Finalising Discs-Problems

[alison43331]

I have a Panasoic DVD Recorder DMR-EX768EB. I recorded the film 'Cars' off the TV onto a formatted Asda blank DVD-RW (which I have done many times before successfully)for my sister's nephew. Normally, the DVD Recorder automatically gives me the option to finalise the disc (message on screen), but it didn't happen this time. Consequently. my sister says that she cannot play the film on her DVD player because her player says that the disc was not finalises. I re-inserted the disc in my machine & followed the Instructions in the manual (select DVD management & then 'Finalise'), but there is no 'Finalise' option to select. Please help. I am at my wits end!!!
Thanks

[marden40]

have you always used DVD-RW's ?...........RW are re-writeable where as DVD-R's are single use only...... the RW discs normally don't finalise to enable them to be used over and over again.

[alison43331]

Thanks Marden40

Does the fact that I used a DVD-RW mean that my sister will not be able to play it on her DVD player?

[whiskeryron]

It can be a bit of a minefield I'm afraid.

When DVD-R/RW first came out it had only two recording standards.

DVD-R recordings are usually made in standard DVD Video mode. This is still the most compatible, because once the disc is finalised the disc structure is identical to a commercial DVD.
DVD-RW can use two modes however, you can record in the standard video mode and also in DVD-RW VR mode. The majority of players can happily read a -RW disc if it is recorded in Video mode once the disc is finalised, but even after all these years of it being available most won't read -VR mode discs.

DVD+R/RW discs are different though, both use the DVD+VR mode instead. This is different again from the two modes that -R/RW discs use. The structure of +VR discs is generally more compatible with standard DVD players than -VR discs but there is still no guarantee that +RW discs can be read by another player.

Just to confuse matters EVEN more, some recorders use the + (plus) VR mode for recordings, even those made on -(minus) R/RW media (My Liteon recorder does this for example).

To ensure your discs are as compatible as possible use either DVD-R/+R discs and finalise after recording. The vast majority of players will happily play them, but even then, it may handle -R media better than +R or vice versa.

Some players are also fussy about the brand of media you used to record on.

I personally find that DVD-R recording on my Liteon are, for some odd reason, more compatible with other players than DVD+R media even though the recorder uses the DVD+VR mode when recording on -R media.

Told you it was confusing

Try recording it again on DVD-R

W Ron.

[whiskeryron]

I have just read your post again & I see that you recorded the film straight from T/V so obviously you cannot record it again, try copying the -RW disc to a-R disc via your computer.

W Ron.

[anotheoldgit]

whiskeryron

Will she have to use a free programme such as Ashampoo burning studio 6, to copy the disc via her computer?

[whiskeryron]

Thanks for reminder aog
http://download.cnet....-2646_4-10776287.html

W Ron.

[TTG]

Reformat the disc and try again. Failing that, try another disc.

[alison43331]

Thanks for all your help everybody

Just 1 final question....if I format a DVD-R disc that I have already used & finalised, can I re-record something else on it?