You might want to check that your dvd burner doesn't have a limit put on it for the number of DVD's it will write bfroe quiting. Some manufacturers i heard put limits as to how many you can burn before it will need to be reset, the counter to zero. I had bought a cd burner and was told buy the dealer about the limit and i changed the brand right away. It certainly doesn't sound like a software problem. LG makes a good DVD burner, i have two of them and they also burn the double layer discs. A good copy program is CLONEDVD it works great and easy to use. Rae
okay, creaky: already, you've overlooked something, man: i said: "i just went to get dvdinfopro, and it looks like it needs to be paid for, or it comes with adware. does it? because i'd prefer not to deal with that stuff. i don't even know what it means, but it sounds bad. if it's not an issue, i'll download it and do whatever you say i should do with it." you didn't answer my question about the potential adware. you just told me to run the program again. i'd be glad to run the program if it's safe, but are you asking me to download a program that's got adware in it? i was under the assumption that that stuff is bad for your computer. also, can you answer my question about why you think it could be the media, if i (as i've explained) made it through 30-odd discs in the spindle so far (and 2 or 3 other spindles) without any problems? i just fail to see how this could logically make any sense.
dametony Not from what I've read........ If you're such hot stuff why are you the one asking questions? You're here getting free help so if you want to snap your fingers at someone or get hostile do it to paid tech support not us. Yes it is a problem. It's called multiposting, it's against forum rules and it'll make me even more upset than I am now. Creaky's a respected and very helpful member of a community so if you can't appreciate him using his limited free time to try and help you then you need to unplug, sit in the corner and rethink your childish sense of entitlement. This is your first warning to lighten up and show some respect for those trying to help you.
Uh oh, got the Neph involved. You can download dvdinfopro (the free version) without any worries or you can use this http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/ (free also).
okay, downloaded dvdinfopro, and immediately a popup ad appeared when i ran the program -- i assume that this will just pop up when i use the program? i hope so! now, was i supposed to put in a blank DVD? that's what i did, and it's giving me a "cannot read MID on blank media" warning. i don't know what that means. but i click "ok" and then i get this: *** Media Information Region information N/A not a DVD-VIDEO Manufacturer ID cannot be read Format Capacity 4.38GB(4.70GB) Free Blocks 405405696 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.70GB) Book Type Unknown Media Type DVD+R Manufacturer Rated Speed Unknown Available Write Descriptor CLV 2.4x 3324KBps Data area end sector 23053Fh Linear Density Blank Disc Track Density Unknown Number of Layers 1 Complete Media Code
cheers Mort81, i am gonna step back as this is just not working. My knowledge has been brought into question on this thread numerous times (no problem with that), but i'm not gonna fight twice in the same thread.
oh, for crying out loud. no one EVER brought your knowledge into question, just the fact that you keep overlooking things that people type. and i wasn't even the person that mentioned it first. but, look, i don't care to argue about it. so leave if you want. whatever. if anyone else has any ideas, please drop in.
I fully undrstand creaky, I don't want to get very involved myself. Seems like everything we/you recommend has something wrong about it. If you don't want a pop up (sorry assumed you have a pop up blocker as most do. It won't happen unless you open dvdinfopro) Insert a blank dvd in your dvdrw, give it time to recognize the media, then open the other proggy (dvd identifier) click on identify. Tell us the manufacturer name and ID. I have both these proggy's and use them on a regular basis. BTW I would be careful as you're walking on thin ice. Mort
@dametony. i, mort81, and many other regulars bounce threads/ideas off each other on a daily basis. That comment was meant for him. I'm retiring for the night as it's 130am here, but feel free to spend the night slagging me off and i'll look by tomorrow morning, unless of course you haven't got yourself banned for keeping it up.
