Nec 4551A can't read DVD-RAM

Hi all,

I heard that DVD-RAM media was the best solution for a reliable backup.
So, I bought a pack of 5 Verbatim DVD-RAM certified 5X.
No one is working !! The NEC doesn't recognise it at all ..
The NEC try to access the disk several time, then it said no disk.
Here is all the informations wrote on the DVD box:
5x certified 4.7Gb/120min
Hard Coat Scratch Guard
CPRM ready (requires formatting).
Any idee from where comes this issue ?
Verbatim DVD-RAM5x not supported ?
DVD writer failure ?

I upgrade its firmware with this version: official NECv1.85 patched RPC1.

Thanks to any folk which may help me.

PS: don't be rude on my English, since I'am a french guy.

Did you format the DVDRAM disc? If not you have several options. Format in FAT32, or get drivers from panasonic or use something else that I forget. Some packet writing thing like incd (not recommended). I use FAT32 in XP.
Do a search.

When I put the DVD-RAM inside the NEC, I did not have the format option under WinXP.
I had a try with Nero 7 Premuim, however Nero told me that no DVD/CD is present inside the DVDV writer.
It seems that the NEC does not recognise the DVD-RAM has a blank DVD.
As I said the green light goes on for 2 min, then when I click on the info disk icon of Nero, it said "noCD inside the device".
My guess are:
- the writer is broken (but I can burn DVD-/+R abd DVD+RW without problems).
- the writter does not support the Verbatim5x DVD-RAM.

This media may not be supported by the firmware (depending on the MID)

What do mean by MID ?
Are yout talking about MediaCode ?

Raxolapin -

MID=Manufacture ID and Media Code

Programs similar to DVD Identifier (http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com) and DVD Info (http://www.dvdinfopro.com) will reveal DVD Media MID.

BeLooken

Hi,Do not use DVD-RAM with a burning application like Nero! This might damage the disc.
For testing, you may try formatting the disc with FAT32 (the worst format for DVD-RAM). For regular use, get Panasonic's UDF drivers for DVD-RAM (just ask Iris at Toshiba.com for "DVD-RAM drivers") and use UDF format.
Possibly there is no firmware support for this media. Try 3x discs and see if these work.

Michael

Thanks for you help.
I can't format with FAT32, since the NEC doesn't recognise the blank DVD.
If I try the right click from my desktop, the format option is not available.
If I get the propriety of the disk, WinXP said "0Mb free space available".
I will try with Panasonic driver, but I believe this will not help.
My conclusion is: Verbatin 5x not supported or DVD-writter is broken.
I sent an email to NEC support. We will see if I got an useful anser.

I tried DVD identifier, it said:
"ERROR : Unable To Initialize Disc In Time : Not ready - Medium not present [02/3A/00]"

How Nero could damage a disk ?? By using a bad format ??
I tought Nero7 Premium was supposted to manage DVD-RAM.
Am I wrong ?

Raxolapin -

Nero InCD Packet Writing software program which is usually installed during Nero installations has been noted be very invasive and interfere with the proper functioning of DVD Drive access. If Nero InCD Packet Writing is installed suggest completely and totally removing from your Operating System then reboot and see if your problem is corrected.

BeLooken

I just see on the DVD-RAM the following notice:
DVD-RAM for recording
could it mean that this media can't work on a PC writter ?
According to Verbatim's website, this media (ref 43529) is supported by the NEC 4550A.
So, it should be recognise by the 4551A, shouldn't it ?

Media Info
Compatibility Guide

I also sent an email to Verbatim's support. So "wait & see"...

OK. I will try this tip.

It will work.

OK. I tried to uninstall Nero7, but it did't solve the problem...
I run out of ideas

Now, I'm suspecting a hardware failure of my NEC

I am having exactly the same issues with a LG 4166B. It will read and write everything except DVD-RAM. Windows won't even recognise there is a disk in the drive when you put one in. InCD is the same.

What is really upsetting is my DVD-RAM used to work fine on my old PC, I would record on my Panasonic HDD/DVD home cinema and then put the RAM disk in my PC and use Nero Vision to import the clips and then edit them.

I've have just tried doing it with my new PC and to no avail. I have also tried the drive in another WinXP SP2 machine and got the same result, everything but RAM.

