Help - My camcorder is eating my expensive +RWs

[blutach]

Rather than regurgitate the problem, I'll just refer you here for basic info.

Have 2 +RWs and only 1 side out of 4 reads, despite all tries. I can get it to read in Windows with Ner0 erasing, but it lays down the wrong filesystem - CDFS instead of UDFFS 1.2 and no, I hadn't selected CD compilation).

Much kudos to the people who can solve this one.

Regards

[Chewy]

running in video mode or vr mode?

[blutach]

VF mode - that's all a DVD+RW can do.

Regards

[Chewy]

according to sony there's video or VR mode

[Chewy]

and you have to initialize in the camcorder

[blutach]

Video mode is called VF.

The "initialisation" is a very quick format. It does this. Records some stuff. But then won't continue on after machine turned off and back on again.

Regards

[Chewy]

the process seems exactly the opposite of a computer rw, that might be the clue


why don't you try a reformat of used disks?

Note: Make sure that the DVD is blank (or you intend to overwrite the contents) before you initialize it. This process is permanent and can't be undone.

The initialization process is easy. If you'd like to reformat a used DVD-RW or DVD+RW, the process requires a few preliminary steps to access the DVD initialization options:

Press the SETUP button on your DVD Handycam® camcorder. Use the arrow keys to select DISC SET, and then press Enter.
Select FORMAT from the DISC SET menu, and then press Enter. After you've done this, use the next steps to format the DVD in either VIDEO or VR mode.
If you're using a new DVD, ignore those first two steps and start with the following:

Insert a blank DVD-RW or DVD+RW in your DVD Handycam® camcorder. The system walks you through the process.
If you'd like to record in VIDEO mode, simply accept the default options by selecting EXECUTE and YES from the menu and the DVD Handycam® camcorder prepares the disc.

[jm1647]

@Les - did ya see the stuff at this place?

[blutach]

@Chewy

I would do all of that except for one thing - the bloody Camcorder does not recognise the media at all!!!! It just thinks it's a bitta plastic and after searching for (presumably) the filesystem for about 90 seconds comes up with a scratched/damaged/dirty disk message. And Chewy, I dunno where you are quoting those instructions from - perhaps a SONY manual. I have a Hitachi

@jm - saw that a couple of days ago actually, even before volvo posted it. Thanks anyway

Regards

[RFBurns]

Is that camcorder recognizing other RW media? If it does what is the version of the RW media it does read/write vs the ones it does not.

Some Sony DVD camcorders had a problem with recognizing certian brands and versions of RW media, resolved with a firmware update. Might check the Hitachi website, which you can access service literature and even download manuals and etc for free...a very rare and unusual thing for a manufacturer to provide that kind of thing on the web, but is a good thing. Wish Sony did that, they are too stingy.

It is possible that the camcorder might be having optical block problems and/or its controller card might have a flaky chip or two that deals disc recognition and formatting, basically the optical block controller/read/write board, which could be replaced as a whole assembly.

[Chewy]

there you go Blu, flash the firmware!

[jm1647]

I found the camera Hitachi DZ-BX35E here but there are no software updates available for it

it's listed under Hitachi Oceania

http://aus.hitachi.com.au/hitachi/content/template_products.asp?ID=1824

http://aus.hitachi.com.au/hitachi/content/template_driver_index.asp?ID=197

[blutach]

Thanks guys - the camcorder controller card is not the issue I think. (I have returned it twice).

Have yet to try new brand of RWs but the Maxell -Rs supplied with the machine perform flawlessly. But, I do want the convenience of "shoot, eject and play/edit" which a +RW is supposed to give me.

Media is being returned today - hopefully we can find some which works. Very strange thing though - the cam recognised the media first up, formatted it, shot some video, but then failed to recognise it after either switching off or ejecting the disk. Happened with all 3 cams I have had so far. Very strange.

Regards

[blutach]

Update:

Problem solved. The cam works brilliantly with -RW disks. Shame; I really wanted +RWs. Shoulda bought a $ONY, I guess.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Regards

[Chewy]

what brand this time? rw's