It seems I have problems with bad scans when I have some/one/all(?) Slysoft products installed - AntyDVD, CloneDVD and/or CloneCD as explained in my post: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...5&postcount=55 (here is the correct link for WINN DIXIE: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.p...4&postcount=206)

Is this just coincidence or isolated incident? I have noticed other people may have a problem also. Has anyone else had bad scan problems with any of the Slysoft products installed? I do not mean to accuse their product of anything, as I have not done any extensive testing. By the way I think Slysoft has some super products (disregarding the issue at hand)!

ZedDedd,
I believe your problem has nothing to do with CloneDVD or AnyDVD. I don't even know (or want to know) what those bloody graphie lines and chartie squiggles mean ... my eyes went to one fact ... all three of the scans are for Princo media correct? That is bad media. Don't buy princo, memorex, TDK, Maxell, office depo, GQ, compUSA etc, etc, etc. and most of the other crap on store shelves. Even if you get some spindles of media that burn ok for a while, the next spindle might be manufactured on Skull Island and won't burn well. But the packaging will look just the same! Or the media rots and your backup won't play a year later. I expect Starbucks will soon be selling rebagged media manufactured in the Republic of Godknowswhere! Buy Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim or Sony. Get them online if you have to.

Respectfully, why buy media, take it home and scan it (before or after a backup) to see what you got? You should know what you got at the get, got it? Why be worring about why you or "anyone else had bad scan problems"! I don't believe in scanning. I feel it's a waste of time and energy. I have even read posts of people who scan their backups instead of just putting them in a damn DVD player to test the success of a backup. Pure techno-rubbish, IMHO.

My suggestion is to break the "budget / on sale / bargain price media" habit. Just buy good media. No more scanning, no more problems. You can watch a movie with the time you saved.

Best regards,
Whisperer

>>EDIT<< In re-reading my post, I sound a bit flip. Sorry. Day in and day out 75% +/- of all the issues posted on the cdf backup threads have to do with poor media selection.

::gets out the straightjacket for whisperer::

I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoy scanning my discs, and poor scans would have me concerned as well.

Princo media is notoriously unreliable. you can have good burns one day, and crappy ones the next (as you've found out)

until you post some tests with quality media, the results are really inconclusive. taiyo yuden (MADE IN JAPAN sony or fuji 8x DVD+R) or MCC discs (Verbatim brand) would yield a more accurate test since they are more reliable media overall.

thousands of people on this board use anydvd and clonedvd for their burning needs, and if everyone's burns scanned like that because of the software installed, slysoft wouldn't be as successful as it is.

I understand if you're just going to say screw it and quit using the programs, but I think it would be worth it to get some decent media and re-test your theory.

I can't tell you for sure that the software isn't the issue since your findings of poor scans coincide with the change of software, but I believe it's very unlikely...and even more so given the sketchy media you're using.

These 2, reasonsnotrules and whiperer1 know what they are talking about mate.

Take their advice and change your media to ones mentioned.

Im pretty new to Backing up DVDs but i dont have any problems using AnyDVD and Clonedvd2, and not 1 coaster yet after 50 backups.

Maybe because im using good media - Verbatim?

In the past (few years back) when ive backed up a few Cds i brought cheap budget line media and i only had problems not to mention a great amount of frisbies.

I realised, You get what you pay for.

Thanks guys,
I do have and use some quality media - Verbatim (doesn't work w/ my xbox for some reason), HP/Philips (OK), Memorex(OK), evem some bad/notsobad as Princo. Kypermedia, etc. I picked up the spindle of princo for my DVD recorder for shows off the satellite which I am not too concerned about. Before using good media I wanted to make sure the DVD burner was installed correctly - software wise and at least not burning coasters. So those scans are on a new DVD burner.

These quality media were also used in my previous attempts at finding a good replacement DVD burner, with mixed results also. You are definitely right that it is inconclusive - but I have found that at the moment for me, my 740a@1640 works great - unfortunately w/o Slysoft. If I get more bad scans without Slysoft installed then I know it was just coincidence.

