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External DVD RW/RAM Can't Read DL Data Disc

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Gadrin

Programmer
Mar 24, 2008
18
US
Hello,

I have a LG External USB 2.0/IEEE1394
16x Super Multi DVD/CD Rewriter
GSA-5163D

Which I bought a few years ago.

I got a new Dell laptop recently and it has it's own
built in DVD/CD writer. I bought some DL discs and
did a test backup yesterday on the laptop -- works fine.

However when I take the LG over to another PC, it can't
read the DL disc (it's just a data disc with zip files).
The built-in DVD can't read it either.

I'm hoping it's a driver issue.

I did start Nero 6 on the other pc and used the LG multi
to start a backup. It recognized the DL blank disc and
I purposely "overfed" it 10+ gb of data and Nero reported
that I was over limit on space.

So, I'm hoping this is a driver issue :)

Thanks, Gadrin

BTW -- I did use Windows Hardware to try and upgrade the
drivers for the drive, but when I used the CD that came
with the LG multi it said "no better drivers found".

>

 
when you say:
The built-in DVD can't read it either

You mean the one you burned the disk with can't now read the disk? If that's the case, then something went wrong with the burn.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
 
No the laptop (which burned the DVD DL) can see it fine.

I just can't take it to another pc and see it with any
type of DVD drive.

Unless I didn't wait long enough for the thing to spin-up.

I tried it 3 or 4 times. The laptop takes 10 secs max to
insert the disc and get the folders visible in Explorer.

>
 
Gadrin said:
I bought some DL discs and did a test backup yesterday on the laptop

What program did you use to make the backup? Some programs use special formatting.

Also, if you are using a RW disc and formatted the disc so that files can be dragged/dropped to it (or erased on-the-fly), then it can only be seen by other DVD-RW burners. The disc or session must be closed before another non-writer DVD-ROM can read what's on it.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
 
Well, I've used this same laptop to burn regular 4 gig
data discs using the same software Roxio (came with laptop)

This is just my first shot with DL discs.

The hardware I listed above is a DVD-RW burner and I'm
pretty sure it can read the other backups I made with
Roxio (I rarely use it).

I'm burning some DVDs with it and it's almost done.
I'll double check to make sure it can read the other
regular 4 gig data discs, then I'll check the 8 gig
DL one again.

Code:
Module Name: Roxio Creator LE - Dell Edition
Build: 2.4.32a
Serial Number: 
Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2005

Module Name: PX Engine
Build: 3.0.88a, 88
Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2004

Module Name: Roxio RecordNow Audio
Version: 2.0.4
Build: 204B28C, RCB
Serial Number: 
Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2004

>
 
Okay in the meantime here's a screen print of what
Roxio has as the Disk Info on the DL...


It's closed so it's finalized.

I've placed the disk into the other PC (the drive I described
above) and it spends a good 2 minutes spinning...still
spinning...

5 minutes, still spinning...

>
 
OK, so the LG External DVD-RW burner can read the disc just fine when it's attached to the Dell laptop. But when you attach the burner to a different PC, it starts having the read issue? Have you tried more than one other PC?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
 
I'll second Roxio being a problem. I used to really love Roxio CD burner, before we had DVD burners, and I finally kicked it to the curb back then. Haven't looked back since.

If you want a paid program, Nero is good. Yeah, it's got a lot of stuff, and like other programs, it's bloated more every year.

CDBurnerXP is a great program. It's free, it's a simple install, and it just works.

There are some other free ones as well that work. One that I also like is ImgBurn, but if your files are not already in an image file, you'd have 2 steps instead of one with that program to burn a disk - last I checked, anyway. But for each specific application, it just plain works.

Some other pay software that's really good is VSO products. They have a really nice setup in VSO CopyToDVD. You can create some really nice "picture CDs/DVDs" with their software, and it just works. Also, VSO isn't anywhere NEAR as bloated as Nero. But I suppose it's all a matter of need and taste.

I use Nero mainly for multiple disk burning capabilities, though there are a few others which do the same. So, for your case, I'd say you won't need Nero.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
 
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