Imation - Optical Media FAQ

Optical Media FAQ

Optical Media:

What is the different between CD-R and CD-RW discs?
Why is it possible to rewrite CD-RW media?
What is a multi-session CD?
Why my multi-session disc only has data from the last session?
What is a buffer under-run error?
What is the capacity that a CD can hold?
I can read the CD-R disc on my CD-R drive, but when I put it into a CD-ROM drive it won't play.
Why is my optical media that I’ve recorded cannot play from my home or car stereo?
How to clean my CD-R media?
Is it okay to write on or stick a label on a disc?
How to handle media?
Will a lower speed CD/DVD media be able to burn on a faster speed burner?
How do I know I have a single or dual layer DVD?
How many times can I rewrite my DVD/CD RW disc?
I have bought a stack of Imation DVD media, but I can only burn a few pieces successfully. Why is that so?
How do I make my optical media last longer?

Optical Drive :

Drive cannot be detected after installing into my PC.
I am unable to view any DVD movie discs.

Q. What is the different between CD-R and CD-RW discs?

Once data is written to CD-R media, the data cannot be erase. Thus, CD-R is suitable for data archiving such as contracts or accounting documents. In comparison, CD-RW media can be repeatedly overwritten and therefore it is suitable for frequent backups of your hard disk drive.

Q. Why is it possible to rewrite CD-RW media?

Because instead of using dye to record the marks made by the writer's laser during writing, CD-RW media uses a metallic phase change layer that can be restored to its original condition after writing, and this allows rewriting.

Q. What is a multi-session CD?

It allows additional data to be appended to a previously recorded Disc. (Note that some older CD reader scan reads only the first session of a multi-session disc.) A session is defined as a data section including lead-in, program data and lead-out. A CD rewriter that supports multi-session can write a disc that will have multiple sessions linked together so that any multi-session supported CD reader can access the data, whether it was written in the first session or any other subsequent session.

Q. Why my multi-session disc only has data from the last session?

You might have forgotten to link the files from the previous session into the current one. This resulted in a CD where you can see the new files but none of the old, unless you have a program that lets you choose which session to look at. The files aren't really lost. Most CD rewriter software will allow you to extract a track as an image.

Q. What is a buffer under-run error?

Data read from the hard drive or another CD is stored in the buffer, and pulled out as needed by the rewriter. When the buffer empties while recording, it's called a buffer under-run. The disc continues to spin, but since there's no data to write, the writing process aborts. You might be able to continue using the disc with multi-session CD-ROM drives by closing the session and starting another, if there's enough space left on the CD, and if the disc is not finalized. Once a disc is finalized, nothing more can be written to it.

Q. What is the capacity that a CD can hold?

74 minutes of audio, or 650MB of data. Newer CDs can hold 80 minutes of audio, or 700MB of data.

Q. I can read the CD-R disc on my CD-R drive, but when I put it into a CD-ROM drive it won't play.

The disc has not been "finalized" thus making it unreadable by the CD-ROM reader. Finalization process is the last part of the multi-session process which writes the overall disc table of contents into the disc lead-in area which makes the disc conform to the ISO 9660 standard, or UDF protocol, required by most readers.

