DVD-RAM formatting & usage issues
DVD-RAM formatting & usage issues
Hi.
I'm using LiteOn SHM-165P6S.
I have purchased a Maxell 5X 4.7GB DVD-RAM.
I have rpoblems about how to burn this disc.
1)
a)
I realised there're at least 3 formats I could format my disc, ie UDF 1.5, UDF 2.0 & FAT32. Does anyone know what're their differences, pros & cons (or do you know any article which discuss about this)?
As far as I know, it seems UDF is superior to FAT32.
I see no real benefits about FAT32 unless you are lazy. Speed imporvement in UDF, support over a 2GB file. What's the point of getting FAT32? I must have missed something.
And how about UDF 1.5 and 2.0? Common sense should say 2.0 is better than 1.5, but is it true in fact? I just know UDF 2.0 is for videos. but does it mean UDF 2.0 is just for videos, nothing more? Or UDF 2.0 is for everything, especially videos?
Anyway, which one should I choose?
b)
What do I need to installl, in order to format my disc in UDF format?
I realise there's a Panasonic driver which can format UDF.
But does anyone if I can install it for my LiteOn SHM-165P6S? If so, where can I get this driver?
Apart from the above method, is there any other alternative I can consider?
2)
OK, after I've formatted my disc, do I simply drag and drop to burn, or else?
3)
Is it okay to utilize all the 4.7GB space?
Or should I need to keep some free space for some reasons?
If so, why?
Thanks for your help.
Hi.
I'm using LiteOn SHM-165P6S.
I have purchased a Maxell 5X 4.7GB DVD-RAM.
I have rpoblems about how to burn this disc.
1)
a)
I realised there're at least 3 formats I could format my disc, ie UDF 1.5, UDF 2.0 & FAT32. Does anyone know what're their differences, pros & cons (or do you know any article which discuss about this)?
As far as I know, it seems UDF is superior to FAT32.
I see no real benefits about FAT32 unless you are lazy. Speed imporvement in UDF, support over a 2GB file. What's the point of getting FAT32? I must have missed something.
And how about UDF 1.5 and 2.0? Common sense should say 2.0 is better than 1.5, but is it true in fact? I just know UDF 2.0 is for videos. but does it mean UDF 2.0 is just for videos, nothing more? Or UDF 2.0 is for everything, especially videos?
Anyway, which one should I choose?
b)
What do I need to installl, in order to format my disc in UDF format?
I realise there's a Panasonic driver which can format UDF.
But does anyone if I can install it for my LiteOn SHM-165P6S? If so, where can I get this driver?
Apart from the above method, is there any other alternative I can consider?
2)
OK, after I've formatted my disc, do I simply drag and drop to burn, or else?
3)
Is it okay to utilize all the 4.7GB space?
Or should I need to keep some free space for some reasons?
If so, why?
Thanks for your help.
0
Comments
1B) You need a copy of a program that can write to UDF! Nero's InCD (Better) and Roxio's DirectCD (Worse) both support UDF, and permit you to use the RAM disc like a hard drive.
2) As hinted at in 1B, once the disk is formatted for UDF, you have the appropriate application, and you want to use it as a floppy disk/flash drive/hard drive, you need only drag and drop files onto the disc.
3) Realistically, your maximum storage capacity is 4.5GB, as if you ever want to finalise the disc, you'll need the 200mb to store the DVD's table of contents and file information.
So I should format to UDF2, right?
But I realised InCD causes some instability problems. Eg: I once try to use InCD to burn CD-RW. However I couldn't even read it just after the successful burn. I tried to read in the same burner in vain.
So I wonder if similar things might occur to DVD-RAM.
I need the application to be reliable. I don't wish risking the safety of my data.
Any opinion?
Yes, I know what's its max. capacity.
But my point is whether it's okay to use up all its space.
I'm not sure, but it seems we should leave some rooms for the sake of disc health. Is it true?
It seems we should do the same for any disc really.
Like we don't use up (nearly) all space for the hard disk (s this would causes more fragmentation, errors, bugs).
What do you think?
I'm using XP pro SP2 and latest Nero 6 upgrade package and LG DVD GSA-4081B burner.
It works without any problem.
InCD has improved greatly.
No need to leave space on the disc.
Did you mean InCD has improved a lot?
I see you mention no trouble with Nero since summer of 2004.
But you mention Nero only.
So do you use InCD?
How often you use InCD to burn CD-RW, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM?
My experience might be 3 or 4 years away back when I formatted my CD-RW as super floppy disc. :smiles:
You know, it's a great pain if you cannot read back what you have burnt.
It's too unreliable, so I was forced to abandon my "super floppy" plan.
