I keep finding that people are still having problems burning DVD's with just about all the DVD writers currently available.  Either they are having problems with media, hardware compatibility or playback related issues.   We decided to write up this short guide to provide you with valuable tips that can save you money as well as ensure that your new DVD will playback properly on your standalone DVD player.  You'll find that the media you use is not necessarily to blame for playback issues.

Media

Let's begin with the media.  Many issues involve incompatible media or use of cheap DVD recordable discs. 

Tip 1 - Check your manufacturer's website for firmware and product updates.

DVD writers are not like CD burners.  You can't just go buy any DVD recordable or rewritable disc and expect to use it with your drive.  Also, just because the media is rated to burn at the max speed your drive is capable of, it doesn't mean you'll be able to do so.  Check to see if there is any new information regarding media compatibility before you go out and buy some blank discs.

Tip 2 - Get a sample pack first

DVD media is still quite expensive, so before you go out and spend your hard earned cash on a spindle of 25 or more, may we suggest you get a sample pack first.  There are many respectable online blank media shops that offer sample packs containing various brands of media in your desired format and speed.  Meritline & Supermediastore are two good choices.  They are fairly inexpensive and in most cases, you'll still be able to use all the discs just that you'll have to burn at a lower speed.

Tip 3 - Get yourself some Ritek media

Ritek brand media is superior in both quality and performance.   They are also highly compatible with just about any CD or DVD burner out there.  Even if your manufacture's website does not list the brand as compatible, chances are it is.  I've also found that Ritek media is highly compatible with a a majority of standalone DVD players and perform flawlessly in most cases.  They are of the highest quality yet they actually cost less than brand name media you would buy at a retailer like Best Buy or CompUSA.  They are available at many online shops like the ones we listed above. 

Burning

We are sometimes quick to blame the media as the reason for poor playback or unreadable discs.  This is not always the case.  It can be other things such as the burning software being used or what methods you used to burn your DVD.

Tip 4 - Be sure the format you use is supported by your DVD player

Not all standalone players support both DVD-R/W and DVD+R/W formats.  Check to see exactly what formats your player supports.  If your uncertain, visit DVDrhelp.com and search for your DVD player.   You'll find exactly what formats your player can use.  If possible, avoid using a re-writable disc for DVD movies.

Tip 5 - Nero is your friend

Nero Burning Rom is one of the best tools for DVD authoring and burning.  The new Nero 6 Ultra Edition is excellent and its hardware support is top notch.  It is also the fastest at writing your CD's or DVD's.

Tip 6 - Burn your DVD in Nero using UDF 1.02

If the DVD you burned does not playback or you get a "Disc Error", burn the disc using UDF 1.02.  If you have a somewhat older player, chances are it supports UDF 1.02.  Burning it using DVD-Video will use UDF 1.05, which is only supported by newer models.  Using UDF 1.02 will ensure that your disc can be played back by just about any standalone unit because those new models that support UDF 1.05 will also play UDF 1.02 discs.  This has got to be one of the best tips that I have found and was provided by the excellent DVDrhelp.com website.   If you are uncertain how to burn it this way, we will briefly show you how using Nero 6 Ultra Edition.

From the DVD menu, select "DVD-ROM (UDF)".   Make sure "No Multisession" is selected.

Under the UDF tab, make sure you have it as shown on the screenshot above.  That's it!  Just burn and enjoy your new fully compliant DVD!

We hope this helps many of those who are having problems.  Tip #6 will definitely help.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to discuss them in our forums using the link below.

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