Need input on why DVDs won't play

tj3445 · Post by **tj3445** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:31 am

Have VS8, almost new Compaq AMD Athlon 64 with 1.5 gig RAM, with DVD+-RW internal burner and also an external Pioneer USB2 burner. When rendering and burning a DVD to the internal burner, everything looks fine even to the "successful completion" message, and the DVD will play in the computer, however, both my Sony and Sylvania stand alone players indicate "no disc" when DVD is inserted.

NOW, when same process uses the external Pioneer burner, the DVD WILL play in both the Sony and Sylvania players. . . so, any ideas on why the internal drive is not processing the burn in such a way that the DVDs can be played in external player? Will appreciate any input.

PeterMilliken · Post by **PeterMilliken** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:47 am

You don't mention the brand/model of the internal burner - have you checked the manufacturers web-site for firmware updates? Have you read any reviews for the internal burner? It may be that you have a burner that just doesn't do a very good job - although I would have thought that an "almost new" computer would have come with a decent burner installed - but you never know

tj3445 · Post by **tj3445** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:59 am

I forgot to mention that the very first time I loaded VS8 and finished about a 20 minute DVD, the internal burner successfully completed the disc and it played fine on a stand alone player. So I'm wondering if in the process of putting other program on the computer, this created some sort of glitch.
I also upgraded from shared video to an ATI card but am being told this shouldn't make any difference. Thanks for input.

PeterMilliken · Post by **PeterMilliken** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:06 am

Ok, that provides some important information

I can't provide specific help but the question is: What changed on your computer between the time it worked and now? If you provide this list others on the forum might then be able to provide specific help based on their experience with whatever you have loaded (or changed hardware). Otherwise my only suggestion is to examine how you can "undo" the changes until you have the system back at the point where it did work i.e. uninstall any new software, use XP's system restore to unwind changes (I don't know anything about this though - you might have had to take a snapshot before installing new software for this too work?)

I hate to beat the drum since I seem to always be throwing this one forward

But I personally take "snapshot" images of my main drive using Norton Ghost (but for new users I recommend "Image for Windows") - this allows me to "regress" my entire computer system back to a "known good point" anytime I like - it has worked well for me, but you need a "known good point" before you implement the strategy...

Goodluck,
Peter

tj3445 · Post by **tj3445** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:00 am

Thanks Peter - I do have Norton Ghost so this is certainly an option. If this doesn't work I can also use the USB drive which there seems to be no problem with.