A while back I found a disc in the middle of a spindle of Verbatim 16X -R (MCC 03RG20) with a MID code of PRODI and imbedded in the numbers at the bottom of the DVD Info Pro page was PRODISC R03. PRODISC R03 is a +R disc and this was definitely a -R disc It also had exactly the same appearance as the other discs in the spindle. This was a printable disc and had the verbatim brand on the hub. I sent an email to Verbatim asking about this and they never responded. Now I have found, in the middle of a shrink wrapped package of Taiyo Yuden (TYG02), a disc with a MID code of MCC 02RG20. Now this is confusing. This disc also looks exactly like the other ones in the stack. It has a hub code of XH520A604675GG, so I believe it is authentic. I have asked TY about this and I don't know if they will reply or not. How can a made in Japan disc have a mid code of one made in Taiwan? I'll probably never know. Dave
i guess.. does anybody know or think that TY themselves will be switching over to lower quality? anybody?
These are some really sad days for "back-up'ers" every where. Verbatim is going down quality wise and it looks as if TY might do the same. T_T
I haven't had any problems with this bunch of TY. It's just that the one disc has the wrong media code on it. My BenQ burner treats it as though it is a TY as far as burning speeds go, but my other burners appear to see it as an MCC disc because none of them will allow more tham 8X for this particular one. The disc did get a good burn. Here are pictures of the Verbatim disc and the DVD Info Pro page on it.
O, I'm sorry I didn't read that correctly. I thought you said something else. i guess it doesn't matter that you got one MCC in your TY stack. MCC is a goo manufacturer so who cares.
I don't believe I got an MCC in the stack of TY. TY and MCC discs don't look the same. This was a TY as far as I'm concerned. It just has the wrong MID code on it. I don't know how this could happen since they're made in different countries.. The pictures I posted above were of a Verbatim that had some sort of weird Prodisc MID code. MCC has made some Prodisc, but I don't see how a Verbatim -R disc could wind up with a MID code of a +R Prodisc. The disc was a -R. I guess this is no big deal, but it sure makes me wonder what is going on. Dave
Are you sure? MID codes are pretty much the only thing that you can be sure of when verifying media. If it's wrong the the system is wrong... OH NO!!!I FREAKIN OUT... Ok I'm better now. Did you run the MCC in DVDinfopro or some other program yet?
That picture that you see above is from DVD Info Pro and it is on the Verbatim. The other picture is of the actual disc. I emailed Verbatim and they haven't replied. I have also contacted TY and they haven't responded yet either. I just want them to explain how this sort of thing can happen, mainly on the TY simce it has the MID code of a disc that is manufactured in another country. I have no doubt that it is a TY disc since the TY and Verbatim discs that I have don't look at all alike. It also has a good TY number etched around the hub. Oh well, who knows? Dave
@forkndave Can you verify it with DVD Identifier and DVD Decrypter too. If both DVD Identifier and DVD Decrypter says the say same thing like DVDInfo Pro, then there is definitely something wrong in the batch that you've got.
