I can burn/play kids movies but.....

[dvdcrazy]

after they get played in the DVD player a few times they start to skip. Also I can't seem to get one good working adult movie. It starts skipping on playback either right away or within the first 30 mins. I use DVD Decrypter, DVD 2One and Nero 5.5.9. Any ideas?

[sfheath]

You don't mention your writer or the blank media you're using. Burning at 2x a lot of folk recommend for longevity.
Do you use labels or marker/printer?
Have you run a lens cleaning disc in your player recently?
Have you tried DVD Shrink btw?

[dvdcrazy]

Thanks for your quick response....

I've used Optodisc, Maxell and Sony dvd-r's and burn at 2x.

Yes I do use a dvd label for each disc but have used them in the past and had no problem.

We cleaned both DVD players throughly right after this started happening a few weeks ago.

I should also mention that I have burned about 30 dvd's with no problems until about 2 months ago. I did not change any software, processes or the type of dvd-r's used. Now the only thing we seem to be successful at burning is kids movies and those only last for a few plays. The burned dvd plays fine in our pc but not in the standalones.

I've tried dvd shrink but get an error during encoding.

[ormonde]

"I've used Optodisc, Maxell and Sony dvd-r's and burn at 2x."

What application have you used to burn? Also, when burning DVDs, you must not only have a VIDEO_TS folder (ALL CAPS), for all the DVD related files, but an "Empty" AUDIO_TS folder on the disk as well.

[ormonde]

Sorry, I see from your initial post that you used Nero 5.5.9. But did you burn in DVD-video mode?

[dvdcrazy]

Yes I use DVD-video mode in Nero....

Is there a better way?

[ormonde]

"Is there a better way?"

There are potentially many ways. You did burn in DVD-video mode in Nero? Also, the are other burning applications that you could use–some are freeware, but since you already have Nero, this should work well for you. Also, look into upgrading to the newest version. (6.3.0.3)

[ormonde]

Sorry again, missed your red thumb up.

[sfheath]

So,
you're using the same software and routine and blank media that worked in the past?
you've not changed settings, installed anything that might change settings?
any successful burns are children's films, only work on the PC and only for a short time?
Why only children's films burn is bizarre but except for a poor batch of media I'm seriously thinking burner problem.
Have you looked at the manufacturers site for available firmware update?

[dvdcrazy]

Yep same media, software and burner. I don't think anything was installed that would change settings.

The children's movies work on the standalones as well but only for a few plays then they start to gradually skip. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the length of the movie. Most kids movies I burn are 35 mins to 1 hour whereas the audlt movies are over 1 1/2 hours. Would shirnk the movie further help?

I'll also check the manufacturer's site for updates, thks!

[sfheath]

Some media gets a bit questionable towards the end limit hence sometimes a recommendation to reduce target size but that's usually after a Nero refusal to finalise the disk or similar.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the firmware update!
I'd also try some of your disks that have ceased to work with their labels removed.

[dvdcrazy]

Well I downloaded and installed the firmware update. I then burned a kids movie that is 35 mins long and it won't play at all in my standalones. I also burned Under the Tuscan Sun and it won't play in either standalone either. So it seems to have made it worse instead of better! I have no idea what to do now.

[Quality's Proof]

Labels on a disc is a bad idea. DVD writer manufacturers such as Pioneer, etc. specifically state not to do so. You can get cd/dvd (water based) marking pens @ Staples, etc. (4 ~ $5.00 to $6.00) to identify your back-ups.

If your standalone is not clogged, or damaged from the labels, you may want to see if the discs play okay in another standalone which will play such discs (-R's), if they play well, then your standalone needs to be repaired/replaced.

See if you can get the dvd writer firmware flashed to the earlier version.

Usually if a dvd will play okay 1 time and then has problems playing, it is either dirty or standalone is clogged, lens is dirty, etc.. Since you use labels, though, your standalone may be extremely finicky about weight, balance, etc. and is therefore causing the problem.

Since your computer plays the back-ups okay and your standalone did only for a while, it is obvious some incompatibility that is "progressive" and the next solution is a different burning software, you could try IMG Tools Classic and DVDdecrypter to do a test burn, while you sort the Nero problem (if it is Nero).

Optodisc is not a good disc as failure rate is sometimes ~ 20 %, Maxell -RW's work well.

[dvdcrazy]

Thanks!

Where would I get IMG Tools Classic? What sfotware do you use for shrinking and burning?

[Quality's Proof]

IMG Tools Classic v. 0.91.1 is : Coujo.de.

I have several burning softwares and 2 shrinking softwares (counting all DVDShrink versions as 1 software).

My favourite is to use DVDDecrypter in Mode ISO Read to rip the D-5's and then use the MODE ISO Write to burn that D-5 as DVDDecrypter is a ripper/burner.

On a D-9, I use DVDShrink v. 3.0 Beta 5 or the various v. 3.1's (it's now up to v. 3.1.5 Beta 5....new post has link, use mirror 2 to download from ARNO V.) to rip/shrink with and then use IMG Classic to turn the 'Shrink files into an ISO image ~ 10 minutes and then DVDDecrypter (via Classic) automatically burns the "Shrink movie.

These are free wares are easy to use......the main problem most people have is setting the paths in classic (only 2 paths after initial install). The first path is the source directory, all to do is put mouse arrow on 'Shrink file and click , then go to destination folder and click on title then click on VIDEO_TS and then click save and then click on "IMAGE".

The steps for Classic is same as 'Shrink, all you have to do is before starting Classic is to make a new folder (to put ISO'ed image in) and name it (Movie ISO) and then double click on that folder and create (IN CAP'S) a AUDIO_TS and a VIDEO_TS folder the VIDEO_TS folder is where the ISO movie will be put by Classic.

You could even download the G.U.I. AUTOShrink from mrbass.org for an even more "automated" system. If you have NT, 2000, XP, DVDDecrypter can burn in SPTI. Other O.S.'s will need an aspi layer (you can go to Doom9.org or .net for link download of "force aspi").

Shrink works very good as does dvddecrypter and IMG Tools Classic and they are freewares.

I get 100 % PS2 and XBox burns this way and plays flawlessly on Pioneer standalone.