Ok, here is my problem and question...

I have been backing up my dvds for some time now. I used to do it on a P4 1.4ghz, 640MB RAM computer, Emprex 8x, and mostly play them in a crappy Apex dvd player i got for free thru a raffle. Never had any problems. Now, since i moved, i have a new computer and i burn them on a P4 2.5ghz, 1GB RAM computer, same burner, and play them on my new SONY 5 Disc Changer player (DVP-NC675P) i just bought and also my girlfriends single Sony player as well sometimes. The software i use is DVD Decrypter, DVD2One, & Nero.

Since i have changed over to my new Sony players, i am getting the worse playback with my backups. The color shifts, sometimes it skips ahead, sometimes it skips back, sometimes i get a dirty disc error.

My question is has anyone else had this kind of problem with Sony DVD players.. i thought it was the discs i was using (GQ + & - and TEON + & -), but i switched back to memorex discs that i used when i first started backing up and it still seems to do it (altho not as much). I also went back to burning at 4x instead of 8x since i read that higher speeds create more errors..

I have a hard time believing that an Apex dvd player is better than a Sony player.. could it be i have a faulty player perhaps?

Any help on this would be most appreciated. Thanks ahead of time...1

Yo-

You never mention the burner you are using and are pretty vague about the media (though it looks like crap media at this point)-

Tell us more and we may be able to help you-

Mike

I have found that the cheeper and generic players, actually play back ups better than the more expensive and branded players. I don't know the model but a friends son has a Sony that won't play back ups at all. When he phoned sony they told him that was because it was designed not to as a protection against people playing pirated discs which included his own back ups. He went and bought a Pacific sold in Asda for £25 and it played them perfectly.

Cheaper players are definately more forgiving. Playing backups on any player is not an exact science. The Memorex you bought a while ago, is probably not the same media inside the cake box. Read here:http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers and search for the specific player in question, to find out what it likes. Certain media react differently to certain burners. As stated above, read about quality media here:http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm and also in the media forum on CD Freaks, and this may clear up some of your problems. Good Luck.

If you start out with crappy media, then you will encounter problem. Buy Made in Japan media. Burn at 4X. Set book type to DVD-ROM if possible.

but the wierd thing is.. my copies play fine on my old apex and my friends jvc but skip like crazy on my sony.. and they were on the teon and hq discs.. so is it that sony just sucks at playing backups then? can you recommend some semi-decent brands that are backup friendly? panasonic any good? thanks in advance..

Let me repeat, YOU HAVE JUNK MEDIA. Some DVD ROMs can read bad media. Go to Target and look for Made in Japan media from SONY. I've seen +R and -R there. Office Depot has a sale on Made in Japan Maxell DVD+R for $35 (50 pack). Check out the bargain forum.

Just look for Made in Japan on the box.