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Philips DVD 8631 DVD+/-RW aka (BENQ DW1620) Go Figure...
Hi,
I bought 3 Dell computers.
2001 Dell Dimension L700cx
2005 Dell Inspiron 6000d (04/18/05) 4 year warranty
2005 Dell Printer 922
2005 Dell Dimension 4700 (07/23/05) 90 day warranty
2005 Dell Inspiron 6000d (04/18/05) 4 year warranty
2005 Dell Printer 922
2005 Dell Dimension 4700 (07/23/05) 90 day warranty
Recently I started burning DVD discs with the Dell 4700
and I am running into trouble.
The Dell DVD burner is a Philips DVD 8631 HH 16x DVD+/-RW (BENQ DW1620)
The Dell website has 3 firmware updates for the 8631 that I have applied.
I have tried the BENQ updates too. The 8631 will burn and play CD Data,
CD Audio and mp3 audio discs and it will burn and play DVD data and MPEG2 videos.
And I can read the data and playback the CDs and DVDs on the other two computers
and play the CDs and DVD videos on DVD+/- tabletop players.
However, it will only work with DVD+R blank discs.
If I try to use DVD-R blank discs to make MPEG2 videos,
they will playback in all 3 of my computers but they will not playback on
my Sony SLV-D300P DVD+/- tabletop player or other brands of DVD+/- tabletop players.
So I Googled the Philips DVD 8631 and found out many, many people and forums
have cited the same and other problems with the Dell Dimension 4700 and other
Dell models with the supplied Philips DVD 8631 burner.
Even Dell's website forum acknowledges the problems with the 8631, i.e.
The work that I am doing requires that I burn DVD-R discs that will
playback on DVD tabletop players because DVD-R discs are the most compatible
and universal of the DVD formats, i.e. 90% playability.
I bought the Dell 4700 with a DVD+/-RW burner to specifically burn DVD-R
MPEG2 video discs to playback in computers and DVD tabletop players.
Check Google to see the complaints.
Check Google to see the complaints.
A while back, Dell was replacing this drive with an NEC for people who
requested it. I would have requested it too but I did not start burning
DVD-R discs with the Dell 4700 until a few days ago.
I read the owners manuals for the Dell Dimension 4700 and Dell Inspiron 6000d.
The 4700 has a Philips DVD+/-RW 8631 and the 6000d has a Sony DVD+/-RW DW D56A
Both manuals say the supplied DVD+/-RW burners will write to DVD+R/RW discs but only
read from DVD-R/RW discs. What gives? I thought the DVD+/-RW spec. meant
write or read both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW discs. What a nasty lesson.
Using the Philips 8631 I could not burn DVD-R discs with Sonic RecordNow software.
Using the Philips 8631 I could not burn DVD-R MPEG2 video discs with
Adobe Premiere Elements2 video editing software, just errors.
However:
I was able to burn DVD-R data and DVD-R MPEG2 video discs on the Philips 8631
when I installed the Nero ver 6.6 oem software that came with the
Sony DRU 800A DVD burner I bought for another computer I have. These DVD-R MPEG2
video discs will play in all my computers but will not play in DVD+/- tabletop players.
Go figure.
On the other hand:
Using the Sony D56A I could burn DVD-R MPEG2 video discs with Sonic RecordNOw.
Using the Sony D56A I could burn DVD-R MPEG2 video discs using Nero.
Using the Sony D56A I could burn DVD-R MPEG2 video discs using Adobe. Go figure.
Solutions:
I have already wasted a lot of time and DVD-R discs so I had to make some quick
decisions. I replaced the Philips with a Sony DRU 820A DVD burner ($74.00) for
the Dell 4700. It does all CD/DVD formats and DVD-RAM 5x discs also and I removed
the Sonic software and installed Nero instead. I can now burn DVD-R MPEG2 videos
that will playback in my computers and DVD+/- tabletop players.
Too bad I had to give up the Philips 8631 which I paid good money just to do that.
Since the Dell 6000d is a laptop, I was fortunate that the Sony DVD+/-RW DW D56A
is more accomodating. Here I just decided out of preference to remove the
Sonic software and install the Nero instead.
