Hey everyone! This is my first post here on the cdfreaks forums, and alas, it is not a happy one...

Ever since I got my dvd-rw (BenQ 1620), I've had nothing but problems... First off the screws that I needed to take out were stripped, and once I got 'em out, in went the drive.

Since then, I have tried to burn 3 DVD's (2 before firmware upgrade, 1 after), and yet no luck. I'm using Nero 6, and the progress freezes at 2%, and then runs the course of the time it estimated to take, and then it tells me the burn process has failed.

If you need any more info on specs / etc. Please ask and I'll tell you, as I'm in desperate need of a working DVD burner!

Thanks!

what mobo, what mobo drivers?
which ide port is the burner conected and how about the rest of youre ide devices
Have you updated nero to the latest version?

I have had nothing but problems with Nero and + media. The 1620 is automatically set to -ROM and Nero tries to burn, but after 2% it realizes it can't write to -ROM and fails. I switched to other burning software and no problems. Nero and -media also gave me problems, but not the same.

For movies I rip using DVDDecrpter, then DVDShrink 3.2 to shrink if necessary to an ISO image. Then DVDDecrypter to burn the ISO on to a DVD+R with book type -ROM @ 12x on Prodisc R03 +R media. These are error free and with Book Type -ROM will play in most old and new players.
If you want to burn data in Nero burning rom then make sure to turn off book type in Nero. You should also use BenQ Manager 8.3 to set book type to +R.

Yes how about some specs. What operating system, are you sharing the burner with another IDE device, CPU, motherboard, etc?

Have you checked the jumper settings on the back of the burner? If it's the slave the jumper should be over the "S" if it's the Master it should be over the "M". Your ribbon cable could be bad, might try switching that out. If you are sharing it with another device I suggest you try unconnecting that other device and try making the burner the Master and the lone device on that ribbon cable and see if you still have problems. Have you tried burning a CD?

I would leave the booktype at DVD-ROM for +r and +rw. Also try CloneDVD2 and AnyDVD and see if that works for you. Rip and burn a movie all from that application. You can get a 21-day trial at www.slysoft.com. That's what I use mostly. I have used Nero too.

Have you used Nero Recode? That seems to be the real killer with burners that can change their book type. I haven't tried Nero 6.6 yet, but since I have used Decrypter and Shrink (freeware) I am getting better quality movies than before using Recode. Strange considering that the auther is the same for Recode and Shrink. By the way you can use Shrink 3.2 to rip, shrink and burn all-in-one (it internaly uses Decrypter to rip and burn)

I actually use CloneDVD2 to rip. It has some flexibility to it. You can do movie only and yet check off whether you want the menu or not. It also has a chapter cutter and sometimes it pays to cut the last chapter because it's just the credits, thus "upping" your quality level. Then I tell it to rip it as a DL which basically tells it to rip and not engage the transcoder. Then I "shrink it" with DVD Shrink 3.2 (it does do the best quality) and then burn it with CloneDVD2. It works for me!

I'm running a P4 3.06 - 1gb ddr - and the DVD burner is set up in the same fashion my CD burner was (IDE Cable from mobo, slave = burner[I already got the jumpers], master = dvd-rom)

You might try just the DVD burner as master and by itself on that IDE and see it that does it.

I just burned a perfectly good CD with nero if that helps figuring out what's going on....

What version nero are you using? If you check the Nero subforum, there's a place to download 6.6. It's 80 meg. I also think you should try DVDClone2/ANYDVD at slysoft.com - free 21 day trial.

I'm using 6.6.0.0, and it's a data dvd that I'm trying to burn.... Haven't gotten into the movie ripping yet

try installing the writer as a master only device and see does it still hang....ensure you are using the master connetion on ide cable also...

using windows ide drivers i hope...