Hope this is the right place for this... I've done backups of movies for some time now and on the odd occasion I get a movie freezing during playback(use shrink and nero to do backups), I normally use 4x speed dvd-r and burn at that speed. Should I be using different software or should I burn at a lower speed I know if you are doing a straight copy on nero, you can do a 'test' burn, is it possible to do this with backups? Thanks
Hi dobsdave, welcome to ad, It sounds like your burning is fine as are your files otherwise they wouldn't have played in the first backup. My thought is that your media isn't the best so when you copy and the files begin to crowd the disc's edge giving you the strutting and freezing. I therefore have two suggestions: 1. First, and I would do this on all future disc's burn - I would dial the DVD target size from your default size of "DVD-5" to "Custom" and set your custom size to "4200MB". That way you allow yourself a bit of space around the edge of the disc where often, the dye app is uneven or sometimes, even missing all together. Let your speed setting alone at 4X. After many thousands of burns over the past 4 plus years, it has never let me down. Even with the DL, 16X burners of today and using the "Advertised" hi-speed media on today's market. As to the media of today - When the mfgrs say it burns at 12X OR 16X, they are talking about burning data not DVD Video. I'll tell you as will the vast majority of experienced pple on this site will tell you that 4X is the best way to go. For your media, when you want trouble-free backups OR backup of backups ~ the best thing to do is always use a decent quality media. The best rarely costs much more than the crappy stuff. Memorex is usually more and it ranks about the lowest in quality. Memorex is an excellent example as DVD media goes. 90% of Memorex discs are made by CMC and is sub-standard as far as DVD backups are concerned. Figures as high as 50% coasters have been reported (One member bought a stack of 50 and got 23 good burns.), not what I would call an impressive record. Memorex made a name for itself with their magnetic tapes (VHS and audio cassettes) and have been living off it ever since. There are 4 different companies that manufacture Memorex DVD's BTW and product quality varies widely as you might imagine. Only 10% of the Memorex out there, those are discs manufactured by Mitsubishi in the 25-pack spindle , and they're the exception - they are the good ones. It's easy to see now why the quality of a big-named company can't be trusted - " Who's making your Memorex tonight ?" Is it just Memorex ? No ! I just used Memorex as an example, Orange Pack, Princo, Great AZO, 90% of Memorex and most "Store" brands and others are just not that good for DVD burning. Those same discs however, are quite good for your MP3 music, picture archives, spreadsheets and Data.Even DataSafe G04's, made by Ritek, have been reported as an inferior quality media and are evoking that "Oh no, I shouldn't have gotten those." That's why we are specific in the type of media we are recommending. What we are suggesting is to download this DVD Identifier to find out who manufactured your DVD and if it's a decent quality. Download DVDidentifier http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/ Once you have your disc identified, click the "More information" icon and see what information you're given. if you're not sure of the quality, come on back and we'll check it out for you - * Cheap media freezes, skips, pixelats and may refuse to be recognized by both burners and players :-( Besides "Freezing", "skips" many times you'll get a "Cyclic Redundancy error" (CRC error) or an "I/O error". This message can mean that your discs are scratched or dirty, it can also mean that your burner won't accept your "cheap" media :-( Another problem which, "Pops up" is a "*Power Calibration Error". This can stop you right in your tracks and most often is caused by, "Yep, you guessed it", inexpensive media. *A "Power Calibration Error" can also be attributed to the Optical Components of a DVD Writer, though this isn't usually the case. As for quality, A good grade, Hi-quality media is needed for DVD reproduction ! Phillips, Fuji +R's (not the -R's Unless they specifically state they're made in Japan), Sony, TDK, HP, "Branded" RiData G03's, Maxell +R (not the -R's as they cannot be trusted), Sony, Ritek G04 and G05's (not the 01's or the 02's), Verbatim - DataLife, Verbatim - DataLife Plus and media boasting "Advanced Metal AZO" BUT, it must say "Advanced METAL AZO", this indicates a superior dye and dye application on a good composite disc.As a general rule, the majority of discs manufactured by Taiyo Yuden, Mitsubishi, RICOH and most Ritek are good bets. Look closely at those discs we recommended, you will see some dye types not listed by us. Those are poor risks even though they are made by the same company. Prices online from SuperMediaStore.com, Meritline.com OR Newegg.com have gotten Ritek G04 starting at about a $ .36 (USD) a disc - and just recently, a "Super Sale" had 100 Taiyo Yuden discs, 4X for $.25(USD)ea. PLUS they all have an excellent return policy. I hope that helps, it should. Once you have your original DVD backup at the lower DVD size all the rest of the backups will be perfect. Cheers, Pete
