data discs. It is a common misconception that DVD-RAM uses magneto-optical (MO) technologies, since both DVD-RAM and MO have numerous rectangles on the disc surface. However, DVD-RAM is a pure phase change medium, similar to CD-RW or DVD-RW.

 

[Ex-Bay]

Slightly off topic, bin Nero and get Deepburner (it's free). Much better IMHO.

Thanks for the tip; I've now got Deepburner Free and will try it soon.

I have to say that after a bit of wagglin' & fiddlin' Nero 7 Essentials does work quite well, but its a terrible load of faffin' about.



DT_Xtremez_14: