Please Help: Write Error DVD+R DL, ok on DVD-RW and CD-R

This thread is about the Lite-On LH-20A1H. Click here to see full specs

Ok, well, this is my first post, so please bear with me!

I have a Dell XPS 720 H2C running Windows Vista Premium on an Intel Quad Core 2 Extreme Q6850 at 3.66GHz. I have ample disk space (1.5TB raid(0) in 2x750GB disks. I see it all through dual NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX Sli-enabled cards.

I have 3 burners.
1/. (not relevant here) TSST CDRWDVD Combi TS-H493B on SCSI
2/. TSST DVD+-RW TS-H653B on SCSI
3/. Lite-On DVDRW LH-20A1H on ATA (lightscribe)

I use Roxio Creator, Nero7 and even Wndows Media Centre (as a last resort, just to test it out) to write to DVD.

Recently I have been having problems writing data .avis, mpegs, mp3, misc data to DVD.
It took a while, but I eventually, through trial and error and using up 20 or so DVD+R DL discs from two manufacturers (full printable basic discs supplied in 25 and 50-stack cakes) found the following:-
Writing to either the LH-20A1H or TSST TS-H653B drives (not to the combi, of course cos it only writes CDR)......
a/. I get a write error (and nothing seems to have been written to the DVD, from a visual inspection) when burning either of the DVD+R DL makes.
b/. I can burn ok to DVD-RW on both drives
c/. I can burn to CD-R on both drives, too.

It seems to make no difference if I set burn speed to 1, or to 'max', or to the value on the dvd info, e.g 4.something or 8x, depending on dvd disc manufacturer.

I got the latest firmware from burner manufacturer websites and installed it.

No change!

I got really fed up with it and formatted my hard disk(s), reinstalled Windows (thinking it must be a driver/software/corruption issue) and drivers, but...
..
.
No Change!!

Still cannot burn on either drive to DVD DLs.

I don't want to try with expensive Lightscribe discs (which in any case are only single sided) cos I already know I can write to DVD-RW.

I emphasise that it used to work (about three months ago) and I have added no extra software, and in any case reformatting the hard disks would sort that out

Any ideas, hints, help would be greatly appreciated.

I wanna do backups of my photos (and home movie stuff, before the Mini-DV tapes self destruct!

Cheers (Here's hoping)

Paul

Hey Paul, welcome to CDF

Nice detailed first post!

However...you didn't mention the two DL brands you tried (unless I missed it) - that's kinda important with DL discs (even with a LiteOn - I have the same drive ).

Out of curiosity, have you checked the LiteOn's UDMA settings (see the link in my sig). It's worth a look just for general troubleshooting purposes.

hi Arachne thanks for response. I am away from machine at present, (sniff) at work! Will check udma settings later. I think it was a checkbox on or off? Thanks
As for manufacturer of DVDs one was unbranded t'other was bulkpaq I think (took label off cake when I opened it!) If I need to buy 'good' make, please advise! (didn't think manufacturer that important, much of initial intended use was temporary storage/backup. Now it is more permanent, so good quality needed).
I noticed that over last few months some discs failed, maybe 10%. Could it be that quality was 'on the edge' only just writing ok. Occasional a
Avi files could not be read after writing!
Thanks Paul

Hey again

Yeah, the DMA thing in Vista is pretty straightforward, I believe it is just a checkbox to tick (never had to do it on my own Dell, which also runs Vista Home Premium - all my drives are SATA)

As for the DVD media, I'd recommend Verbatim for storage + quality, and that's doubly important for DL 'cos basically Verbies are the only safe bet!

Best case scenario with other lesser DL brands, is the discs may burn, but may end up unreadable in a fairly short time. Worst case....well, they'll fail to burn at all hehe

Ok Verbies it is then, a bunch just ordered.
Oh, I got it wrong I think, My 2 DVD DL internal drives are SATA, but are referred to in device manager/xxx controllers as SCSI?? strange but true.
Thinks?? if they are set up as SCSI for some unknown reason, then they would probably default to PIO?
Hmmm. At least they are connected with thin black cables and little pin ends so must be SATA.
Doh!
Waaaah, I want a MAC!

You have Roxio and Nero on the same drive. They really do not like each other. If it was up to me I would get rid off both and reinstall one after.
To get rid of Nero you need their Clean Tool software, form their web site.
SATA drive is reported as SCSI.

Verbatim DVD+R DL (made in singapore) are your best bet for quality ... as im sure everyone else on these forums will agree.

also a general word of advice for general cd/dvd burning... use ImgBurn (www.imgburn.com)

Good choice

And your two SATA drives being seen as SCSI is probably down to chipset or RAID drivers. Some chipsets seem to do this. Doesn't always happen, though - my own system is set up as RAID too, and the DVD drives are just seen as normal

Nah, you don't want a MAC...PCs (even though annoying at times) are much more interesting

Many thanks 'guys'
Appreciate the comments about SCSI/SATA, makes sense (some).
Currently, awaiting Dell tech support response/engineer.
I do have a 3year extended total warranty.
Situation now is that after DL no-burn situation, it then becamse significantly slow on click/drag files etc, then slow on typing into openoffice writer.
Decided to reinstall Vista1 from Dell restore discs
Reinstall failed several times (using all 3 of my opticals), then took more than 7 hours to install Vista, very slow reading from cd/dvd drives I think, although I cannot rule out motherboard issues.
Open support ticket with Dell, awaiting response, they can sort it all out.
Hopefully, all issues will be sorted by them.

They have nothing to do with SCSI.

Get Verbatim DL and try again.

Well, Verbies arrived, looking smart and clean.

I had previously reinstalled windows, with problemas (as noted in previous reply).
Finally, Mr Dell Support made me run through hours of diagnositics.
Eventually removed and re-initialised my Raid(0) Striped Array.
Windows then installed ok, now seems back to its old quite speedy self.

However, I am now considering removing the Raid and installing onto a single 750gb hard disk,
to see if the Raid itself is causing problems.

Regarding DMA switch, I checked and ATA Channel 0 is DMA enabled
I have totally removed Nero AND Roxio, now using ImgBurn Ver 2.4.2.0
Attempted to burn approx 80% full DVD-dl using ImgBurn.
Failed to write. one more disc in the bin.
I don't have the actual log file because Imgburn froze (?!?!) when I tried to save it to txt.
Closing the program caused explorer to close. This intimates to me that this might all be a motherboard or Raid problem
(ie all the in-out dataflow is not actually in-out-ing to the disc.
This file is from attempts with previous DVD-CL - Which I note is Ricoh make, but is the same in other respects and does show the problem quite nicely

I have removed the repetitive lines
....
xxxx
....

On examining the disc itself, I note that - as for the Ricoh one before - it looks as if the writing was 'patchy'.
It shows several concentric rings of darker colour, but not the usual solid disc of darker colour with an outer ring of paler colour (If not filled to max) - I hope that makes sense.
This occurs on BOTH Dual Layer Burners!! So extremely unlikely that it is the fault of the drives.

So, I am Mr Stumped again. Any comments, suggestions, christmas wishlists? I am now (albeit fedup) getting into the search for a solution as part of my onward progress to CD Guru-hood!!

