DVD Burn Failure

In my recent internet research, I've been reading about low quality DVD and CD media. Apparently, there are brands to avoid and brands that put out a good product. I don't think the brand DVD media I've got on hand are considered to be high quality.

The brand I'd like to buy are Verbatim. Everything I've read indicates these are quality media. Unfortunately, they seem to have ceased production of LightScribe DVD media. Since I've got a LightScribe burner, I've always bought LightScribe media, because I like to label my disks with something that looks better than a permanent marker.

I don't burn enough to stay up on what's good and what's not.

You could always use non-lightscribe media and print paper stick-on labels in full color. Woooo, how cool!

cyclops said:

You could always use non-lightscribe media and print paper stick-on labels in full color. Woooo, how cool!

It may come to that, because I'm too cheap to pay $160 for a new LightScribe burner.

Amazon.com: Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98 - Retail (Black): Electronics

The new ones are getting rare.

mjf said:

tjg79 said:

From my own research, I realize now that these optical drives require regular maintenance to ensure they will last as long as possible. If they are not maintained with regular cleaning, then they have shorter then normal lives.

I don't think so unless you are in dirt prone industrial environments. Even then you would shield your computer peripherals.
I've had problems on occasion playing DVD/Blu Rays on my PC and the discs did need a clean. Here I wouldn't use 100% high purity isopropyl alcohol but a water mix.

A spec of dust can cause the drive to fail. The focal length of the lens is in the range of a few millimeters. I think it's explained in the link I posted previously, that a spec of dust can look like a boulder through a laser lens with the typical specs for an optical drive. Unless your system is in an environmentally controlled clean room, it will very likely become "dirty" with age.

how do i tell if my dvd burner is + or - ?

dominickbuff said:

how do i tell if my dvd burner is + or - ?

Look up the specs based on the model number.

This problem is completely resolved.

I ordered the Pioneer cleaning fluid and cleaning papers mentioned above, and Verbatim DVD & CD media.

After cleaning the optical drive lenses with the Pioneer products, the Optical Quantum DVD media still wouldn't burn 100% successfully, although they did perform much better after the cleaning.

The Verbatim brand DVD media burned successfully on the first try. It pays to buy quality DVD media.

The Optical Quantum 4.7 GB DVD+R LightScribe media are crap. I wouldn't recommend buying anything with the Optical Quantum brand name.