Hi Luna,

Click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 8-100 and review the articles listed there, start with Ron B`s FAQ.
Then go to Section 13-0 (same CD/RW link) and review the Dell article on Sonic`s software.
Dell has released an update to the software as well, you can find it at the Downloads, under the Product Support Tab above.

Best Regards





God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

---

CD/RW Link

I had the same problem burning my DVD (I got the DVD+R disks - thanks Predator!). I tried Sonic and got an error after about 5 minutes. Then I tried Adobe Premiere Elements - this time it went about 2.25 hours at which time I got an unknown error. This is all amazingly frustrating!

I looked at the FAQ and links and I'm not sure it's telling me anything I don't already know, or isn't relevant (e.g. the type of software they're using to burn a DVD is different). I'm sure it must be a drive issue at this point - are there settings someplace that indicate the ideal settings for burning a DVD?

Also, I find it amazing that it would take over 2 hours to burn a 1 hour DVD. I have a P4 2.8 GHz machine with 512 MB RAM and 80 GB Hard Drive (25 GB free). I have also now "blown" two DVD+R disks, and would prefer not blowing any more. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

If you can get one burned in under 2 hours your cheating! It depends on how much rendering must be done between the source format and the output format. It is also CPU related. 2 hours for a 2.8 – 3.+ghz PC is good! That same 1 hour project used to take over 8 hours to render on my 550mhz PC…

You want to use DVD RW media until you get this squared away. While compatibility of RWs is more difficult, they will always play in your burner and are great for testing.

For troubleshooting and just plain good technique, break it into two steps. First render to an ISO file instead of burning. In Sonic this is under File – Save As Disc Image.

Then burn the image to the media. Sonic – Open RecordNow, select Backup Projects and Burn Image.

If the failure occurs during the rendering, the problem is in the source file. (the fact that they play is no test of corruption)

If it fails during the burn it is a hardware/media problem.

Message Edited by Jim Hardin on 02-21-2005 03:18 PM

Ok - I did not try Sonic yet since I purchased Adobe Premiere Elements and have been using that.... however, I did buy DVD+RW as you suggested, and I was able to burn my movie no problem! So, now I have to figure out why DVD+RW works, but DVD+R does not. If anybody has any ideas, I would appreciate it - especially since I paid $15 for 5 DVD+RW's and $20 for 50 DVD+R's!! :-)

Okay I've really had a hard time trying to figure all this stuff out and I'm so confused. I checked for downloads and there's none for my DVD burner. I went to the link you provided Predator but I was confused on some things, mostly I couldn't find the links .

1) I wasn't sure how to get to the Sonic Knowledge Database? Although I haven't been able to find any for the Philips DVD+RW8601

2) I couldn't find the link to update my ASPI and to see if it needed it? I'm not really sure what exactly it is.

3) I couldn't find the link or figure out how to enable DMA or see if it all ready is.

4) I checked to make sure I was using the right media for my burner and I am, I am planning on buying a few DVD RW to save me from making coasters.

I hope it's okay to bump this up since I didn't get any responses to my last post. I hope I'm not misreading these things, but I have to admit, I'm very new to the terms and not the most savvy when it comes to these things. I've been trying desperately to get it to work, but the same problems stated above.

How do I know when it's not just a simple user problem and the actual DVD burner, even though it plays DVDs just fine?

Hi there, We want to make sure your system is working fine and hence following up. Having said that, we do not want to disturb you with numerous messages. We will wait to hear from you to continue the conversation.