How can I test used blank RW media for pre-burn quality?

[noels]

Could someone give me a reliable (hopefully free) method to test a blank DVD-RW's pre-burn quality? Some links I was told about suggested that Nero's CD-DVD Speed tool could help me determine disc quality. I've tried Nero with mixed results (in one case I got a disc to read OK once then all red (bad) later) so not sure that I trust it. I'm asking because I have several RWs that I would like to use for short term data storage but I'm afraid to because of some past losses. These discs have small scratches, etc., that lead me to suspect them, but I don't want to mistakenly discard them. Thanks for any help, noels

[Chewy]

Use them for limited testing of dvd movie burns, they won't last
very long or stand many reburns, nature of the beast.

After you get all bugs ironed out, forget RW's, they are a waste of money and time.

[LT. Columbo]

there is a point of technical overkill....burn an rw, watch the contents of a full disc,if ok the disc is good--simple as that

that's how i do things, my discs are pristine

[Chewy]

there is a point of technical overkill....burn an rw, watch the contents of a full disc,if ok the disc is good--simple as that

that's how i do things, my discs are pristine

another good attribute for a detective!

"THE PATIENCE OF JOB"

[LT. Columbo]

it's a simple system, i rec. to all

[blutach]

"Burn" them in test mode if you wish. Use DVD Decrypter/Img Burn in Test mode (or even Nero in whatever its test mode is called).

Or do a real burn and test it with Nero CD DVD Speed. See How to test your burn in my sig.

Regards

[noels]

Thanks to all for your comments. Think I'll just be more careful what I burn on RWs... using them for an intermediate burn may be the way to go as long as the good stuff is on a reliable disc. I won't use them for backing up data any more. noels

[blutach]

I use them exclusively for data backups. I have 2 that I rotate weekly. Thus if one goes astray, the other is only 1 week old.

I also use DVD-RAM on a nightly basis. It is very convenient - just use M$ Windoze Explorer.

Regards

[jm1647]

Just my opinion, but I still think it is senseless to burn a rip/edited movie to a RW to test the rip/edit. The files should be tested on the HDD to see how the rip/editing went. After the rip/editing is complete and is the final product you want then it should go to the permanent media of your choice.
Unless you don't want to keep your backup and only watch it once go to RW but then why back it up at all.
30 - 40 cents for a regular R media is nothing compared to the time spent doing it on a RW and then erasing it to use again. Not counting the wear and tear on your burner which is going to do a limited amount of burns and wear out eventually.

[Chewy]

@jm... you seem to be one of the only ones who takes time and effort
in account as part of the equation, thanks thought I was odd man out.

[Taelon]

I've tried Nero with mixed results (in one case I got a disc to read OK once then all red (bad) later) so not sure that I trust it.

If this is kind of inconsistency is seen with the same media, then there is likely a problem with your drive, the readings from the test are accurate. More likely the differences are because of a clamping problem either in the drive or with a specific disc, where the disc isn't being properly clamped flat & centered.

[noels]

jm1647 "30 - 40 cents for a regular R media is nothing compared to the time spent...

Lots of good commentary here... you're right, jm1647, I've wasted a lot of time burning to RWs needlessly! From now on I think I'll limit my use of RWs to the times when I'm not sure if I want to keep a program or the data, with the intention of making a later decision for a permanent burn. Otherwise I'll just burn to R+ the first time around and not waste the extra time... Also, Taelon, I'll keep my eyes out for drive problems of the kind you mention. Thanks to all for the discussion and the good ideas. noels

[Chewy]

With hard drives so cheap I don't even waste time backing up anything
but movies to optical disks.

BESIDES, the second hard drive really speeds up the processing of
a ripped file mode, as long as the data transfer is between drives on seperate
cables.

[LT. Columbo]

i think there is a right time for rw's, like if you experience a sudden unforseen problem, instead of reaching for the spindle like many do, grab the rw and you don't have to worry. or if you simply want to do a test run, compression comparisons etc. otherwise i agree, burn right to dvd-r/+r

[jm1647]

i think there is a right time for rw's, like if you experience a sudden unforseen problem, instead of reaching for the spindle like many do, grab the rw and you don't have to worry. or if you simply want to do a test run, compression comparisons etc. otherwise i agree, burn right to dvd-r/+r

An unforseen problem like a bad DVD +/- R from the spindle or an experimental too fast a burn to the media or switching to new media will not be solved by writing to a RW. Compression comparisons etc. can be done from the HDD also. A test run for the initial installation of the burner to check the installation is ok. When I bought my first burner I bought 10 RW's (on sale a good deal) and think I took the wrapping off 2 of them, using it to backup important data that was always changing but now I do that to a removable harddrive since the price of HDD's has tumbled. The DVD RW's and CD Rw's were good for transporting data that needed more than a couple floppies but with thumb drives and yousendit I don't even use them for that anymore.