Disc-burning Issues

sara505 · May 27, 2011

In the past year I've had two instances of clients reporting empty DVDs.

In both cases, I double-checked each disc to make sure the files were there before I mailed them out.

In both cases, the clients reported trying a few different computers, with different OSs, all to no avail.

What causes this to happen, I wonder. Coincidentally (or not), in both instances, the DVDs were burned on my computer that runs Vista.

?

ziggy53 · May 27, 2011

What burning software are you using?

What specific format are you burning to? DVD-R, DVD+R, ?

Are you finalizing the disk?

Are you using an extended disk format?

What recording speed are you using and what recording speed are the disks rated to?

For Windows machines I rather like to use Ashampoo Burning Studio (free version). This limits the format type to mostly a very compatible format and does not allow extended disks. As long as you finalize the disk it should be compatible with a wide variety of players. There is still the possibility that some disk types cannot be read on some other players, for a variety of reasons.

dbveto · May 27, 2011

The operating system would not really matter, what would matter is if the disks were Finalized. When the disk is Finalized it should work in any computer. If you get the disks back see if you can add files to it on your computer if you can it has not been finalized.

Ziggy but type faster than me.

sara505 · May 28, 2011

dbveto wrote: »

The operating system would not really matter, what would matter is if the disks were Finalized. When the disk is Finalized it should work in any computer. If you get the disks back see if you can add files to it on your computer if you can it has not been finalized.

Ziggy but type faster than me.

As far as I know the discs (DVDs) were finalized. Since I'm not at that computer, I can't tell you any more.

Burn4Free has worked dependably for me in the past (tho not sure it's free anymore), will check out Ashampoo (though I have already washed my hair today).
Thanks!

angevin1 · May 29, 2011

sara505 wrote: »

As far as I know the discs (DVDs) were finalized. Since I'm not at that computer, I can't tell you any more.

Burn4Free has worked dependably for me in the past (tho not sure it's free anymore), will check out Ashampoo (though I have already washed my hair today).
Thanks!

My Vote: IMG Burn!

dbveto · May 31, 2011

angevin1 wrote: »

my vote: Img burn!

+1

ziggy53 · December 16, 2011

ziggy53 wrote: »

... For Windows machines I rather like to use Ashampoo Burning Studio (free version). This limits the format type to mostly a very compatible format and does not allow extended disks. As long as you finalize the disk it should be compatible with a wide variety of players. There is still the possibility that some disk types cannot be read on some other players, for a variety of reasons.

An update on Ashampoo Burning Studio:

I finally updated to the latest version of this software and they:

Spammed my computer
Changed my home page
Added a marketing toolbar
Changed my startup pages
Changed my default search engine

Needless to say, I deleted their software and I will never use or recommend them again. I'm truly sorry for anyone who tried their stuff on my recommendation and I hope you didn't have to go what I just went through. Please accept my sincere apologies.

Granted, I know how to change stuff back, and fortunately they didn't seem to do anything truly malicious. No permanent damage, just an inconvenience.

Everyone please stay away from Ashampoo Burning Studio.

angevin1 · December 17, 2011

ziggy53 wrote: »

An update on Ashampoo Burning Studio:

I finally updated to the latest version of this software and they:

Spammed my computer
Changed my home page
Added a marketing toolbar
Changed my startup pages
Changed my default search engine

Needless to say, I deleted their software and I will never use or recommend them again. I'm truly sorry for anyone who tried their stuff on my recommendation and I hope you didn't have to go what I just went through. Please accept my sincere apologies.

Granted, I know how to change stuff back, and fortunately they didn't seem to do anything truly malicious. No permanent damage, just an inconvenience.

Everyone please stay away from Ashampoo Burning Studio.

Ouch! Sorry to hear about that! Sounds like they decided to change the way they interpret free. I take it it was during the install process that all this took place?

ziggy53 · December 17, 2011

angevin1 wrote: »

Ouch! Sorry to hear about that! Sounds like they decided to change the way they interpret free. I take it it was during the install process that all this took place?

Unfortunately yes, the install automatically made all of those browser changes. Fortunately, it only affected my default browser settings (Chrome). The other browsers that I use seem unaffected.

I did not see an "opt out" capability, or I would have used that to avoid the changes. I did complain to Ashampoo about the practice and they have not replied. I do refuse to use software from any manufacturer with these spammy practices. This is close to a trojan horse activity.

basflt · December 17, 2011

ziggy53 wrote: »

An update on Ashampoo Burning Studio:

Spammed my computer
Changed my home page
Added a marketing toolbar
Changed my startup pages
Changed my default search engine

Everyone please stay away from Ashampoo Burning Studio.

you made me curious , so i downloaded and installed
conclusion ; no problem
you just forgot one golden rule ; do not use AUTO but user-setup
then you can un-check the additional items

after install , and reboot ;
in Firefox [ my default ] is nothing changed
in explorer the search engine , but explorer asked my nicely if i wanted to keep or not
also , i did see no add's yet

so ;
if one cannot afford Roxio or Nero , Ashampoo is an alternative

ziggy53 · December 17, 2011

basflt wrote: »

you made me curious , so i downloaded and installed
conclusion ; no problem
you just forgot one golden rule ; do not use AUTO but user-setup
then you can un-check the additional items

after install , and reboot ;
in Firefox [ my default ] is nothing changed
in explorer the search engine , but explorer asked my nicely if i wanted to keep or not
also , i did see no add's yet

so ;
if one cannot afford Roxio or Nero , Ashampoo is an alternative

Aha, good to know. I still won't use any software that automatically pushes this much onto my machine. It's just a poor practice that I hope to discourage.

basflt · December 17, 2011

and , before i forget [ re, IMG BURN ] ;

burning an image is something else then burning an image to a disk
sounds confusing , but its a world of different

i advice OP to invest in a known commercial app , Roxio , or Nero
both are good , although i prefer Roxio myself

Art Scott · December 17, 2011

another +1 for ROXIO ... been using for aobut 10yrs now....newver liked Nero, wasn't as friendly to me.

Edit: It is also a very good idea to have an external CD/DVD burner/player to beable to check burned
disks on. It has saved my butt more than once... and they are getting dirt cheap also....my last one
was under $80 at Wally World and it has been running for 5 yrs now. I like HP with Lightscribe for labeling
disks. For labeling I use SURETHING software.

Disc-burning Issues

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