mort81, i downloaded dvd identifier per your suggestions. here is what i got: *** [20:17:36] DVD Identifier V3.6.3.1 [20:17:36] Initializing ASPI/SPTI Drive Interface [20:17:36] SPTI Drive Interface Successfully Initialized [20:17:36] 1 Supported Drive Found (Out Of 2 Available Drives) [20:17:36] Manufacturer Database [10-APR-05@532$80] Loaded From File : (@532$80) Entries Found [20:17:36] Internet Version Check Postponed Since Last Check Happened Less Than 1 Hour Ago [20:20:08] DVD+R/+RW Medium Detected. Starting Identification... [20:20:08] ** Initiating ADIP Retrieval Method 1 (Original ADIP) [20:20:08] ADIP Read M1 Failed : Illegal request - Invalid field in CDB [05/24/00] [20:20:08] ADIP Read Method 1 Not Supported ; A Firmware Upgrade Is Recommended [20:20:08] ** Initiating ADIP Retrieval Method 2 (Copy Of ADIP) [20:20:08] ADIP Read M2 Failed : Illegal request - Invalid field in CDB [05/24/00] [20:20:08] ADIP Read Method 2 Requires A Written DVD+R/+RW Disc [20:20:08] Disc Identification Did Not Complete Successfully *** keep in mind i've also got dvdinfo now, too, so i can use that if needed. it says a firmware upgrade is recommended -- but i've done that. unless i did it wrong (which is completely possible). i'm currently at 10GE -- is that current? also, why would my firmware suddenly just go "bad"? thank you in advance for your help.
P.S.: just looked on this page: http://herrie.org/oemdrive.html and it says that the firmware i have (10GE) is current.
According to the NEC official website for firmware http://www.de.nec.de/softwareoverview2.php/id/557 Your firmware is wrong you should have 1.A3, no wonder your drive does not work. And considering you can only update from firmware 1.A0 you will have to now figure out how to flash it back.
My guess is you have a bad batch of media. I would suggest trying some new/different media, maybe even some dvd+rw or dvd-rw untill you get things ironed out. If you want to buy local I recommend maxell, fuji (made in japan), or sony. Verbatum is usually top notch stuff but have been known to buy from some poor manufactures in the past. If you buy verbatum make sure it is datalifeplus or says AZO dye on the package. I can't guarentee different media will solve your problem but is the most logical place to start judging from your logs and info. Edit: I would look into arniebears suggestion first. If you have problems flashing back to official f/w, they can probably help you here. http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86 Mort
from your first post Why did you go to a site for OEM drives, yours was listed by Nero as an NEC and not a rebadged drive. You need to go to the Official site in the future. This is what gave you and everyone else grief :~)
okay, now i'm totally lost. what's my next step, here? keeping in mind that i don't even know what firmware *is*... if i ever changed/updated firmware, i just took advice from whoever seemed trustworthy on a site like this -- so this is why i'm leery, because now i'm being told that i'm screwed, apparently. happy day! i don't know how i can figure out how to "flash back" at all. i don't know where to start with this. flash back from what? jeez, i don't even know what an OEM drive is. or what "rebadged" means. all i ever did was follow advice. i never did anything without being told to previously. kinda pisses me off, actually, if someone on a site like this (or maybe this very site) gave me some bad info during my last round of problems. here's a question, though (and i've asked it here before of creaky): why would my burner just suddenly stop working correctly one day? and what does that have to do with firmware? to mort81: do you really think it could be media, when i've already made it safely through 3/5 of my current spindle of blanks? also, if it's the media, why am i also having no success doing CD to CDr exact copies, but regular CD's burn fine? first things first, though -- please, if someone who knows could walk me through this firmware thing, i'd really appreciate it greatly.
okay, quick update: i went to the dell website, signed in, and went to the "support" section, and looked up the firmware for my burner. the update listed there is currently the "10GE" version, and that's the version that i have installed. i remember now that i updated from the dell site when i was told to update firmware before. so...what now? who's got the correct info, here? also...i just tried to burn a DVD using my sonic recordnow! software. the burn went through as successful, but my standalone DVD player wouldn't recognize it. that's the reverse of the other night, when i burned a disc with nero that supposedly failed, but played perfectly in my DVD player. gosh, i'm so bewildered by all of this.
Try pulling the drive and test it in another PC to determine if it's functioning correctly. Be sure to use the same media as always.
Oem means the burner came with the pc and is not branded with the makers name on the dvdrw. Did your pc come with the NEC drive already installed? If so then it is oem. Did you buy the NEC drive and install it yourself and does it say NEC on the front of the drive? Bear in mind you can also buy oem drives and install them yourself, they just don't have the brand name on the front but are still oem and usually use different f/w.
