Until yesterday, I was convinced I had DVD-R licked as far as playing them in my standalone.
About 6 weeks ago, using Princo branded, most discs played fine, though some would stick (usually after they had been playing for a while.) My machine actually has a plain IDE drive inside, so I simply put a decent drive inside, and bingo - everything seemed to play perfectly from then on.
The last batch of Princo's, were different from the previous. The covering seemed to go right upto the sprocket hole.
Anyway, I burnt a disc, and after it had been playing for approx 80 mins, it started to play up, in exactly the same way as I had prior to the drive change.
I took the disc out - and found it to be very hot. I put it into a DVD Rom, and it played fine. When I put the disc back into the standalone approx 30 minutes later (when the disc & player had cooled, the dodgy bits now played flawlessly.
Everyone has always spoken in the past about authoring software used or the quality of the discs (which may be part of the picture here). But - given that when cold, the disc plays ok (and would suggest that makes it fine), does anyone have any views or suggestions on this?
It certainly made me ask the question last night "whats the point"? There seems to be a never end series of variables wanting to stand in the way!
I'm not impressed! 
Les
I gave up with Princo discs, total rubbish, most of them had some kind of fault, stuttering blocky sticking,
yet burn the same files to datasafe discs and they work fine.
it is a minefield and its time something was done with the big companys,
the 2x writing on the A03 as an example, they sell the Pioneer as a 2x writer,
but it says nothing on the box about only burns at 2x with limited types of discs.
eg (theirs)
another glitch I have is that if I use Nero to burn dvd, they play fine in my pc, but simply refuse to play at all in my set top.
burn the same file with Prassi and theyplay in everything, so its high time some sort of standard is set or something cos quite frankly all the gltches etc are a pain in the ar*e.
To be fair, I thought the same about Princo, until I changed the drive over in my standalone. The stutterer I had last night was my first since.
I had an issue with Nero also. For some reason, the Volume name I gave it, was never applied to the finished disc. This is not an issue for most, but was in my Creative Labs DX2 player. Burning with Recordnow Max, was fine. Disc got its volume name, and the DX2 plays in effect the same disc without a hitch.
BTW the Prassi S/W looks in every detail the same as Recordnow Max V4.
Dunno if I got a conflict between the 2, but I tried the Prassi (how I know they are the same), but it simply wouldnt work. When I rebooted - I got a BSOD. Happened everytime, 'till I booted in safe mode and uninstalled. Strange but true! Been fine again since!
Anyone else have this heating of disc issue I first mentioned?? (Dont tell me its just me!!!)
Les
This uncertainty worries me!
I need to buy some DVD-R's. I have been getting perfect results so far creating with DVD Workshop, and have tested them on numerous set-top boxes. I ususally burn with Nero (recent version), ALTHOUGH I've only been using a Pioneer RW disk (over and over again).
Datastore seem cheap (from blankdiskshop.co.uk), as too is carriage.
Whats the recommendation?
When you say tested, do you mean checked to see if the disc loads? As you can see from the above, it doesnt necesarily mean all is well.
Its all begining to sound like a bad MS release! ie buggy and unfinished!
Les,
When I say test I mean that I would be playing the disk on a number of different set-top boxes (Pioneer, a couple of cheapo koreans, PS2's), probably running for about 45 mins a time, jumping around the disk.
Its typically family stuff (Disney holidays etc.) being "reviewed" by grandparents so you can guess the sort of hammering it gets.
As I said previously, as I'm using a branded Pioneer disk, maybe I'm getting too hopefull!
quote:Originally posted by Moviemad:
I gave up with Princo discs, total rubbish, most of them had some kind of fault, stuttering blocky sticking,
yet burn the same files to datasafe discs and they work fine.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Blue/White Datasafe discs are now made by Princo, only the glossy gold DVD-R Datasafe's were made in house.
Perhaps you guys would like to test some samples I've just got (if ya do, email me), they seem very good quality (especially as they work in our E20! 
)
Dear Ian,
Do not know if they are the same... but have just purchased some of the "new" Generation Lynx DVD-R Media 
on your WebSite.
Personally i did not have any trouble with the originals, but if these are "more" compatable it most certainly may help with clients machines.
Kindest regards.
[This message has been edited by Stuart B-M (edited 09 April 2002).]