Which format would you depend on for backing up crucial data on your com? DVD-+R, or DVD-RAM? And if it's the former, would you go with the original minus or the rumoured-to-be-better plus format?

Here's some of the articles I have looked at beforehand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvd-ram#Advantages_of_DVD-RAM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-R
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD%2BR

I have been using DVD+Rs for my backups as the impression I have was that write-once media are more reliable for data backups than re-writables. I have dismissed -RWs for certain, and -RAMs as I thought they were just for camcorders until a while ago when I read up the Wiki about it. It seems that DVD-RAM discs contains many features geared towards integrity and security of the data it holds. And, the wiki articles show one which has an optional cartridge. But how the hell does it fit into a computer optical drive?

Dun matter if u are not backing up DVD (mpeg 2) disc. If data or avi stuff... dun really matter at all, coz most pc dvd rom accept both format. Dun think there is much to worry abt since most new dvd player can play both format.

As for DVD ram... well that is rarer... so avoid it unless necessary.

Originally posted by EarlNeo:

Dun matter if u are not backing up DVD (mpeg 2) disc. If data or avi stuff... dun really matter at all, coz most pc dvd rom accept both format. Dun think there is much to worry abt since most new dvd player can play both format.

As for DVD ram... well that is rarer... so avoid it unless necessary.

Compatibility is not much of an issue. What I'm focusing on is data security. As in I don't want my data to be unreadable after 5-10 years from now because of, for example, the dye on the discs has started to decompose and form green goo etc.

While on the topic, I would like to know how you guys rank Sony, Verbatim and TDK in terms of media quality. Include the country it is manufactured from if necessary.

No preference. Have not really met real bad disaster.

As for brands... preference is towards TDK. Seems to last better than any other brands. Verbatim... despite its name... is perhaps one of the worst. If you don't understand... here's what Verbatim means - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+verbatim&btnG=Google+Search

I call it Non-Verbatim.

Sony... slightly better. Just that data doesn't last on Sony DVDs. Half of my data gone after I go for one year without backups. If I wait any more longer... all my data gone.

I used to store all my photos in cd drives(and later,DVD) but i made a wise decsicion to switch to a external HDD as some of the older cd start to malfunction slightly.

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

No preference. Have not really met real bad disaster.

As for brands... preference is towards TDK. Seems to last better than any other brands. Verbatim... despite its name... is perhaps one of the worst. If you don't understand... here's what Verbatim means - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+verbatim&btnG=Google+Search

I call it Non-Verbatim.

Sony... slightly better. Just that data doesn't last on Sony DVDs. Half of my data gone after I go for one year without backups. If I wait any more longer... all my data gone.

Err. You mean the data on the Sony DVDs were gone after a year? *Scrambles for backups done on Sony DVDs*

I heard that quality actually differs among discs of the same brand. Hence, they suggest that the media ID of the discs would be a better indicator of its quality.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

I got a spundle of 50 TDK DVD+Rs a few months ago for backups and after checking with DVD Identifier, they turn out to be outsourced products with a media ID from a 2nd class media based on the table on the link above.

Kinda regretted it after that, and I just pray that my data stored in them don't disappear before I am able to afford to utilize the next generation optical media technology.

mitsui

ricoh

Originally posted by LatecomerX:

Err. You mean the data on the Sony DVDs were gone after a year? *Scrambles for backups done on Sony DVDs*

I heard that quality actually differs among discs of the same brand. Hence, they suggest that the media ID of the discs would be a better indicator of its quality.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

I got a spundle of 50 TDK DVD+Rs a few months ago for backups and after checking with DVD Identifier, they turn out to be outsourced products with a media ID from a 2nd class media based on the table on the link above.

Kinda regretted it after that, and I just pray that my data stored in them don't disappear before I am able to afford to utilize the next generation optical media technology.

Whole disc spoilt. To me, this equates to my data gone as well. Doesn't really matter though, since they can be easily recovered from the web as they are not really important.

I don't really check the media ID... it doesn't matter for me. The TDK discs are still working...

Why not just get another hard disk? External or internal ones. Or upload to some online servers like Mozy.

I choose -R for more compatibiity.

Some more important backups, I will store it online, ready to be access anywhere in the world.

Originally posted by LatecomerX:

I got a spundle of 50 TDK DVD+Rs a few months ago for backups and after checking with DVD Identifier, they turn out to be outsourced products with a media ID from a 2nd class media based on the table on the link above.

Kinda regretted it after that, and I just pray that my data stored in them don't disappear before I am able to afford to utilize the next generation optical media technology.

Yeah, I hate TDK. Bunch of cheap discs at premium price. Always have power calibration error. Complained to their customer service also no help.

Nowadays I use Taiyo for important data and Princo for not so important ones.

Originally posted by Really mama?:

Yeah, I hate TDK. Bunch of cheap discs at premium price. Always have power calibration error. Complained to their customer service also no help.

Nowadays I use Taiyo for important data and Princo for not so important ones.

Maybe me is lucky. TDK works very well for me.

