DVD-RW Write Speed... 1

[mattrick19801]

This problem seems to be beyond me. I have no idea why it takes me so long to burn a DVD? My co-worker's computer and my computer have exactly the same specs (CPU, memory, etc.) and our DVD-RW drives also have the exact same specs, but he can burn a full DVD in around eight minutes and on my computer it takes at least fifty minutes. We're using the exact same media type and max speed, so what gives?

I use DVDshrink to, well, shrink the DVD, and then I write using NTI DVD maker. He is using exactly the same programs that I am. Our hardware configs are also the same.

I saw nothing in the following logs that looked suspicious,
but maybe you can see something different in them:

His computer (9 min. burn time)
========== BEGIN OF LOG ==========

NTI CD & DVD-Maker 7.0.0.27
Start Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 08:32:15PM

Processor Architecture: INTEL
Processor Type: INTEL PENTIUM
Processor Level: 15
Microsoft Windows XP version 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
Memory in use: 31%
Total physical memory: 1046 MB
Total free physical memory: 719 MB
Total paging file: 2517 MB
Total free paging file: 2274 MB
Total virtual memory: 2097 MB
Total free virtual memory: 2015 MB

Source CD Information:
Total Blocks (Disc Size) = 2285871
Session 1: CD-ROM
Track 1: Mode 1; LBA = 0; PreGap = 0; Length = 2285871; Block Size = 2048

CD-Reader: SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615 (D
Firmware Version: FDS1
Read Speed: Maximum = 8x, Current = 8x

CD-Recorder: PHILIPS DVD+-RW DVD8701 (E
Firmware Version: 5D24
Write Method: Disc-At-Once
Close Disc: Yes
Leave Session Open: No

Copy CD: from image file
Disc Media: DVD-R
Free Disc Blocks: 2297888
Test: No
Write Speed: 8x
Copy CD Text: No

Finish Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 08:41:02PM

========== END OF LOG ==========

My computer (50 min. burn time)
========== BEGIN OF LOG ==========

Examples SDK_DATACD
Start Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 07:21:56PM

Processor Architecture: INTEL
Processor Type: INTEL PENTIUM
Processor Level: 15
Microsoft Windows XP version 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
Memory in use: 33%
Total physical memory: 1046 MB
Total free physical memory: 696 MB
Total paging file: 2516 MB
Total free paging file: 2245 MB
Total virtual memory: 2097 MB
Total free virtual memory: 1994 MB

CD Layout: Data DVD
Disc Format: DVD-ROM
File System: UDF
Bootable CD: No
Total Data Blocks: 2285888

CD-Recorder: SONY DVD RW DW-D26A (E
Firmware Version: JYS2
Disc Media: DVD-R
Free Disc Blocks: 2297888
Test: No
Write Speed: 8x
Write Method: Disc-At-Once
Close Disc: Yes
Leave Session Open: No

Finish Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 08:13:56PM

========== END OF LOG ==========

The fastest that I've ever burned a DVD has been 50 minutes. I thought that this was par for the course, and when he told me that his was done in 8 minutes I automatically assumed that his must have been written incorrectly. He assured me that it works perfectly.

The only differences that he and I have in terms of running processes come from Norton - I have it installed and he doesn't. I can't imagine that that program running in the background would be responsible for the great disparity between our write speeds, but I guess that I'm willing to accept just about any answer now.

This has been bugging me for quite a while now, and I'd certainly appreciate any help you could offer!

 

[Sival]

There is likely more here than meets the eye, but at least to start with I'd make sure I had the latest firmware for the DVD recorder, as I see yours is a Sony and his is a Philips. Also, have you tried different brands of media? Just because his drive does well with a particular brand does not mean yours will since they are from different manufacturers. I doubt whether Norton is the culprit, although it is more invasive to one's system than I prefer, but you could try burning with Norton shut down just to make sure. It could be that your drive has a problem. Perhaps Sony tech support could help? Good luck.

 

[garebo]

For each computer, go to dev mgr and check the ide controller properties, particularly the dma settings. If they differ that may be the reason for the time differential.
Do both pcs have an ide 33 or 66\100 cable?


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[jurgen36]

Also unfortunately Nortons has a lot of gunk running in the background. It seems to slow everything down. For that reason I do not use it for a long long time. Disabling it unfortunately dos not stop the operations. Normal uninstalling does not help either as there is still a lot "up to 40 entries" in the registry left. The only way to get rid of it is to edit the registry manually. This is not for the faint hearted.
Anyway good luck.


Jurgen

 

[cdogg]

Both of your logs are missing information. Yours doesn't have "Source" and "Copy CD" information, and his doesn't have the CD Layout (file system: UDF).