It could be that on my system (and a hand full of others), Slysoft causes this for some reason (conflicts, etc.). I agree that if it was widespread, Slysoft wouldn't be in business for long. Thats why I wanted to see if anyone else had similar problems so I/we could track down the problem by finding something in common. Maybe if I get the time I will experiment further, but I have already spent a lot of time trying to find a replacement DVD burner.

I totally agree with reasonsnotrules - I stopped doing media scans on my old Litey a long time ago since it was being very consistent. However, later on I found out that some of my discs were not playing on the Xbox. I did some scans - and oh the horror. Now I have a stack of bad burns due to the Litey -not the media, and it could have been prevented had I did some checkup scans. So I think it is important (and somewhat enjoyable) to do scans. All the top shelf media give good consistent scans, right?

A counter point: I think that maybe too many times problems/ bad scans are dismissed off as bad media (or burners to RMA). Though I agree that it is important to have good media - I don't neccesarily believe it has to be top shelf. There are many other things in play for a successful burn other than media - look at how different firmware revisions affect it.

By the way - if I get good scans does this mean my media will last? Is there a direct correlation between good sacns and media lasting? Or is it just that the media will be playable in a higher percentage of machines?

Thanks again everyone, later!

you didn't mention ONE type of quality media besides verbatim. Memorex is the worst because it's so unpredictable. they outsource to whomever is cheapest with no regard for quality control. The same is true for many brands.

it's meda ID codes that matter, NOT the brand. It just so happens that Verbatim branded discs are most often MCC media code.

as far as good scans meaning discs will last...i think the results are still inconclusive. if you really want to find out, scan your discs every few weeks/month/years.

different dyes degrade more quickly (a VERY common problem with Princo...even if you can get a good burn, chances are it won't last)

there are manufacturers that will give a good burn, but degrade very quickly and conversely there can be others where you'll get a mediocre burn but it will stay that way for a LONG time and ending up better than your best burns over time.

there are a few threads about dvd longevity in the blank media forum. as far as I know, they're all still battling it out to determine any set guidelines (if there even ARE any)

as far as your verbs not being compatible, I don't play video games, but I understand some consoles can be rather picky. just a thought...if you're using +R media, are you sure you're bitsetting to DVD-ROM? that increases compatibility for +R.

and lastly, what you do with your system is up to you. I appreciate the fact that you recognize that you haven't really rigorously tested and therefore can't prove the software is to blame. If you don't want to use the software, you don't have to (obviously). It was just refreshing to see someone with a possible complaint and also a level head. By all means, if you don't want to bother with testing and retesting then go with what works for you. It's just nice that you didn't post a thread saying "SLYSOFT RUINS MY BURNS" like so many people that like to jump to conclusions about everything.

good luck with whatever you decide!

ps, i use anydvd and clonedvd almost exclusively for my backups and have a 740a@1640, and I consistently get 98 and 99 quality scores with TY media regardless of the firmware I've used.

(i've flashed and tested from BSLB-BSOB. I've settled on BSMB for now)

my verbatim (MCC004) tests are usually around 97

unless you have something kind of software conflict on your system (i'd have no idea how to deduce if that even IS a possibility of not) It shouldn't be the slysoft software ALONE that's creating issues.

I mentioned the "topshelf" media because it is considered high quality for a reason. It won't work with EVERYONE, but for MOST people on MOST burners with MOST firmwares, it yields acceptable to very good results.

everyone will find that one odd media that their burner loves, and that's fine (mine loves Imation branded MBI), but I mentioned TY and Verb because they are known to work well with a variety of writers.

Thanks much for your further input reasonsnotrules. I also have Sony and TDK media, but have not had the chance to use it yet. I will watch out for the media codes though. Thanks also for clearing up the media longevity oquestion - I will steer clear of Princo for that reason alone. I do booktype all my media to DVD-ROM (-r) primarilty for the Xbox - as I play DVD Videos in them. My Xbox will not read (unbooktyped) +R at all. I wonder if the dye used in the verbatim's I did try had anything to do with Xbox incompatibilites - or maybe it was just a fluke as I tried it with a different burner.