I had to admit that I'm not burning every day like some of my friends
Your posting reminded me that I had some problem with the DVD-RAM and InCD later then 2004.
But I didn't loose any data on the DVD-RAM, I could just not write more data to them.
I was forced to move data to HDD, then reformat the DVD-Ram disks.
Just because I upgraded Nero. I should had known better, if it works don't upgrade because Murphy lives next door.
Make a system backup first and test the Nero 7 and see if it meets your requirement.
I hardly ever backup the system partitions, mainly because I never keep important data there.
When it fails I just reinstall the system, nothing like an clean OS installation.
After awhile and several installations and removal of programs, the system register contains a lot of garbage (it's one huge garbage collection).
I haven't tried Nero version 7 yet, mainly because Nero 6 works for me.
Please test the Nero 7 for 30 days, make an system backup first.
And always keep the old Nero versions, so that you can reverse it.
About DVD and CD's:
Administrating several 100'ths of DVD's and CD's has it tolls.
They have told me that they degenerate over time, and DVD/ CD -RW is better then the -R versions.
DVD-RAM is best option as far as I know.
Some people has reported that they have data loss on CD/DVD after not more then 2 years.
Others they they are using CD's from the -90'ths, still working obviously.
But the last thing I need is 100'ths of DVD's failing.
I'm just feed up with all these CD and DVD's, large hard disk will replacing them using Raid-5 setup.
The new 750 GB Seagate hard disks looks very promising, if it had not been for the price.
But hopefully it will not be long until they lower the price to an acceptable level.
Until then I will be using the HDD at 250 - 300 GB (the ones with the best price per GB).
Sometimes I which that all my data will be erased, so that I can walk out in the sun with a smile.
Lately I have been starting laughing at my computer and Murphy, so he is seldom here.
Life is too short for stress, and why make it more complicated then it has to be.
Note
If you wait 2 days I will be reinstalling a new version of XP, and install the test version of Nero 7.
Then I will test and see if can handle the Nero 6 formated DVD-RW and -RAM.
I will report later in this thread.
Me either.
I wonder why they could burn discs every day.
They don't need to use the computer for other stuff, or they have one computer specialised for burning only?!
I haven't lost my data.
the data was still on the disc, but InCD couldn't recognise.
I tried on several computers (with InCD) several times until it could read on one computer. I transfer them back to HDD, & I'm safe!
I never use InCD anymore afterward.
Hmm...
I'm hearing another story.
RW is worse than R due to their rewritable features.
It's strange to hear someone will say the opposite.
At most people just say they are more or lesss the same, but NOT the opposite.
I have no expertise in disc. I'm not sure which party is right.
:celebrate
True since some use poor-quality discs like Ritek.
Others use Verbatim, TY etc.
A fine burnt disc can fail within half year.
Anyone coming along to break this record.
Oh!
I lag far behind from 100th DVD's failing since I just burnt DVD recently.
The improvement in HDD is so slow recently.
I'm waiting for 1TB or even 10TB HDD to exist.
Similar feeling.
We have to be always worried about our valuable data.
Maybe the best way is to throw all data away.
You are guaranteed worry-free forever. :o
An utlimate solution.
Waiting for you.
I could also use Nero to burn iso's. I loved dvd-ram for bootable XP cd's etc..
Tex
By the way I found this today,
Sony to ship 50GB Blu-ray recordables in June
It's a just too expensive in the beginning, 1000 USD for the drive unit and 50 USD per disc.
Oh yes,
Nice work Short-Media admin for dealing with the problem with had today.
Not cost effective per GB.
DVD still rules. :bigggrin:
HDD still rules.
Yesterday I installed the XP-SP2, FW, AV and everything on one clean partition.
And when installing Nero 7 (Nero-7.2.0.3b_eng), InCD5 refused to run at reboot
"The Incd helper service could not be found. InCD cannot start"
Then today I reinstalled XP on the 3'rd partition with only the chipset and graphic card drivers.
Exactly the same result as above, InCD5 failed to execute.
Therefore I can't test if Nero6 - InCD4 is compatible with Nero7 - InCD5.
I have never had any problem with Nero 6 and InCD4, it works.
I'm starting to believe that Nero 7 does not detect my 2 year old DVD burner, LG DVDRAM GSA-4081B.
I will not buy the Nero 7.
Maybe you will have better success.
Nero6 still rules
Thanks for your information.
So now you are with Nero 6 & InCD4 with your new Win XP installation, right?
Newer version isn't always better.
Edit,
Good SM is correcting me were I express myself in a bad mannor. "Buggering software" was okay ! lol
About the new XP installation,
I will not use it because I need to test if the Windows IDE driver is better then the nVIDIA IDE driver.