can no longer use DVD+R for burning like I used to

[sarahlog]

In short, for whatever reason, I can no longer burn DVDs using blank DVD+R but instead can only do so using DVD+RW on my laptop. This shouldn’t be the case for two reasons.
First, when ready for burning and I pop in my blank DVD+R, I get a message saying “This disc is not writable. Please insert a writable disc……”
It goes on to say “Disc required for the compilation: DVD+R/RW”
“Disc type in the recorder: DVD+R”
So I take it that what I need is either DVD+R or DVD+RW but obviously the disc that’s in there is DVD+R. That makes no sense.

Secondly and most illogical is that when first started burning, I was using DVD+R!! I still have those movies that I burned using DVD+R but I can no longer do so with DVD+R.

I can’t understand why my laptop is no longer allowing DVD+R for burning. I used to be able to do so with no problem but now it only takes DVD+RW which is a bit more expensive (although rewritable). But I would much prefer to go back to using DVD+R.

I can’t come up with a theory as to why it no longer allows DVD+R. Between the time I first started burning and now, the laptop has crashed a few times and I had to reinstall windows. I also had to get a brand new hard drive. But even before I got a new hard drive, it was already at a point where it was only taking DVD+RW, and no longer DVD+R. Besides, I don’t think having to install windows again or new hard drive should have any effect.

I am hoping that someone can figure out why this is the case and would like to know how I can go back to using DVD+R for burning instead of DVD+RW.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Starman*]

Have you tried some other brand of dvd blanks? Could be you have a bad batch. Are you sure the disks are really blank? What brand are they? Try borrowing one or two of a different brand from someone.

A new Windows install could affect the drivers. You could uninstall then reinstall the drive. That will reinstall the drivers. You could try updating the firmware if any is available, although the fact is the current firmware used to work OK. Last resort!

To check disks you could try the Nero Info Tool (part of Nero or from here. The disk tab will tell you if the disk is blank or not, though how reliable that is if the drive is up the spout is debatable. Browse the other tabs just in case an error is shown (like ASPI not installed) or other strange data.

Starman*

 

[PC eye]

The drive's lens could be blurred or simply foobar if you have had the drive for some period now. Have you tried a lens cleaner to see if that would make a difference?

 

[OvenMaster]

I had this exact same problem regarding my NEC combo burner no longer recognizing CD-RW's as burnable or eraseable by Roxio, Nero, or XP's built in burn functions. CD-R's, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW all kept burning just fine. The only way to fix it was to replace the burner. Mine was under warranty at the time. A LiteOn replacement has worked fine ever since (August 2004)
Tom

 

[Starman*]

If this is a fairly common problem you would have thought it possible for the manufacturer to have some sort of calibration disk that you could put in the drive and it would change the firmware settings to allow for deviations since manufacture. It's clearly not a complete failure of the drive, just something out of whack.

Starman*

 

[PC eye]

I put a Sony DRU530 model in when I grabbed it fast at a pc show a few years back(late 2003? early '04?) and saw the DRU810A model a week or two later. Ouch! It still runs great in a second build since that time without problems with the drive itself. Some new disks were the only thing when they already had some unknown track data number seen on a freshly opened containers. One was a container bought at a pc show. The other was a name brand out of a member wholesale club. Besides a lens cleaner try a different cable on the drive and check the jumper setting if you moved the drive or swap cables since the last good burn seen.