Furthermore, when he says it takes 8 minutes, he's talking about the burning process. There's no way he's including the "shrinking" process too. Also, I wouldn't worry about Norton. You have enough available memory for that not to be an issue. I have Systemworks and can burn a DVD in less than 6 minutes on a 16x burner.

So how is it that you both have the same PC but different burners? Just curious here, because if you installed them yourself, it's possible that yours was connected to a different IDE channel which could have an impact (though probably not 40+ minutes).

In order to get a better picture, both of you should install HiJack This! which is a free app on the net that will show you every single running process, name, and location. Comparing those logs will be of more value here.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[mattrick19801]

Finally! I tried to switch the advanced settings of the Primary IDE Channel Properties, where device 0 was my DVD-Rom drive and device 1 was my DVD-RW drive. I wasn't able to change device 1 to Ultra DMA Mode - it wouldn't change from PIO Mode.

So, I switched the drives in my tower, and...Voila! An eight minute burn! I still can't get device 1 to Ultra DMA Mode, but that's of little concern now.


@cdogg - Yeah, I configured his computer exactly like I did mine, except that his DVD-RW drive came with his computer and mine was put in after I received the computer. When I went to install it, the cable had two "plugs" on it. The plug labeled #1 was connected to my DVD-Rom drive, so I just used the other one (labeled #2) to connect my DVD-RW drive.

I thought about posting our HT logs, but I wasn't really convinced that it had a lot to do with a program outside of the DVD burning software. Oh yeah, I showed him how to use DVD Shrink, so I was just talking about actual burn times.

Thanks again for all of your help! If anyone has any ideas about why I'm unable to switch from PIO mode to DMA mode, I'd love to hear them.

You guys rock!

 

[garebo]

Thanks for the star!
Next thing would be to check in the bios, perhaps there might be a setting there that could affect your ide settings in windows. Im just guessing here because you cant seem to set it in windows. I take it you have your ide settings to "dma if available" on both primary and secondary controller?




Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[cdogg]

<pirate chattin' Friday>
Ahoy matey! Ye be on thar right track with yer troubleshootin'. Arrr...
</pirate>




Yeah, as long as you have "dma if available" selected, you should be fine. It's possible that your drive just doesn't support DMA, which is why it keeps showing PIO after you reboot. Most burners do, but not all...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[garebo]

aaaarrrggg! (pirate)



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[mattrick19801]

What's funny, though, is that after I switched the location of the drives in my tower, my DVD-RW drive is now set to DMA and the DVD-Rom drive will not switch from PIO. So, it really has nothing to do with the actual drives.

DMA if available is selected on device 0 and device 1, and multiple reboots have not cleared up the problem.

I suppose that I could check out my BIOS settings, but it just doesn't seem that I should have to...

 

[cdogg]

Matt,

OK, I didn't realize before that you were referring to your DVD-ROM drive. PIO Mode is fine for this device. Since it doesn't take up a lot of the CPU to read from CD/DVD, DMA is really optional and the DVD-ROM manufacturer must have decided against it in this model.

"So, it really has nothing to do with the actual drives"

Actually it does have everything to do with the drive. Many ROM devices just don't use DMA.

Also, checking the BIOS settings won't do you any good at this point if both the DVD burner and the DVD-ROM are on the same IDE channel. There would be no reason that one would use DMA and the other PIO, unless that drive just doesn't support DMA. Again, this is normal and you have nothing to worry about.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[mattrick19801]

Actually it does have everything to do with the drive. Many ROM devices just don't use DMA."

The DVD-Rom drive was in DMA mode. The DVD-RW drive was in PIO mode. The DVD-Rom drive was mounted above the DVD-RW drive.

I switched their physical location (now the DVD-RW drive is above the DVD-Rom drive) and now the DVD-RW drive is in DMA and the DVD-Rom is in PIO.

It's really no big deal, I was just curious why I couldn't switch the settings.

Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[cdogg]

[blue]I switched their physical location...[/blue]"

Well, that shouldn't matter as long as both drives are still connected to the same IDE channel. DMA shouldn't have been affected.

I realize it's no big deal, but you may want to consider the position on the cable. Generally, the master drive works better being connected at the far end of the IDE cable. The slave works better on the middle. And anytime you only have one device connected, it's best to leave the middle open and set the jumper to master.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dglienna]

He has 4 times the amount of available RAM. If you shut down Nortons, then you will have the same amount of RAM as he does, and the speed should be the same. I dumped NAV about 4 months ago, and downloaded AVAST!, which is free for home use.
It is a lot faster, and uses less memory.

David