Topic: Difference between DVD -R and DVD +R

[mistybear]

Could someone please explain the difference between these two media types, as we have burned movies to DVD +R and they never work, only DVD -R do. Is it something to do with finishing them?? I have no idea what I'm talking about. We ran out of DVD -R and we have DVD +R but don't know why we can't burn them correctly. 

[sam]

well I'm guessing your burner can cope with both.. but I bet the player you are trying them on can't...

not sure if this is of help, http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Why-DVDRW-is-superior-to-DVD-RW/ - possibly not but it might help explain the differences.

[Simon]

I think DVD-R is the more widely used format, and is compatible with most DVD players.  Maybe your player isn't +R compatible?

[Simon]

Or what Sam said. 

[mistybear]

Okay, I think I understand. But seeming Michael and I have the same DVD Burners and DVD Roms, that doesn't help. OTH, if he burned it, why can't we read it?

I have a DVD player/recorder which I think plays anything, but Michael has it in his room.

I was getting Michael a new DVD burner, the one CD Freaks recommended http://www.cdfreaks.com/hardware/product/861-Samsung-SH-S203B-_-TS-H653B.html
but they didn't have it stock.

[Simon]

Are you saying the same drive that burns the DVD+Rs won't play them back?  That sounds a bit odd, unless the discs aren't being finalised.

[mistybear]

You beat me to it Simon, I was just going to post this....

I just found an old DVD +R that I burned a couple of years ago, and it plays fine in my DVD ROM. And now I can't find the DVD that Michael burned for me, and while I was at, I stepped on a small mirror and broke it..... so that's how many years bad luck..

I thought it had something to do with being finalised, well I said finished. So how do you finalise them and can it still be done on the DVD Michael burned for me. (If I can find it.)

[gmax]

Maybe your not using the correct DVD format?, what exactly are you trying to burn? ripping a DVD movie?.
I don't bother with DVD video any more , i prefer Xvid .
LG dvd players are ok, it plays any disk i chuck in it.

[mistybear]

Michael burned a DVD +R with a few movies that he had on his PC, took them to my mums and they wouldn't play, she has a LG VCR/DVD player. I tried it in my PC ROM and DVD - W and it won't play.   

[Simon]

It's probably a setting in whatever burning software he's using, MB.  Normally, it would be set to finalise by default, but if that's been changed, it may not be doing so.

[gmax]

MB, your not giving us enough details to help you, if your burning a movie with nero and dvd video was selected it should work, otherwise nero gives an error message
saying the burn is not compatible with dvd players.

[mistybear]

I didn't burn it gmax, so I don't know.

Thanks Simon, he doesn't normally use +R as I bought them for me, but he ran out. Well, I now know the what the difference is between them.

I don't suppose you know if I can put the DVD back in the DVD burner and try to finalise it?

[sam]

bloody windows users! 

I don't think you can get away with the MB... probably worth waiting for him to be around

[Simon]

You should be able to finalise a disc after you've burned it, after all, that's what it would have done anyway, but without knowing the burning software, I can't tell you how to do it.  At a guess, look in the Tools menu.

[mistybear]

bloody windows users! 

I don't think you can get away with the MB... probably worth waiting for him to be around

As long as Windows works Sam, I'm happy.       And I will wait until he blesses me with his presence, and he can look for the Discs. 

You should be able to finalise a disc after you've burned it, after all, that's what it would have done anyway, but without knowing the burning software, I can't tell you how to do it.  At a guess, look in the Tools menu.

I'm fairly certain he used Nero 8 or possibly WMP 11. I'm not so sure now...... 

I think from now one I'll do my own DVD's. It's just that he had about 100 movies on his Hard Drive, would be easier to transfer them to me.