Cheers and Happy Christmas

Log File follows

========================================================================================
; //****************************************\\
; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log
; Tuesday, 16 December 2008, 23:38:12
; \\****************************************//
;
;
I 23:37:38 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!
I 23:37:38 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition (6.0, Build 6000)
I 23:37:38 Total Physical Memory: 2,880,048 KB - Available: 2,140,168 KB
I 23:37:38 Initialising SPTI...
I 23:37:38 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 23:38:09 Close Request Acknowledged
I 23:38:09 Closing Down...
I 23:38:11 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!
I 23:38:12 Shutting down SPTI...
I 23:38:12 ImgBurn closed!
;
;
; //****************************************\\
; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log
; Tuesday, 16 December 2008, 23:37:34
; \\****************************************//
;
;
I 23:25:47 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!
I 23:25:47 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition (6.0, Build 6000)
I 23:25:47 Total Physical Memory: 2,880,048 KB - Available: 2,119,440 KB
I 23:25:47 Initialising SPTI...
I 23:25:47 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 23:25:47 Found 1 DVD-ROM/CD-RW, 1 DVD±RW and 1 DVD±RW/RAM!
I 23:27:51 Operation Started!
I 23:27:51 Building Image Tree...
I 23:28:08 Checking Directory Depth...
I 23:28:08 Calculating Totals...
I 23:28:08 Preparing Image...
I 23:28:08 Checking Path Length...
I 23:28:08 Contents: 2 Files, 0 Folders
I 23:28:08 Size: 1,100,983,244 bytes
I 23:28:08 Sectors: 537,591
I 23:28:08 Image Size: 1,101,561,856 bytes
I 23:28:08 Image Sectors: 537,872
I 23:28:11 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:20
I 23:28:19 Operation Started!
I 23:28:19 Source File: -==/\/[BUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 23:28:19 Source File Sectors: 537,872 (MODE1/2048)
I 23:28:19 Source File Size: 1,101,561,856 bytes
I 23:28:19 Source File Volume Identifier: cut
I 23:28:19 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.4.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 23:28:19 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 23:28:19 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 23:28:19 Destination Device: [4:1:0] TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-H653B D400 (G (RAID)
I 23:28:19 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: RICOHJPN-D01-67) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 23:28:19 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824
I 23:28:19 Write Mode: DVD
I 23:28:19 Write Type: DAO
I 23:28:19 Write Speed: MAX
I 23:28:19 Link Size: Auto
I 23:28:19 Test Mode: No
I 23:28:19 OPC: No
I 23:28:19 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 23:28:19 Book Type Setting: DVD-ROM
I 23:28:31 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 268,944
I 23:28:31 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: ECC Block Boundary
I 23:28:52 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 23:28:52 Writing LeadIn...
I 23:29:08 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 537871)
I 23:29:08 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 537871)
I 23:29:08 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 268943)
I 23:30:22 Writing Layer 1... (LBA: 268944 - 537871)
W 23:31:21 Failed to Write Sectors 276016 - 276047 - Reason: Write Error
W 23:31:21 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 23:31:21 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 23:31:21 Retrying (2 of 20)...
W 23:31:21 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 23:31:21 Retrying (19 of 20)...
W 23:31:21 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 23:31:21 Retrying (20 of 20)...
W 23:31:21 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
E 23:31:47 Failed to Write Sectors 276016 - 276047 - Reason: Write Error
E 23:31:47 Next Writable Address: 275337
I 23:31:47 Synchronising Cache...
I 23:31:51 Closing Track...
I 23:31:53 Finalising Disc...
W 23:32:08 Potential 'WaitImmediateIO' Deferred Error - (94%, 0/3) - Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:08 Finalise Disc Failed! - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:08 Retrying (1 of 3)...
W 23:32:23 Potential 'WaitImmediateIO' Deferred Error - (94%, 0/3) - Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:23 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:23 Retrying (2 of 3)...
W 23:32:45 Potential 'WaitImmediateIO' Deferred Error - (94%, 0/3) - Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:45 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:32:45 Retrying (3 of 3)...
W 23:33:00 Potential 'WaitImmediateIO' Deferred Error - (94%, 0/3) - Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
W 23:33:00 Retry Failed - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
E 23:33:31 Finalise Disc Failed! - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
I 23:33:31 Finalising Disc (Last Attempt!)...
E 23:34:02 Finalise Disc Failed! - Reason: Session Fixation Error Writing Lead Out
E 23:34:02 Failed to Write Image!
I 23:34:02 Exporting Graph Data...
I 23:34:02 Graph Data File: C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_DVD+-RW_TS-H653B_D400_16-DECEMBER-2008_23-28_RICOHJPN-D01-67_MAX.ibg
I 23:34:02 Export Successfully Completed!
E 23:34:02 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:05:43
I 23:34:02 Average Write Rate: 3,493 KB/s (2.5x) - Maximum Write Rate: 8,352 KB/s (6.0x)
I 23:37:34 Close Request Acknowledged
I 23:37:34 Closing Down...
I 23:37:34 Shutting down SPTI...
I 23:37:34 ImgBurn closed!
===================================================================

darn - my spelling sucks!

Can I ask why, when you have gone to the trouble of taking our advice and obtaining some Verbatim DL discs, you are not trying them? From the burn log it seems obvious that the Ricoh DLs are not capable of being used in your system.

Just using decent quality discs like the Verbatims could very likely obviate the writing problems you're experiencing.

Hi you did not read my reply correctly. I have used Verbatim disc and get same error message!! But ImgBurn froze when I tried to save the log file and I didnt want to ruin yet another disc.
But Ok, here we go with a Verbatim - another potential frisbee. Even in a 25-cake these cost more than a pound each from lowest price supplier I can find.
I am using ImgBurn and writing to my TSST drive, with max speed set to 1.0 (just in case).
Oh look, yet another frisbee!!
As before it causes ImgBurn to hang (of course, it is trying to write to a Raid DVD+R which has failed) 'My Computer' has also hung! again I guess because it cannot resolve the conflict of writing to a media that has failed.
I cannot save text file. Am going to reboot but cannot save this reply so will post and then add the log file and also i hope the error message box from imgburn

Nope - sorry - no log file, wasnt saved take my word for it, it is the same as the ricoh one, just substitiute verbatim.
I note that the burner is referred as RAID, I tried to google similar issues and find nothing of much use, just a moderator berating a poster for using illegal download of CD-Burn? which had 21 days left out of eval period, referring to it as an illegal download, and then not providing an answer (was not CDfreaks though).
I anticipate that if I could ensure that the drive was not referred to as Raid all would be well.
I will now try my other burner (the Lite-on) which is not Sata but on IDE cabling, see what that will bring.
This will be a verbatim disc, promise
Back in 5 (or 15)

Ahah
Well!
Maybe confirmation of my theory (or not)
Remembering that this all worked ok a couple of months ago?
The burn to my ATA Lit-on drive WORKED!!
So, is that a fluke or is it really that my TSST is seen as a Raid dick, sorry disk!
In which case how do I get it to be seen as anything else!
Might simply scrap the raid array and reinstall windows (again)!

