I've been having problems burning to my Memorex Double Layer DVD's. I wasn't sure what the problem was but I am assuming it is the LB problem I keep hearing about on here. Anyway, someone suggested in this thread http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=192602 to use ImgBurn so I downloaded it and I am trying it now, the only problem so far is it says it's going to take 15 hours to burn when DVD decrypter was only taking 25 minutes. 2/6 DL DVD's I just burned work on my computer, 3/6 don't work at all and 1/6 works perfectly. All of the DL dvd's I burned on my Maxell discs work but I only burned 3 of those. Is the problem the discs or the software? How can I burn double layer DVD's from my hard drive? Is there anything else I should know (I've been burning DVD's for 2 years now but I just started burning DL DVD's)?


My firmware and software are all up to date and I have a HP DVD writer 530i.

Sounds like your drive has slipped in to PIO mode, needs to be in DMA.

As for suggested reading...

Burning DVD Video files directly to double layer media with ImgBurn
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=1780

Creating a single layer ISO on your hard drive using ImgBurn
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=1778

Creating a double layer ISO on your hard drive using ImgBurn
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=1777

ImgBurn Build Mode, An Overview
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=1779


I'd also ditch the Memorex and get some nice Verbatims.

Thanks for the readings.

Also, what is PIO and DMA mode and how do I switch that?

To enable DMA:

*Right click My Computer/properties/Hardware/Device Manager
*Bowse to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers that is set to PIO mode.
*Right click and uninstall
*Reboot PC, XP will find the correct drivers and reinstall them in DMA mode.

after I get to Device Manager I browse to the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers but I am not sure which one is set to PIO mode. I have about 4 options under this tab and I'm not sure which is in PIO mode (and needs to be uninstalled) and which are in DMA mode already. How can I tell?

EDIT: Ok, I found were it says transfer mode and it says "Ultra DMA 2 - Ultra33" Is that right?

It says write rate is 0.1x

Ok, I just uninstalled it and restarted and the problem is fixed....Well at least the slow burning problem. In about 30 minutes I will find out if it will play on my DVD player or not. I've wasted $20 worth of DVD's today

Ok, well the DVD burns at a normal speed now but after the burn it failed to verify. I tried to play it on the computer and it worked fine but again didn't work in my DVD player. I am going to try one of my Maxell DL DVD's (which always worked for me before) and see if it's the disc that is the problem. If it is I will try to get more Maxell or maybe try Verbatim (which I am scared to try because I really can't afford to waste more money if they don't work).

Any more suggestions guys?

I think if you will do a little research you will find that Verbatims are some of, in not the, best DL you can buy right now.