Last nite I try to burn a DVD-R with 2.1GB of mp3. But midway after burning, it stops and shows burn unsuccessful at 8x. So I try 4x speed also same, cannot burn. Total I wasted 6 DVD-R while trying again and again. Wats wrong huh? Is it the DVD-R cannot be use or cannot one shot burn 2.1gb of mp3 into a DVD-R which is 4GB in size?

Originally posted by Manager433:

Last nite I try to burn a DVD-R with 2.1GB of mp3. But midway after burning, it stops and shows burn unsuccessful at 8x. So I try 4x speed also same, cannot burn. Total I wasted 6 DVD-R while trying again and again. Wats wrong huh? Is it the DVD-R cannot be use or cannot one shot burn 2.1gb of mp3 into a DVD-R which is 4GB in size?

Name me the brand and age of your optical drive, and the brand of your disc. And are you able to burn DVDs successfully with other disc brands?

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

Whole disc spoilt. To me, this equates to my data gone as well. Doesn't really matter though, since they can be easily recovered from the web as they are not really important.

I don't really check the media ID... it doesn't matter for me. The TDK discs are still working...

Why not just get another hard disk? External or internal ones. Or upload to some online servers like Mozy.

I'll be getting a HDD soon. But still, hard disks are relatively less reliable in comparison with optical media. Some of the data I'm backing up is very important, so I'm looking for something that can store them for decades, so that the chances of it failing before 5 years or so would be minimal.

Originally posted by LatecomerX:

Name me the brand and age of your optical drive, and the brand of your disc. And are you able to burn DVDs successfully with other disc brands?

Just bought my LG DVDRW last month. The disc is TDK DVD+R single sided dvd-recordable data/video 4.7gb 1-8x speed.

Originally posted by Manager433:

Just bought my LG DVDRW last month. The disc is TDK DVD+R single sided dvd-recordable data/video 4.7gb 1-8x speed.

Iirc, there were a handful of bad reviews on LG's 20x model. You may want to google the model name of your drive to confirm that.

Have you tried burning files in smaller amounts before and was it successful?

Originally posted by LatecomerX:

Iirc, there were a handful of bad reviews on LG's 20x model. You may want to google the model name of your drive to confirm that.

Have you tried burning files in smaller amounts before and was it successful?

haha. I juz did try to burn a 660mb of mp3 into the DVD. Cannot too. Screen will show burning fail at 8x I try 4x speed also cannot. Wat other brand of DVDRW that is below the price of $60? No wonder this model so cheap at challenger store. So many pieces!

try using DeepBurner software.

Originally posted by Manager433:

haha. I juz did try to burn a 660mb of mp3 into the DVD. Cannot too. Screen will show burning fail at 8x I try 4x speed also cannot. Wat other brand of DVDRW that is below the price of $60? No wonder this model so cheap at challenger store. So many pieces!

Most DVD-RW drives are within the $50 - $70 range. But your optical drive may not be the cause of the issue you are facing. How about burning other data, or working with CDs? If you have a DVD-RW (so that in case the burn fails, you can erase and re-use them) that is not of TDK, you can try them as well. Try changing the disc burning software used and other solutions so as to isolate the cause of the problem.

Originally posted by LatecomerX:

Most DVD-RW drives are within the $50 - $70 range. But your optical drive may not be the cause of the issue you are facing. How about burning other data, or working with CDs? If you have a DVD-RW (so that in case the burn fails, you can erase and re-use them) that is not of TDK, you can try them as well.

I try to burn movies by using CD can. No problems wif the software. But its the DVD related problems. Non of my friends using LG. All SONY. I only have DVD-R dics wif me now. I think its the disc leh. DVD+R disc from TDK. Wat the brand of the disc u using?

Really?

Data on a DVD+R disc lasts longer than that on a DVD-R?

I've been using a pile of Philips DVD-Rs I was given and I wrote down the date which I burned the data onto each disc, cos my Sony CD-RWs went blank after a year.

Any reviews or comments on Imation?

Anyway, what DVD writers did you guys use?

Originally posted by Really mama?:

try using DeepBurner software.

CD BurnerXP Pro for those who are really used to Nero. It's interface is quite close to Nero.

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

CD BurnerXP Pro for those who are really used to Nero. It's interface is quite close to Nero.

Does it test burn before burning? Some software like nero burn a little to calibrate the lasers. This usually means power calibration error for poor quality dvds. like TDK

How long does a 8x speed dvd takes to burn? On Nero, it took around 10mins and on DeepBurner, it takes nearly an hour Im using pioneer.

Originally posted by Manager433:

I try to burn movies by using CD can. No problems wif the software. But its the DVD related problems. Non of my friends using LG. All SONY. I only have DVD-R dics wif me now. I think its the disc leh. DVD+R disc from TDK. Wat the brand of the disc u using?

I using LG 18x with TDK DVD+R 16x. LG not that bad la (self-consolation). Get a DVD-RW from other brands to test first. If still cannot, just tell the retailer what you have done to confirm that the drive is faulty then change to another drive of the same or other models de lo. If the 7-day 1:1 exchange period is over, then you'll have to use the warranty, I guess.