Q. Why is my optical media that I’ve recorded cannot play from my home or car stereo?

Media compatibility - Not all commercial optical players are able to handle CD-R, DVD +/-R or CDRW, DVD+/- RW media unless specifically specified by the manufacturer. Occasionally, the optical writer that created the CD/DVD +/-R or CD/DVD +/- RW media may have compatibility issue with the Blank optical media. And that resulted in bad disc being created that can ONLY be read by certain drives/players. To correct this problem, please consult the writer manufacturer and request for firmware update to a version that is compatible with the optical media.
Reflectivity problems - Some older optical ROM drives and audio players were calibrated to read only factory-pressed optical ROM discs that have high laser reflectivity. Optical DVD/CD +/- R or RW media has lower reflectivity and will only work if the drive/player is specifically designed for such media.
Disc not closed - You can't play an audio optical disc on a common optical player (usually older model) until the Disc Session has been closed. You might however be able to play it back with the optical rewriter.
Multiple sessions - Remember to write all of the audio data in one session on a multi-session CD. Compact disc audio players cannot find the later sessions, so tracks written in later sessions won't get played.
Seeking problems - Sometimes the optical player will not have problem playing the tracks, but seeking from track to track; or fast-forwarding, it will take a long time. In this case, play the optical disc in other different players to determine if it is a problem related to the recording or the players.” If it is recording, check that that writer is compatible with the brand of media.
Speed problems - Some media works better written at 1x, 2x, or 4x than it does at other speeds. You may find that slowing down or speeding up the recorder helps.
Wrong formats - Remember to write the disc in CD-DA format. If you write WAV files to a disc in CD-ROM format, the disc will not work in your home stereo.

Q. How to clean my CD-R media?

Use a lens tissue (obtainable from camera shops) and wipe the disc in a radial direction.

Q. Is it okay to write on or stick a label on a disc?

Yes, for felt-marker and CD labels that are specially made for optical disc. The wrong kind of marker or label can damage a disc or caused the disc to be unbalanced; resulting in read/write errors.

Q. How to handle media?

The correct way to handle a CD is by the edges or the center hole. You can also handle the disc by grasping it inside of the center hub-stacking ring. CDs should always be stored in jewel cases or Disk Stakka to prevent scratches rather than being left in a stack. The media should not exposed to direct sunlight.

Q. Will a lower speed CD/DVD media be able to burn on a faster speed burner?

Yes. The burner will burn at a slower speed to ensure that the data burned are readable.

Q. How do I know if I have a single or dual layer DVD?

Double-click ‘My Computer’
Do a right-click on your DVD drive and select properties.
If the disc is less than 4.5GB, then it is a single layer DVD.
If it's more than 4.5GB, you have a dual layer disc.

Q. How many times can I rewrite my DVD/CD RW disc?

DVD/CD RW disc can be overwritten at approximate 1000 times.

Q. I have bought a stack of Imation DVD media, but I can only burn a few pieces successfully. Why is that so?

Most likely, you are facing a "write strategy " incompatibility issue.
Basically, all model of CDRW/DVDRW will have a table of the different brands of CD/DVD RW media in their firmware of the drive, each brand of media needs to be treated differently when it comes to burning it.
However, if a drive cannot match the media to the media table it contains, it will have a very generic write strategy.

And this is where the problem comes about in your case, because

Your drive firmware has not been update to the latest, as such it does not support the latest media.
Your drive maybe too old, as a result the laser maybe losing is capability. Just like any lightbulb, the CDRW/DVDRW, laser last about two years.

Suggestions:
Check with your drive manufacture if there is any latest firmware upgrades for your burner. Or burn the Imation media on other burner.

Q. Drive cannot be detected after installing into my PC.

If the drive is not detected by the BIOS:

Check whether the drive is able to power up. (Able to eject the tray, LED lit etc.)
check that all cables are securely connected (power and IDE cables for internal drives, power and USB/firewire cables for external drives)
Try to change another cable.
For internal drives, ensure that the jumper settings are correctly set.
Install the drive into another PC (if another PC is available) to see if it can be detected. This is to determine if it is a PC hardware fault.

If the drive is not detected in the Device Manager:

Check the cables (as above)
Try uninstalling the drive from the Device Manager and reboot the system.

If the drive is not detected by the burning software:

Update the burning software to the latest version.
Try uninstalling the software and reinstalling it again and updating to the latest version.
Ensure that there is only one burning software is installed in the PC.

Q. I am unable to view any DVD movie discs.

In order to watch DVD movies with your DVD burner, you will need a 3rd party software such as Cyberlink's PowerDVD or Windows Media player, a compatible DVD decoder must be installed for some software.