DVD Identifier shows no code on the Verbatim. I don't know how to check codes with DVD Decrypter. Every other program I've used so far reads the same thing except for DVD Identifier. The only reason I ran across these 2 discs is that I've been doing a quick scan with Nero CD-DVD Speed Quality Test on every disc I burn lately. It also shows the MID code of the disc that you're testing. It only takes a few seconds to run a quick scan. This program has also shown me that every Ritek disc that I have that is over six months or so old has deteriorated to a very poor state. PIE in the thousands and PIF in the hundreds. That's another story, however. Dave
I believe I already knew how to use Nero CD-DVD Speed, but here is a picture of the DVD Decrypter screen: And this is from DVD Identifier: It looks like I just have some screwed up MID codes. I was only wondering how this could happen. Maybe TY will answer me. It looks like Verbatim is ignoring me. Dave
@ dave i also found something that CAUGHT my attention in your dvd identifier screenshot... i have that same drive as you, but your FW (firmware) is a COMPLETELY different one of what i have...is that a cross-flashed one that you found to be working well for you? i had never even seen that revision until i saw it on YOUR screenshot... i'm personally using the KSOB firmware, dated 10/14/05, which is the latest OFFICIAL firmware for that Liteon 1693S; i'm curious to know WHERE you got your revision of KC4B and if it has any special features to it that make YOUR burning faster/better/riplock removal/auto-bitsetting/etc... i happen to be REAL BIG on firmwares and lately have been inundated with questions regarding Buffalo firmware in my PMs where many people want to know how i made my Pioneer dvr-109 bitset capable...i have done it successfully and am just curious as to what benefits you may receive by using your KC4B on this particular Liteon drive as per your original question regarding weird MID coding, i am just as confused as you are...i use Taiyo Yuden and MCC coded Verbatims EXTENSIVELY and have never run into such a weird MID coding before randomly in the stack...has me puzzled too; i hope either Verbatim or TY will respond to your inquiry as i'm curious to see what THEY (the manufacturers) have to say about this "ProdiscR03" coded disc that as you mentioned, IS IN FACT, only MADE IN TAIWAN...and it's a PLUS format code too on a dvd-r format disc~! very peculiar indeed...anyways, let me know about your firmware if you have time later, not only is your MID coding all weird...that FW revision is COMPLETELY NEW to me too~ docTY~
Yeah, that is a hacked firmware. I had a 1633s and I wasn't too happy about how it was burning, so I got a 1693s from Newegg since they're almost free. It turned out that it wasn't much better than the 1633s. I found this firmware at codeguys' web site and I believe I do get better burns now (lower PIF) than I was getting. I don't know if this link will work, but I got it at http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html . Works for me-may not for you. I only have a Lite-On because it will do Kprobe scans. The Lite-On and my LG are pretty much my back up burners. I probably use my BenQ 1620 the most closely followed by my Pioneer 109. I also do most of my scans with my BenQ using Nero CD-DVD Speed since BenQ allows scans at 8X which cuts the time somewhat. It's been probably a week since I contacted Verbatim, so I don't think they are going to reply. I just contacted TY yesterday, so maybe they will. This hasn't caused me a problem. I just want to know what is going on. If I wasn't routinely checking discs I would have never found this. Dave
thanks dave, ill look into that~ my liteon is on my 2nd computer, so i use it sometimes, not daily or frequently~ i use my Sony dru-710a the most (which is actually a Liteon 1633S that you seem to be having issues with) and my pioneer dvr-109~ i guess for my "backup" burners, i don't worry about firmware as much meaning FINDING a "hacked/modified" firmware, but for my Sony and Pioneer drives...i happen to use the Official firmware for the Sony (BYX5) which has served me very well and i already hacked the hell outta my Pioneer so it's no longer further "hackable" (cross-flashed, bitset capable, riplock removed, all the goodies) LOL~ good day to you docTY~
I really don't know what's going on now. I just found a Prodisc F02 with a MID code of TYG02. It is definitely a Prodisc because it has that reddish tint similar to a Ritek that all of the Prodisc F01 & F02 discs that I've seen have. I don't suppose my burner can be somehow changing the MID code. I wouldn't think that it could. I haven't checked the MID code on any of these before they were burned. I imagine I haven't received any replies from TY or Verbatim because they think I'm a crank. Maybe I'll start checking the MID code both before and after a burn although I wouldn't think my burner could change a MID code. If it could, I imagine it would convert it to gibberish instead of a valid code from another manufacturer. Now I kinda wish I had never noticed this. It's really starting to bug me. Dave
OK, I guess I've got a messed up batch of Verbatim, a messed up batch of TY and a messed up batch of Prodisc. That seems unlikely, but I can't explain it any other way. They all burned OK. I've also contacted Prodisc, but I don't expect a reply from them either. Dave
