DVD-ROM's able to read DVD+R/DVD-R

[kythri]

Is there a resource somewhere that I can check my DVD-ROM's against to see if they will read DVD+R or DVD-R media once I've burned it?

I have quite a bit of data that I want to archive off-disk, and DVD seems to be a great solution.

The problem is, I've got 3 different DVD-ROM's in my office, and two co-workers have different DVD-ROM's at their home-office.

I'd like to find a solution that's compatible with all of our hardware.

Thanks for the help!

[vio_man]

Please use Nero InfoTool. Download latest version here: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/files/NeroInfoTool_102.zip

[kythri]

Excellent! Many thanks!

[Han]

InfoTool is not to be trusted!

It reports that Toshiba SD-M1612 is capable of DVD+R and DVD+RW reading, but is not. For Teac CD-R58S it says it's not CD-Text capable but can do CD+G, which is wrong, too.

[dimitri]

InfoTool is not to be trusted!

I agree. It seems to be just reporting what the drive tells it, which has never been reliable.

[kythri]

OK then...

I had a great experience with InfoTool at home last night. Everytime I ran it, it rebooted my box.

Fun fun fun.

Any ideas of a list of readers that'll give me this info?

[vio_man]

InfoTool only reports what the drive's firmware reports. You shouldn't trust its results because there are many liar firmwares.

[TheWizard]

Getting back to kythri's original question; take a look at these DVD-ROM's, according to the reviews here, they read DVD-R/DVD+R media fairly well.

BenQ DVP1648A
Lite-On LTD-163/LTD-165/LTD-166
Toshiba SD-M1612

Also, if you want to invest a little more money, take a look at the LG GCC-4320B CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, it can read all formats (DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW) very well.

[kythri]

Couple of questions, but first a disclaimer:

I want to apologize in advance for asking a tech question, but you folks seem familiar with InfoTool...

I run InfoTool (yeah, I'm heeding your warnings, I'm just trying to solve a mystery now) on my main box, and the thing reboots instantly.

Hardware specs are:

Soyo K7V Dragon Plus
AMD Athlon XP 1800+
Gainward GeForce4 Ti4600
SoundBlaster Live! Platinum 5.1
NIC is a Via, built-in to mobo
Drives are:

WD 1200BB
Acer 16x/40x DVD-ROM (think it's a DVP 1640A, but not positive - don't know how to find out without pulling it out of the case)
LG GCE-8320B (1)
LG GCE-8320B (2)
LS-120
Zip 100

All 6 of those are IDE - Mobo has a Promise RAID controller that I'm obviously using as just an IDE controller.

At first, I thought that, since it's the "Nero InfoTool", and when I ran this app at work, I have Nero installed on the machine there (which installs the Nero ASPI driver), it needed an ASPI driver.

I tested on another machine in the house, with no ASPI driver, and the app works fine on it.

That system is:

Tyan Trinity 400
Intel Pentium III 933mhz
Diamond V770 Ultra (TNT2 Ultra)
SoundBlaster Live!
3com 3C905 10/100 NIC

Drives are:

WD 200BB
Toshiba DVD-ROM (2.4X DVD, whatever CD - I knew at one time...)
Iomega 12x10x32 burner (Plextor in Iomega clothing - forget the specific model number of either drive...)
LS-120

I'm almost wondering if it's the RAID controller that's causing problems on the first system.

Anyone able to help diagnose?

So much for the first question - second question was:

I'm not a computer idiot, I'm just not thinking straight - is there a way to tell drive model numbers? The properties of all my DVD-ROM's just show up as "DVD-ROM", not a manufacturer and model number.

I'd assume InfoTool would give me that info, but it ain't working on this box... =)

Thanks for the great help, guys (and gals, if you're out there)!!

[kythri]

Hey, I just noticed something.

When looking for the BenQ DVP 1648A, I noticed it listed as an Acer/BenQ.

My Acer drives are a DVP 1640A. Are they a BenQ drive, and if so, should they be as reliable as the 1648A (only slower on the CD read?)??

Thanks!

[kythri]

Also, Han says that the Toshiba SD-M1612 is not capable of DVD+R/DVD+RW reading, as misreported by InfoTool, but TheWizard says the same drive can read DVD+R?

Will it?

[Han]

Nope. Here are the specifications for Toshiba SD-M1612. It's possible the company will release a firmware update for DVD+R(W), although not very likely.

But, Toshiba SD-R1202 combo drive supports reading both, DVD-R(W) and DVD+R(W), despite specifications list only DVD-R(W)! It doesn't read DVD-RAM discs, though...

[kythri]

Well, looks like the Acer DVP 1640A will read DVD-R and DVD-RW.

I couldn't find detailed specs on the other DVD-ROM I've got - It's either a Toshiba SD-M1102 or SD-M1202.

Anyone got better information on those drives?

[TheWizard]

Also, Han says that the Toshiba SD-M1612 is not capable of DVD+R/DVD+RW reading, as misreported by InfoTool, but TheWizard says the same drive can read DVD+R?

Will it?

The Toshiba supports DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM, according to the review right here on good ol' CDRLabs. It's very difficult to find a DVD-ROM that supports all DVD recordable/rewritable formats. Although, the review for the Lite-On LTD-163 also states compatability with only DVD-R/RW. If/how well the LTD-165 and LTD-166 drives support DVD+R/RW is another question entirely.

[kythri]

Oh, I'm not looking to make sure my readers will support all media, just trying to figure out what DVD burner to go after, and which media to purchase so my readers can read it.

Right now, it looks like DVD-R/DVD-RW.

[kythri]

Here's something I'm finding interesting...

Used InfoTool on the other system tonight to check the specs of the DVD-ROM in it (yes, I know I can't trust it).

The DVD Features section, where it shows the region and everything, it shows:

Region Control: RPC I
Region Code: All

For changes left, it shows N/A.

Does this mean I can play any region DVD in this DVD-ROM?

[Han]

Yes, RPC-1 drives can play any region. Use DVD Genie or DVD RegionKiller to simulate a region for a software playback program (WinDVD, PowerDVD...), if a movie won't start.

If you've got a RPC-2 drive and can't find a good RPC-1 patched firmware for it, you can still watch other region movies by using DVD Region-Free. Another approach is to rip a movie to your hard drive with SmartRipper or DVD Decrypter and tell a program to playback VOB files...

[kythri]

Any suggestions on where to look for the RPC I patched firmware for the Acer/BenQ DVP 1640A??

[kythri]

Creative doesn't show that the DVD2240E will play DVD-R or DVD+R.

Does anyone have any personal experience with this drive to know if it will?

Also, googled for that firmware for the 1640A - couldn't find it. Anyone got any ideas?

[cfitz]

Also, googled for that firmware for the 1640A - couldn't find it. Anyone got any ideas?

Try here for a bunch of links to DVD-ROM firmware:

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/f ... /dvdfi.htm

cfitz