After reading your latest posts, I feel more apt to try it again, as Slysoft products are great to use. It is encouraging that you have the same drive as I and it works well for you. Thanks for seeing that I am not trying to bash anything - just trying to find a quick answer to a possibility.

Thanks again!

A bit off topic, but I noticed that the last 100 stack of Vebatim 16x -r that I purchaced has a noticably strong odor to them, as compared to what I have had in the past. When I opened the package, it was immediately noticable.
Even after being burnt, and put in a cover for a couple of weeks, the odor is noticable when opened.
The media code is the same for both batches, both mfg. in Taiwan.
Possibly different dye? , To much of something else? , I don't know, but I have had problems getting them to burn at higher speeds that worked fine previously.

Just a quick update - I installed the latest AnyDVD 5.7.3.1, ripped two movies flawlessly, burned the same brand disc (RICHO) scanned it - and it came out fine!

So, previous problem could either be a coincidence, something else - or a previous version fault, CloneDVD or CloneCD .

Later!

RIP TO HARD DRIVE - CLOSE ANYDVD - THE BURN WITH YOUR BURNING SOFT WARE- I KNOW AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM- ANYDVD IS GREAT BUT WILL TRY TO AUTO UPDATE WHILE YOU ARE BURNING IF NOT SHUT OFF

first, ditch the caps.

second, anydvd does not "autoupdate"

soooooo, I'm not sure what you're talking about.

i meant check for new version- not update - but i have had it come up and tell me a new version was available while dvd was burning-

Why don't you just turn off the "Check for Updates" feature in AnyDVD and do your update checks manually every day or every couple of days? Also turn off internet features of all programs on your computer such as (but not limited to) antivirus, firewall, antispyware, MS Office, MS Media Player and Windows itself. Even if you are disconnected from the web, the softwares will make attempts to connect and one should have as close to zero activity, other than normal OS services, as possible when burning. Even moving the mouse can cause a burn glitch on some people's systems.

Also, if you have an "always on" dsl or cable internet service, you might consider shutting off the power button on the cable/dsl modem when doing a backup. There is a multitude of internet activity occuring between your system and the web (even if your browser is not open) with always on hookups.

The New Version Check is included in the Update Check.

Just either Switch Off the "auto update" feature or and this is what i do, load up both clonedvd and Anydvd, Leave them Nromally for a minute or 2 while getting DVD's ready and by then the update dialog box has popped up. Click no or whatever and just burn.

As far as i know they dont check up again after that. I havent had them do it after the intial check.

here's a thought:

what are you doing backing stuff up if you don't have the latest versions!!

that being said, just uncheck "automatically check for updates" I'm sure there are a lot more resource hogging things going on in the background of your computer than anydvd checking to see if there is a newer version.

i've been lazy doing my burning lately, but in a perfect world, i disable my internet connection and manually shut down all but the absolutely necessary processes in task manager.

Whoops!! forgot to update my sig. :-) Ive got all the latest versions.

Secondly i was only replying to the guy in Reference to AnyDVD updating during use. Nothing more.

But your right there's are alot going on behind the hood (Pc case) while it seems to be static. Well i should know since ive got a UNI Bachelors Degree in IT (waste of 3 years otherwise) :-).

Especially regarding interent connection. You never know what's out there that might trigger your firewall, antivirus or spyware software etc while not in use, Thus ruining your backup. So best solution here is to switch of you modem.

Programs on the other hand in majority of cases can be controlled such as Antivirus software. Many can be scheduled to do any update or versions checks or options to switch off this feature are available. You just have to take a few minutes to do this.

Startup Programs can be controlled without any problems aswell. I only have programs that i require to startup which are a benefit to me and essential to the health of my Pc. All other crap that tries to startup has been terminated!

Also Screensavers and Sleep/hibernation Features should be checked that they won't trigger during the burn. Just delay the feature for a longer timescale than the burn should take or otherwise just turn it off.

Defragmention of harddrive as well as memory are other things to consider. I reboot my pc before a burn to clear memory. You can get software that does this for you without reboot. Also dont mutlitask or use your pc while ripping/burning, even if you have the latest, fastest pc. Just not worth it.

List goes on and on..