newbie needs burner help...choices etc

[JakeBlues]

I bought an Iomega external super writer (usb) (not a DL)
the when I realized that I really would need DL for better quality on longer movies I bought a sony dru700a it does indeed do DL.
I downloaded the "one click" method that is recommened here
and used the Iomega first with "OK" at best details. The when I got the
Sony I was getting OK results also. But then suddenly I made a few fine tune adjustment and started getting FANTASTIC results for about 10 or so burns and then suddenly "coaster city". Now all the disk are coaster material I test them on my samsung player here in my computer and my home theatre and get the same results, maybe the sony is burnt? I have gone throught about 40 disk testing them between I've learned here with the "one click" method and a waste on money I bought dvd cloner-3. sighs......
I use win 2000 and a dell demensions 4100 and can not get constant results
..ohh by the way I have used both maxell dvd-r and tdk -r ($5-7 for 25 packs on sale at radio shack) though the tdks seem to be working better.
Yes I have pretty much followed the "golden rules of burning" to my understanding of it... and just want consistancy.
If It would really help can you suggest a new burner...? I am seeing mixed reviews on the plextors and sonys.

Thank you and I hope I posted this in the correct spot..it's kinda a mixed bag here.

Peace, Love and Blues...
Jake

[photo_angel2004]

Hello and welcome to the forum,

The first problem with your consistancy of quality is with the media you are using.

Quted from the Golden rules of burning.

FAQ: The Golden Rules of Burning

There as been a lot written over and over and over and over - even in the DVD Shrink for Dummies Guide - about how to maximise your chances of having a successful burn.

I thought a real quick and easy summary might be in order.

1. Buy good media (like Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim) that is suited to your burner AND players (see here). In particular, steer clear of cheap stuff like CMC Magnetics. Cheap media is the major source of burning problems. ONLY use Verbatim disks for dual layer burns.
(Note: Disks with the media ID code of Ritek G05 have proven to be quite variable in quality).

If you are using dual layer discs I would go with Verbatim +R discs and burn no faster then 2.4X

With single layer burn at 4X

its not just in the quality of the disc but the speed you are burning at as well.

[JakeBlues]

Dearest Angel.....

Thank you for taking pity on me....
The only DL disk I used was Memorex+R DL just to play with the DL format, the rest were Memorex - r (not DL) or they were TDK-r (also not DL)
I thought using them (the 3 pack of DL i bought ) was the answer to my problem(s)... 2 were hung up about 50-60% and stopped (I was using the dvd-cloner3 and the last attempt was using the "one click method" as spelled out here (via ripit4me, dvd decrypter, dvd shrink and alas ImgBurn) and that was the one I got the best results! But all the others were single layer memx-r or tdk-r burns and I amassed a uge amount of "coasters". Please re-read my frustrations with my first posting and maybe you can help me.
Yes.. the lord helps them that help themselves... but dang, what the heck am I "freaking-up"?
ANY one.. please feel free to point me into new lanes of thought!

PS. Thanks Angel!!

[Chewy]

May 01, 2004

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1817

the second rule is firmware i believe
including a current burner
Dec 20, 2004

2 years is a lifetime with this technology

[JakeBlues]

Hey Chewy! (great pic btw..)

Yes the firmware was indeed taken care of.
I did that and the sony has it lastest update.
What kind of burner do you use? Your choice of software?
I at least feel like the first 40 coasters are important learning tools.. hehehe
I really am trying.
I have the largest collection of movies by Focus Features and I want to back them up. My wife will have a baby soon so the collection must go.
I have learned one lesson, no more memorex media.. I stated earlier maxell.
those were my cd-r ones, my bad.
Thank you for your kindness...

Jake Blues

[JakeBlues]

May 01, 2004

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1817

the second rule is firmware i believe
including a current burner
Dec 20, 2004

2 years is a lifetime with this technology

You mean a new burner??

[Chewy]

yes a new burner might be in order but we have one last ditch effort that might get you a little more time from that sony, never buy an oem drive, your sony was made by liteon(look at my link), sony said tough after a while and
dropped support as time passed, liteon still kept putting out firmware, now you can change your sony to a liteon.

you'll need winrar and download

• CG5J - patched - improved burn quality (for 451S, 851S, 812S, 832S, Sony 700A, etc.)

from here

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html#SOHW-832S

it's from oct 2005, might help

and you thought you had the latest firmware, the codeguys take up where
liteon and sony quit

[JakeBlues]

yes I see it...

..but which one do I need?, how do I know?

Sony DRU-700A (rebadged LiteOn SOHW-832S)
• VY05 - patched - enabled bitsetting support (old)
• VY02/VY05/VY06 - stock (old)
• VY08 - stock
• CY58 - patched - improved burn quality (for 451S, 851S, 812S, 832S, Sony 700A, etc.)

PS. thank you for your help thus far.

[Chewy]

you need the one I linked for, it's the latest

sony didn't make your drive, liteon did

[JakeBlues]

Thank you..
In the zip file were 3 exe.. let me identify them

832S.CY58.patched-cf-liteonid-ledfix
832S.CY58.patched-cf
832S.CY58.patched-cf-liteonid

what is the difference and what do each one do??
I ried hem all and hey all wany to update to cy58 (fine.. what order? etc.. and there are 3 exe's in this file so I confused.

muchas gracias

[Chewy]

none of those, look at the dates, 2/18/2005

you need the liteon CG5J from 10/2/2005

use the sonyid one but extract all files to a folder

[JakeBlues]

well here something strange...
I used the

832S.CY58.patched-cf-liteonid-ledfix
832S.CY58.patched-cf
832S.CY58.patched-cf-liteonid

on the link you gave me and it seemed to have help!
is that weird? I recorded one I've had trouble burning 1/2 a dozen coasters later. These were the ones recommended for the Sony DRU-700A.
If I go back and install the ones you really meant for me to install do you think it would help even more?
Also now my little yellow-greenish burn light is now a red burn light.
What does that mean? Can't be good but this copy looks like a vast improvement.

[JakeBlues]

here was the one that I took (CY58 - patched - improved burn quality (for 451S, 851S, 812S, 832S, Sony 700A, etc.) and did not see that CG5J
you were wanting me to get.

[Chewy]

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html#SOHW-832S

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares/dvdrw/832S.CG5J.patched-cf.rar

is the newer file

boot into safe mode and flash the empty drive

download imgburn
and do a test burn

http://forum.digital-digest.com/forumdisplay.php?f=106

we know it works, not sure about your program which should be turned off when you try and do anything else

[JakeBlues]

"boot into safe mode and flash the empty drive "
....is there a link on doing this or can you explain it to me?

good news: I ripped a region 2 (I'm in region) of 28 dayz later and the silly bugger worked I played it on my computer as photo angel suggest, and the thing is closest to a perfect burn that I've seen yet.. wow