DVD Burning Sucks

[fergusop]

I have an iso file for a DVD. I have an old Samsung SH-S183L DVD+R DL drive. I didn't notice the DL until I read it off the front panel of the drive with a magnifying glass and the documentation for the device is limited to how to bolt it into a case. I have a spindle of DVD+R media. Am I shit out of luck and need to go buy DVD+R DL media? Because

Comments

[industrialfist]

Here's a few tips about the DL media I've learned:

*Any ISO file above 4.5 GB you'll need a dual layer disc for, yes. However, I'm finding that the DVD-R DL format is near impossible to find. Instead you'll use the +R DL flavor. The difference is in how the disc writes, but more importantly, your drive needs to be compatible with the media.

*Also, whatever the rated speed is of the disc, burn it at half that. I find that the +R discs are more susceptible to burn errors, and even when they're "successful" they sometimes have play errors (like stopping at the halfway point). On faster computers, DL discs tend to burn in about 20 - 30 minutes. Slower computers will take marginally longer.

*Either way the Dual layer media costs nearly twice as much as single layer spindles, so be prepared for that sticker shock. Also, the good news is if you need a new burner, you can usually get one from Newegg.com for about $30. If you get one at the retail level, it'll likely be somewhere around $40-50.

*OH, I almost forgot. Whatever you do, don't trash the iso file until you've watched the burned movie in full. That way if there's a playback error like spots that hang, weird boxies that appear on the screen, or read errors; then you still have that iso file and you can try again.
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