Wadd'ya think? Any solutions?

I 14:22:17 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!
I 14:22:17 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition (6.0, Build 6000)
I 14:22:17 Total Physical Memory: 2,880,048 KB - Available: 2,115,616 KB
I 14:22:17 Initialising SPTI...
I 14:22:17 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 14:22:19 Found 1 DVD-ROM/CD-RW, 1 DVD±RW and 1 DVD±RW/RAM!
I 14:23:23 Operation Started!
I 14:23:23 Building Image Tree...
I 14:23:26 Checking Directory Depth...
I 14:23:26 Calculating Totals...
I 14:23:26 Preparing Image...
I 14:23:26 Checking Path Length...
I 14:23:26 Contents: 32 Files, 0 Folders
I 14:23:26 Size: 8,183,106,886 bytes
I 14:23:26 Sectors: 3,995,674
I 14:23:26 Image Size: 8,183,775,232 bytes
I 14:23:26 Image Sectors: 3,995,984
I 14:23:33 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:09
I 14:23:34 Operation Started!
I 14:23:34 Source File: -==/\/[BUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 14:23:34 Source File Sectors: 3,995,984 (MODE1/2048)
I 14:23:34 Source File Size: 8,183,775,232 bytes
I 14:23:34 Source File Volume Identifier: cut
I 14:23:34 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.4.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 14:23:34 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 14:23:34 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 14:23:34 Destination Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1H LL0D (E (ATA)
I 14:23:34 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 14:23:34 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824
I 14:23:34 Write Mode: DVD
I 14:23:34 Write Type: DAO
I 14:23:34 Write Speed: 1x
I 14:23:34 Link Size: Auto
I 14:23:34 Test Mode: No
I 14:23:34 OPC: No
I 14:23:34 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 14:23:34 Book Type Setting: DVD-ROM
I 14:23:34 Advanced Settings - Force HT: No, Online HT: No, OverSpeed: No, SmartBurn: Yes
I 14:23:34 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,998,000
I 14:23:34 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: ECC Block Boundary
I 14:24:24 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 14:24:25 Writing LeadIn...
I 14:24:27 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 3995983)
I 14:24:27 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 3995983)
I 14:24:27 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1997999)
I 14:45:10 Writing Layer 1... (LBA: 1998000 - 3995983)
I 15:05:53 Synchronising Cache...
I 15:05:55 Closing Track...
I 15:05:56 Finalising Disc...
I 15:06:53 Exporting Graph Data...
I 15:06:53 Graph Data File: C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\LITE-ON_DVDRW_LH-20A1H_LL0D_21-DECEMBER-2008_14-23_MKM-003-00_1x.ibg
I 15:06:53 Export Successfully Completed!
I 15:06:53 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:43:19
I 15:06:53 Average Write Rate: 3,216 KB/s (2.3x) - Maximum Write Rate: 3,346 KB/s (2.4x)
I 15:06:53 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 15:07:00 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 15:07:17 Device Ready!
I 15:07:21 Operation Started!
I 15:07:21 Source Device: [1:0:0] LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1H LL0D (E (ATA)
I 15:07:21 Source Media Type: DVD+R DL (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MKM-003-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x)
I 15:07:21 Image File: -==/\/[BUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 15:07:21 Image File Sectors: 3,995,984 (MODE1/2048)
I 15:07:21 Image File Size: 8,183,775,232 bytes
I 15:07:21 Image File Volume Identifier: cut
I 15:07:21 Image File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.4.2.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 15:07:21 Image File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 15:07:21 Image File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 15:07:21 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX
I 15:07:21 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 3995983)
I 15:07:21 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 3995983)
I 15:07:21 Verifying Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1997999)
I 15:13:05 Verifying Layer 1... (LBA: 1998000 - 3995983)
I 15:18:50 Exporting Graph Data...
I 15:18:50 Graph Data File: C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\LITE-ON_DVDRW_LH-20A1H_LL0D_21-DECEMBER-2008_14-23_MKM-003-00_1x.ibg
I 15:18:50 Export Successfully Completed!
I 15:18:50 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:11:28
I 15:18:50 Average Verify Rate: 11,616 KB/s (8.4x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 16,764 KB/s (12.1x)

Well, I did scrap Raid, Installed Windows Vista ultimate on one disk.
Removed drivers for DVD burners, restarted.
BUT the sata DVD burners are both STILL seen as Raid and the DL burner STILL fails to write DL.
The ATA DVD burner does write DL discs (but it has max speed of 1x).
I STILL need to know how to make sure that my sata DVD burners are NOT seen as Raid??