Windows 7 - DVD-RAM problems

BobW66 · 09-17-2011

I have been using DVD-RAM discs for many years to store/archive pictures and other data and have never encountered any problems with them. Recommendations I have seen on the web state that this format is the most robust and reliable DVD format for data storage and that DVD-RAM discs should have a lifetime of 30 years if stored in the right conditions.

I recently purchased a new Sony Vaio 'all-in-one' PC with Windows 7 64 Bit OS and I have been very pleased with it. One of the reasons that I chose this PC was because the optical drive spec included read/write for DVD-RAM discs. I tested this facility straight away and it appeared to work perfectly with new DVD-RAM discs BUT when I put in some of my older DVD-RAM archive discs, Windows Explorer shows them to be empty, although a few of the discs it was able to read OK.

This has come as a considerable shock to me, because I have a lot of DVD-RAM archives but fortunately, I still have an old XP (SP3) laptop which can read the discs. So, I am in the process of copying all the archived data onto a 1TB Toshiba USB drive from where the new Sony Vaio can access the 'missing' files.

The question in my mind is whether there is a fundamental incompatibility between older DVD-RAM discs and Windows 7 64 bit or whether the problem lies with outdated drivers, different formatting of older DVD-RAM discs or some other reasons. I also need to decide whether to continue archiving onto DVD-RAM discs.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be very welcome...

seavixen32 · 09-17-2011

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Check this link, which suggests there are, in fact, compatibility issues between DVD-RAM discs and DVD drives installed in Sony computers.

Sony eSupport - Electronics - Support Information

BobW66 · 09-18-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by seavixen32

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Check this link, which suggests there are, in fact, compatibility issues between DVD-RAM discs and DVD drives installed in Sony computers.

Sony eSupport - Electronics - Support Information

Many thanks for your welcome and response!

I have read the Sony eSupport document but I don't think that it explains the problems I am experiencing....

I have since done some more tests with an external USB Samsung optical drive and found that it won't read the DVD-RAM files when plugged into the Sony Vaio Windows 7 PC. However, when I plug the same Samsung USB drive into my XP laptop, the files are displayed in the normal way. I can only conclude therefore that this is a Windows 7 problem and nothing to do with the optical drives (or their drivers).

Windows 7 - DVD-RAM problems

DVD-RAM problems problems?