Can create DVD using -RW media, but not -R media

[orphan58]

I have a HUMAX DRT800 DVR Recorder. Everything was working correctly until a few weeks ago. I started not being able to read DVDs on my laptop that I had created on the DRT800. I don't have any problem if I use -RW media to create the DVD and read the DVD on my laptop, but if I create the DVD using -R media, I cannot read the DVD on my laptop. The laptop is a Compaq with a -RW DVD Drive. I used a 3M DVD drive cleaning kit to clean the DVD drive on the DRT800 and the laptop. I use TDK or Sony media; same problem regardless of media manufacturer. I noticed that with the recorded -RW media, I can see the folders and files using MS Explorer. If I try to view the recorded -R media, nothing shows up on the drive. I have been able to take the recorded -R media to my other DVD player and the recorded media works. Can anyone explain what's wrong with my DRT800? Suggestions?

[rkester]

My bro had the same problem with discs i gave him (burned on my humax drt800) on his PC. It turned out the problem was the speed of the DVD-Rs themselves I was using were too fast for the player on his PC. Sounds silly but we verified it was the media's speed that was the problem.

Typically most RW media is slower speed rated. Whereas most R media these days is rated at high speeds.

If you can find some slower media to test it that would help you to see if that is indeed the issue.

I'm betting your compaq's DVD drive is a bit older?

[orphan58]

I purchased my Compaq Presario R3000Z Notebook PC with DVD/CD combo drive in March 2005. My DRT800 is a refurbished unit I received in September 2005.

Your explanation of the difference between the R and RW media speed seems feasible, but I could read the DVDs created on my DRT800 for almost a year before they started to fail about 6 - 8 weeks ago.

[rkester]

Have you tried the discs in other players and more importantly computers?

Any chance you updated the firmware or a driver on the laptop between it working and not working?

Have you rebooted the tivo recently to see if that helps?

[orphan58]

I have rebooted the DRT800 a couple of times (both hard and soft) and problems still occurs.

I have been able to use the recorded R media that fails on my laptop on my Sony DVD player, although initially the DVD player had a error, "DVD is dirty". I removed the DVD and returned it into the DVD player and it worked.

The recorded R media also does not work in my Compaq Presario SR1120NX Desktop PC that I purchased in October 2004.

[rkester]

And it did work in that Desktop PC before too?

Did any of this start happening around the time of an upgrade for the humax?

[megazone]

If the laptop has a -RW drive, can it use the -R media at all? Try putting in a blank and see if it can burn to it. It may just not be able to recognize the media at all. It sounds like the laptop drive, since the burned discs work in other players.

[orphan58]

My laptop has a DVD-CD combo drive [DVD read only] and my deskside has a DVD-ROM drive [DVD read only].

My TiVo software level is 7.3.1-oth-01-2-595 and the DVD Drive Firmware is DVD-RW DVR-108RZ 1.15. I received a message on 08/12/06 that my TiVo box received a service update.

The last DVD I recorded on R media that works on my computers and DVD players was created on 07/20/06. The DVD I recorded on R media on 08/12/06 does not work on my computers, but does work on my DVD players. Since 08/12/06, I have not been able to record a DVD on R media that works on my computers.

Sure looks like the Humax-TiVo service update screwed-up my TiVo DVD drive software.

[orphan58]

Humax wants to send me another refurbished box and charge me $240. That does not sound like a good deal to me. It would be cheaper to buy a DVD recorder for my desktop. The Memorex 16x Dual Format, Double-Layer DVD Recorder External is available for $119.99 [Suggested Retail Price] and Internal for $69.99. I could then record a DVD on RW media on my Tivo box and copy the DVD to R media on my desktop.

[Chester_Lampwick]

Why don't you pull the DVD drive from you TiVo and try burning a disc with your PC? For the record, I bought a DVR-108 for my PC know this is the model of drive I have in my DRT-800. My firmware for the TiVo is 1.15. My computer's drive has 1.20 firmware. The spare drive does still work in the TiVo, even with different firmware. I think it was a wise investment to have a spare, and I get to use it in my pc in the meantime, it's excellent.
Food for thought,
Roger

[orphan58]

From your comment, I infer that the Humax DRT800 uses a Pioneer DVR-108 DL Recorder. Humax technical support said that the drive is not customer replaceable. Sounds like the Humax DRT800 DVD drive could be replace by someone comfortably with opening the case, removing the old drive, and installing a new DVR-108.

I am following up on the observation that the problem may be the speed rating of the R media. The R media I am using has speed rating of 16X and the RW media has a speed rating of 4X. With this 16X R media, I get failure every time.

I also received similar observation on the TiVo forum: Pioneer 810H DVD Recorder with TiVo cannot use anything higher than 8X because the DVD drive mechanism itself doesn't support the faster media. The RW media almost always have a slower speed rating than the R media which is probably why the RW media is working.

I had been using Memorex R media with speed rating of 8X, but was having periodic failures. Humax technical support recommended that Sony, Verbatim, Imation, and TDK work best with DRT800. I switched to TDK R media, but the speed rating of the TDK R media is 16X. The TDK RW media has a speed rating of 4X.

[gastrof]

Has anyone bothered to use a lens cleaner on the machines involved?

You'd be surprised what can happen to a DVD recorder or player by simply not cleaning the lens. (It ain't pretty.)

You'd also be surprised what can happen to a machine that's not working right if you just put a lens cleaner disc into it and run it thru once or twice.

As a side point, some cleaners say you should run their disc in your machine after every TEN HOURS of regular use.

[Chester_Lampwick]

Hmm, I've never used a lense cleaner on any optical device. Perhaps I should. The lense is never supposed to come into contact with anything, so I assused int never had much chance to get dirty. It does seem like a lot of air gets pulled through every open crevice in a PC. Also the lense is facing up for dust to collect on. Definately if I was in a smoking household of it was near a deep fryer it'd shorten the lifespan significantly.

So the lense cleaning discs can actually touch the lense? Would it be better to open the drive and clean it? I'll probably wait until a drive acts ups before I touch it....

Thanks for the advice,
Roger