Either we both have hardware failures or there is something very odd going on. I was convinced I had a hardware failure and then I read your post. Could be both our drives have given up, but I'm afraid I'm going to buy a new drive and have the same problem.

All firmware, etc up to date.

Out of interest how do you connect your drive to your MoBo. Is it on a board level IDE connector, or through a controller like a JMicron?

Let me know if you resolved your problems.

i have exactly the same problem with my Nec 5170a

I also have a NEC4551a and tried DVD-RAM disks (Panasonic). I also found the special Panasonic DVD RAM drivers and did a fresh install with no conflicting burning software (no NERO no ROXIO etc.).

Still, after about a month using DVD RAM I got two very bad instances of data loss... check this and this
In my opinion the problem rests with the UDF system. No matter what DVD drive or drivers one uses...in fact, I got problems in the past using Roxio, Nero and others...
It's been years since I stopped using UDF, until I bought the NEC4551. I wanted to try DVDRAM because they said it is reliable?

If it was so, why Panasonic doesn't support its drivers anymore? (and that's also why finding them is so difficult).

UDF STINKS!! that's the problem

I'll never ever put myself under the stress of data loss due to Packet Writing again!

Regarding DVDRAM + UDF...why bother? DVDRAM is slow (x2.4??) and still unreliable (because of UDF).
I'll rather set a partition on my HD to act like a DVD disk and do backups on DVD+RW...that's a lot faster and sensible.

ditch DVDRAM once and for all and for good piece of mind!

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Last edited by zannad; 23-01-2007 at 17:53.

I've never had a single problem from my DVD-RAM disks formatted in FAT32. Also, it sounds like your problem may be with a conflict with other software, like Vmware.

I think you have misinterpreted many things here and maybe don't know enough about the background of DVD-RAM and UDF.

You might have no problems...but I bet your DVDRAM on FAT32 is rather slow.

Look, no one pays me to slash DVDRAM...
I was hopeful like others to find a real solution to packet writing. The sad truth is that after all these years, packet writing is still unreliable.
Maybe, I've done something wrong. I guess playing with different OS (Linux and Windows on VMware) is a bit daring, but on paper, UDF should be "universal".
Well, it isn't.
Data loss happens when one least expect it and for the most futile and unpredictable reasons.
BTW, the VMware example above, is a typical case: I didn't plan to use my DVDRAM with VMware, the disk was there in the drive and I nearly forgot about it. Then I decided to have a go in connecting the DVD driver to Ubuntu and all seemed to work fine...until I got back in Windows and try to edit some data in that DVDRAM...everything gone!
I'm still struggling to get my data back...a huge amount of partially detected bunch of files (renamed as FILE(+number)) without any folder. No fun.

Good luck anyhow.

Backups are like life insurance...

Hi
I joined this forum as I was hoping to learn more about DVDRAM. I am using a Toshiba P100-429 Laptop, which has a NEC drive.
Perhaps I should disclose some info I picked up on my internet surfing and some problems I experienced, to see if it helps anyone else.
To use DVDRAM you must install the DVDRAM software which includes DVDFORM for formatting discs and WPTOOL which lets you set the write protection.
Once you install DVDRAM software you should see a DVDRAM drive in mycomputer window.
If you insert a DVD+RW disc it changes to a CDdrive in mycomputer window but you can use drag and drop to these discs once formated in UDF. The software is supplied by SONIC SYSTEMS. Sonic DLA is the drag and drop software.
Now there are a number of conficts as WinXP favours ROXIO and NERO also conficts so if you install SONIC software, remove all other programs that conflict.
FAT32 is used by XP and is slow. UDF1.5 format is used for PC Data UDF2.0 for audio visual and ther are others coming for HDDVD.
DVDRAM is slow 2x or 3x speed as I found so far but it should give you another Hard drive once data is written to it. A normal DVDRW can not be used as many times as DVDRAM so that is why discs cost more.
I think that is all I have found out so far. If anything is not correct please tell me as it came for forum members like yourselves and is not my full experience.
I would like to know however how I managed to format a DVD+RW disc using DVDFORM once and once only, so mycomputer see's it as DVDROM.
I hope some of this helps.