I have a Plextor 716 external with the latest firmware (1.09) and I use the 1394 setting. I use AnyDVD 5.7.3.1 at default settings, with CloneDVD 2 at default settings. I am burning Verbatim DL discs (MKM 001) at 6x and 2-2.4x. My OS is XP and my pc is a Dell Inspiron 8200 with a Toshiba SD-C2502 DVD drive. My problem is when I am watching a burned DL DVD, it starts out great. Then about half way through the movie, I start getting errors in the picture. These errors are either hesitations in the video (the playback pauses for a split second) or large digital sqaures in the picture (like a scratched disc). I am using a regular Samsung home DVD player to watch my movies. This also happens on my mother's DVD player (not sure what the brand is but it is different than mine). I thought I had some errors on the disc from my recording methods, so I used DVDInfoPro v4.56 and it says that I have 0 errors. I use the "Test your media for CRC read errors" option to determine this. I'm not very familiar with DVDInfoPro, so please let me know if I am using the wrong option. I just backed up The Hunt for Red October at 2-2.4x write speed and I still get the same errors as I do when I burned Batman Begins at 6x speed. Since I am having problems about an hour into the movie, I am guessing that the DVD is getting too hot and the DVD player cannot read the disc correctly. But I have heard nothing but good things about Plextor, Verbatim, and the sofware I am using, so does anyone else experience this problem. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks a lot, Elkins.
Try burning your movie using DVD Decrypter in iso read and then open the MDS file and do iso write mode, burn at 2.4x and see if this makes any difference. I have this exact burner and have done several dl backups with it. I did have problems with the media on my two older players, they are over two years old and it is non-recognition of the media. Bought a new Sony and a couple of Cyberhomes and had no playback problems.
When you use the Dvdinfopro program,click on the PI/PO icon on the top-right of screen. Then scan them on that program.I've never scanned a dl backup with it. For dual Layer backups,I use dvd decrypter in Mode ISO read and write. A very effective program. Disable anydvd when you use dvd decrypter. It only needs enabled on those newer encrypted backups. You need it for clonedvd,but not for dvd-decrypter the majority of the time.Anydvd has caused issues for some people when that program didn't need to be running. Verbatim is the best dual layer media out there.There may be a bad batch from time to time.
I would also update your AnyDVD. The latest version is 5.9.4.1, with 5.9.5.1 in Beta now. Make sure all those DL+ discs are booktyped DVD-ROM. Pre 2004 DVD players may not recognize the DL+ format. Problems half way through the movie indicate issues with the layer break, which could be solved simply by booktyping alone. I've used IMGBurn for some DL backups and that helped.
@dvdnoobie James of slysoft has asked that no one dl the beta 5.9.5.1 version of AnyDVD as it is not working correctly. See this http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=175101&page=2&pp=25
@arniebear I used the Beta example as Slysoft's committment to upgrading their software. That's why I referenced the latest version as 5.9.4.1. Thanks for the heads up though! I'm running 5.9.4.1 myself until things get sorted out...
Thanks for all the help. I tried doing a PI/PO test and it was taking forever. What does this test tell you? What is booktyping? Do the programs I have do this? Does the version of AnyDVD I use have actual problems? I wasn't aware of any. I thought the newer versions just had more options but functioned the same. When I get the chance I'll try DVD Decrypter. Thanks again, Elkins.
Funny, I just used the 5.9.5.1 beta to do the last Harry Potter release and had no problems. Guess if I hit a snag before they release it, I'll have to put my 5.9.4.1 back. They're really informative at CDFreaks, they said it was broken. Anyone ever think of mentioning how.
r1elkins Follow the suggestion to use the latest regular release versions of the software (both AnyDVD and CloneDVD 2). They do more than just add bells and whistles to the new releases. Problems are repaired as well as improving functionality and updates are added to compensate for copyright protections that are newly released. Make sure your burner firmware is up to date and you use good media. Then if you have problems, maybe you'll need to follow some of the other suggestions.
@r1elkins AnyDVD comes with free upgrades for life. Many improvements have been made, including updates for Arccos protected discs. Also minor bugs get fixed with each version. Take a look at the histroy of AnyDVD at the link below. http://www.slysoft.com/download/changes_anydvd.txt I'm not a Plextor user, so I can't comment on your drive specifically. However, Plextor's can booktype DVD+ media (either single layer or dual layer) to DVD-ROM. I highly recommend doing this if you can. It will make your backups more compatible for playing on standalone DVD players. http://www.booktypefaq.com
If you have a Plextor drive it must have come with PlexTools, my external 716 did. Use your PlexTools to booktype your +R media to DVD-Rom, and to do your disk scans. Here is what you set, in your PlexTools Once st it will automatically booktype your disk to DVD-Rom in every program, making the disk compatible with all dvd players. Here is an example of a PI/PO scan done using Plex Tools
If no Plextools installed, burner apps such as Nero set the booktype as well as freeware such as DVDInfoPro. Booktyping isn't really necessary unless your standalone player doesn't support recordable media or you'll be going on the road and running into drives that only play DVD ROMs. Since Plex booktypes, no reason not to. It just makes for better compatibility with all drives. As the others and I pointed out, update the software.
