CANT ACCESS DVD-R recorded and finalized on a PANASONIC ES20

Using a Panasonic DMR-ES20, a TDK dvd-r disc, Windows ME.

I'm trying my first Panasonic. ( Have used the Ilo, Pioneer220, Toshiba's).

My problem is that when using Window Explorer I can't see any files in the VIDEO_TS FOLDER on my Windows ME machine.
Doesn't matter which drive the DVD-R DISC is in:

E:\DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER\VIDEO_TS.....(a HP DVD Writer 520n rev.2.2.1)

F:\DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER\VIDEO_TS....(a Compaq DVD ROM drive).

Under Windows Millenium Windows Explorer a click on the folder VIDEO_TS returns this:
An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format.

ALSO
CloneDVD 2.4.5.4 also has problems: It will list my video files on
the rightside but the preview screen gives this message:

"missing title file VOB file(s) named
VTS_01_*.VOB
Please be sure that all IFO and VOB files of the source DVD
are available for loading.
VobSet 7 1 0 0 147 0 0 PictureReader"

Pushing onward> [NEXT]
Clone DVD trys to create something.
The Audio and Subtitle menu screen lists all my title files.

Going on to the next screen "Output Method" also lists everything correctly
but clicking on [GO] in "Creating DVD Video Files" screen shows a failure message
"missing menu VOB file VIDEO_TS.VOB"
DETAILS:
VobSet 7 0 1 0 41 0 0 TCE



I can use the following programs sucessfully to either burn a backup or dump to hard drive:
DVDFab Platinum 2.61; DVD Shrink 3.2.1; DVDDecrypter
and ISOBuster 1.8 - which I used to dump to hard drive and THEN was able to use CloneDVD successfully
to burn a copy.

Can anybody please tell me why this is happening with Windows?
Never had this happen with these other DVRs.

I just picked this Panasonic after returning a Toshiba DVR4 which had it's only quirky
problem of not being able to finalize any of my recordings. The Panasonic at least accomplished
the task.

If you use Decryptor to copy the disc in file mode, are the files then readable and function correctly? And does the disc play correctly on other set-top players?

I seem to recall similar issues with my ES10 which I suspected were caused by some copy protection sceme. I always use Decryptor to rip anyway, so it wasn't much of an issue. Now I use only RAM and re-author on the PC. I know the Panny uses some strange menu and navigation schemes, which is why I re-author.

I used Decryptor to make an iso image that was fine.
Every program I tried worked except for CloneDVD.

I made a disc that plays on an Apex 1500 player and a Philips 642 player ( made it w/ ISOBuster to HD then burnt via CloneDVD off the HD to a +R disc).

The bigger issue for me is why Windows ME can't read the files on the original disc.

And why CloneDVD by itself can't process the files it lists.

It's so frustrating because originally I was trying out a Toshiba DR4 and wasted 4 discs on this show before I read elsewhere that
the Toshiba has problems finalizing stuff -- it sees alot of recorded materials as "Never copy" or "Once copy". ..something like that.
Originally I wanted the Panasonic but at the time Sears was out - so I opted for the Toshiba. I took it back after 4 days and Sears had just got a shipment of the ES20 ,, soo i went w/ that.

But if this is some type of ill conceived copy protection scheme
it's going back to Sears too. i wish now that I had kept the Pioneer 220 .... Can't find them now.

{The recorded program was a concert from Showtime stored on a stand-alone Series One Tivo...via DirecTV...
I'm also in the process of moving other stuff off the tivo but haven't finalized the new disc} ...

I have an ES20 that does the same thing. I have no insight for you other than it doesn't seem to matter what version of Windows you have. I'm running XP-Home and can't get to the files from explorer either.

In fact I've never gotten DVD Decrypter to work. My method (I hate the menu as well and reauthor everything) is to use DVD Shrink.

So far it's never failed but Shrink is the only one that allows me to get to the movie after the disc has been finalized.

Portends bad for the future with the toshiba misidentifying non copy-protected programs and this rumored Winfile protection system for the Panasonic. Yuck!

Check out this isobuster program ( I used it for the first time on this problem) It has a free version within the program (crippled but does what one needs):
http://www.isobuster.com/
IsoBuster is a highly specialized yet easy to use CD and DVD data recovery tool. It supports all CD and DVD formats and all common CD and DVD file-systems. Start up IsoBuster, Insert a CD or DVD, select the drive (if not selected already) and let IsoBuster mount the media. IsoBuster immediately shows you all the tracks and sessions located on the media, combined with all file-systems that are present. This way you get easy access, just like explorer, to all the files and folders per file-system. Instead of being limited to one file-system that the OS picks for you, you have access to "the complete picture". Access data from older sessions, access data that your OS (e.g. Windows) does not see or hides from you etc.

Combine this all-revealing functionality with far better read and recovery mechanisms, scanning for lost files functionality, workarounds for a wide range of drive and software bugs, limitations or shortcomings and you have an enormously powerful data recovery tool. IsoBuster is must-have-software for every PC user and is deliberately kept low priced to be able to offer a solution for everybody.

Thanks. I'll grab it tonight and give it a try as well.

I'll also add that I've had some trouble -RW media as well. From my experiments, so far I've had the best luck with Sony -RW in this recorder.