I would still be glad to consider any suggestions relative to the Philips 8631
even though I felt compelled to simply replace it at this point as some forums
have suggested.
Just before I sent this I saw support for various computer issues in this forum.
I selected Dimension Message Boards/CD/DVD Devices/Dell User Guides/Storage/
Philips DVD8631 DVD+-RW Users Guide.
There it says that the 8631 will burn DVD-R discs so now I don't know what to think.
I also read the many trials and tribulations we are all having.
Go figure.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Dale Ashby
osprey4
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May 23rd, 2006 14:00
Dashby
27 Posts
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May 24th, 2006 04:00
Any way too make a long story short.
DVD-R discs came out in 1997
DVD+R discs came out in 2001
There are still plenty of DVD-R only players out there so if I want to be sure my discs have a chance to play in older as well as newer players, it might be safer to use DVD-R discs.
What do you think?
I started recording professionally in 1980 and from personal experience of recording with thousands of audio open reels, audio cassettes, video open reels, video cassettes, CD-R discs and DVD-R discs; I have had great and consistant results with Maxell and TDK brands.
One tends to stick with what one knows from experience that works.
Your brands are fine as well.
And like you, I don't care for Memorex or the other brands.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Dale Ashby
Dashby
27 Posts
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May 24th, 2006 04:00
Dashby
27 Posts
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May 24th, 2006 04:00
Hi Osprey4,
I spent an hour and a half writing to you and then I tried to send it only to find out I had pushed your reply button instead of mine and the message was rejected and it would not return to my message so I could copy it and reply the right way. Too bad for me.
Dale
Dashby
27 Posts
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May 24th, 2006 04:00
P.S.
I spent about 20 hours on Google and this forum reading articles and postings before I posted this message.:smileyvery-happy:
osprey4
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May 24th, 2006 22:00
Dale:
I've burned hundreds of DVDs and have never found a DVD+R that gave me any trouble. DVD-R, on the other hand, I've had some problems with certain brands. The players I use (or have used) include a Pioneer XV-HTD520 (one of those home theatre in a box systems, but will play any disc you throw at it), Zenith XB-V442 (DVD/VCR), and several portables. The portables are very finicky. So generally my preference is to buy DVD+R.
Dashby
27 Posts
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May 25th, 2006 02:00
Thanks for your feedback.
I am sure you are right on with the DVD+R discs.
Unfortunately, I bought 300 TDK, DVD-R discs from Circuit City about a week ago.
At this point they burn and playback in all my machines excluding the Philips 8631 which I have since replaced. Except for the Dell 6000d laptop "portable", the other machines are tower computers and a stand alone set top. Of course I will want them to playback on everyone else's DVD players too.
Do you think I should return the TDK DVD-R discs for the TDK, DVD+R discs if I can still exchange them?
Sincerely,
Dale Ashby
dnairn
4 Posts
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November 8th, 2006 20:00
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_cdrom&message.id=52643
That's the thread I posted regarding what I found.
Dashby
27 Posts
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November 8th, 2006 23:00
Thanks for posting and sharing your solution.
I was aware of the GD30 patch, have it on my computer
from several months ago but it did not work for me.
I am French so it is nice to see the Canadian Flag.
I took the Philips out of my Dell Dimension 4700 and put it
in my old Dell Dimension L700cx as a player only and put
a Sony DVD burner in my Dell Dimension 4700 for $60.00.
No more endless wasted hours, problem solved.
Sincerely
Dale Ashby
buyer_beware
43 Posts
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June 5th, 2011 16:00
I have the Inspiron 8400. It came with the philips 8631 and recently decided it did not want to work any more. So after 5 years of service it's woth replacing. The machine is tucked under a desk and not really easy to get to. I have opened the system folder in the control panel and my biggest problem is that it does not state whether it's a Sata or IDE. Of course customer support was a joke, so I asking here. Can anyone tell me before I buy a replacement whether it's one or the other without going thru the hassle of opening up the case and having to check the cables which one it is?
Thank you
Michael
ejn63
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June 5th, 2011 18:00
It's EIDE.