Reading Dual Layer DVD's

mardette · 11-03-2009, 08:01 PM

HI. I recently came across a problem reading a DVD-R DL disc in two separate computers and therefore disc drives. Both disc drives are capable of reading and burning cd's and dvd's but not DL's (I am guessing)...so I understand if a DL discs' content cannot be viewed on an older dvd drive but I could view some of the files on the different computers' DVD drives - only pdf's and ppt files were shown but there was over 1.8GB of missing/unviewable information. When I looked physically at the reverse of the disc there seemed to be a significant 'burning' circle mark that would match the approx. 1.8gb of information.
Can anyone explain
A) is it true that DL discs generally cannot be read by older dvd drives
B) if A is true why could I see some files....??
Thanks in advance.

**Tyree** · 11-04-2009, 07:48 AM

Is the disc a prerecorded or home burned?
What are the Brand and Model Numbers of the drives you are using?
The "burning" circle you refer to is probably a defect in the media. The only reliable dual layer media is Verbatim DVD+R-DL.

mardette · 11-08-2009, 10:21 PM

Hello
The disc was "home burnt" and was a Verbatime DVD+R-DL disc. The brand and model drives I do not have without checking device manager. I tried on both XP and Vista and with respect don't see why the PC specs are relevant when I know both the desktop and laptop on I tested the reading of a disc worked fine with ordinary non dual layer discs? Also when I mentioned burning a disc if you have ever looked at a disc before and after you do a burn you can see the ring or circle coming out of the centre of the disc and moving outwards in proportion to the amount of data burnt to the layer..
I thought there might be a general answer for trying to read DL discs on non DL drives (but again why are some files being read?) as I have nil experience with DL discs or drives.
Regards, mardette

Dogg · 11-11-2009, 08:39 AM

If a drive can read DVD's, then it can read DL media. If the disc doesn't work in multiple PC's, then I'd suspect a bad disc. It could simply be bad media, but more likely a burn issue related to the burning PC or burner.

**Tyree** · 11-12-2009, 12:50 PM

Some brands of DVDRW's are better writers and some are better readers.....that's why I inquired about the drive brands.
Your issues sounds like a bad burn. Trying a different burning software might yield better results also.

11-03-2009, 08:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
mardette Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Reading Dual Layer DVD's HI. I recently came across a problem reading a DVD-R DL disc in two separate computers and therefore disc drives. Both disc drives are capable of reading and burning cd's and dvd's but not DL's (I am guessing)...so I understand if a DL discs' content cannot be viewed on an older dvd drive but I could view some of the files on the different computers' DVD drives - only pdf's and ppt files were shown but there was over 1.8GB of missing/unviewable information. When I looked physically at the reverse of the disc there seemed to be a significant 'burning' circle mark that would match the approx. 1.8gb of information. Can anyone explain A) is it true that DL discs generally cannot be read by older dvd drives B) if A is true why could I see some files....?? Thanks in advance.

11-04-2009, 07:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,846 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Reading Dual Layer DVD's Is the disc a prerecorded or home burned? What are the Brand and Model Numbers of the drives you are using? The "burning" circle you refer to is probably a defect in the media. The only reliable dual layer media is Verbatim DVD+R-DL. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

11-08-2009, 10:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
mardette Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: Reading Dual Layer DVD's Hello The disc was "home burnt" and was a Verbatime DVD+R-DL disc. The brand and model drives I do not have without checking device manager. I tried on both XP and Vista and with respect don't see why the PC specs are relevant when I know both the desktop and laptop on I tested the reading of a disc worked fine with ordinary non dual layer discs? Also when I mentioned burning a disc if you have ever looked at a disc before and after you do a burn you can see the ring or circle coming out of the centre of the disc and moving outwards in proportion to the amount of data burnt to the layer.. I thought there might be a general answer for trying to read DL discs on non DL drives (but again why are some files being read?) as I have nil experience with DL discs or drives. Regards, mardette Last edited by mardette; 11-08-2009 at 10:22 PM.

11-11-2009, 08:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,146 OS: XP sp3	Re: Reading Dual Layer DVD's If a drive can read DVD's, then it can read DL media. If the disc doesn't work in multiple PC's, then I'd suspect a bad disc. It could simply be bad media, but more likely a burn issue related to the burning PC or burner. __________________ Google is your friend !

11-12-2009, 12:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,846 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Reading Dual Layer DVD's Some brands of DVDRW's are better writers and some are better readers.....that's why I inquired about the drive brands. Your issues sounds like a bad burn. Trying a different burning software might yield better results also. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.