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General discussion

Can somebody help?

Mar 3, 2006 12:38AM PST

Let me explain what I'm try to do and maybe someone can tell me what kind of DVD I need to buy. I'm so confused.....

I want DVD's that I can record on everyday. In other words, I'm recording a program for my husband 5 days a week for him to watch in the evening. I've been using DVD-RW and they worked fine for about 8 months and now they will not record, play, or format. My husband said they are probably worn out.

Someone suggest I use DVD-R instead of RW's. Is that true? Also, do you have to format a DVD-RW EVERY time you re-record something or can you just delete the old program?

Thanks for any help you can give me. Happy

Discussion is locked

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Media, no matter which type will wear out.
Mar 3, 2006 1:35AM PST

If you got 8 months from a DVD-RW media, that disk is now 1 to a few dollars and you can replace it and get another in 8 months.

Why not replace the media?

I did buy a HARD DISK BASED recorder and the kids really like it. However there is no media recorder on it so some will not like that. But it's been going for 2 years without much ado.

In closing, VHS tapes would do worse...

Bob

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Thanks, Bob.
Mar 3, 2006 2:26AM PST

That's exactly what I did this morning, I went and bought more discs. Somebody told me that the life-span of a disc is shortened if you format it a lot. I formatted mine every day before I used it; I thought I had to. But now I'm told that it only has to be formatted the first time, which I guess is called "initializing." I'm thinking now that maybe I should have just deleted the old program instead of formatting it each time. I'll try that this time. Thanks for your help.

Critter Happy

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The media rating is...
Mar 3, 2006 2:40AM PST

A bit tough to find. But it's either 100, 1,000 or 10,000 erases. That's not a firm number either. That number is what the maker tells you it should perform and we'll see well beyond that.

I you formatted daily for 8 months you hit the number of 240. So that's like about the 100 erase cycle rating I've seen on some media. In bulk at 2 bucks each that's 2 cents per use. Not bad.

Bob

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Thanks, again, Bob.
Mar 3, 2006 4:11AM PST

I'm just trying to figure out now if I'm supposed to format it every time I re-record, or just the first time when it's new. Some people have told me every time, but others say just delete the old program. The book that came with my Toshiba Recorder/player doesn't say one way or the other. This time I'm just going to try deleting and see if it will record again. It seems I did that the first time and it wouldn't re-record so that's why I started formatting each time. I can't remember for sure. I HATE progress. I'm an oldie (but goodie) and I sure do miss the simple days of the 50's. Happy

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In my DVD recorder, I just delete the content.
Mar 3, 2006 4:45AM PST

Seems to work fine. I'd try that.

Bob

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Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Mar 4, 2006 1:15AM PST

Well, I went to the store and bought new discs. I bought the ones my DVD recorder suggested: JVC 2x DVD-RW.

Here's the results. It recognized, recorded, and played my two hour shows. Unfortunately, the first show was fine, but the second hour show had picture but no sound!

I hadn't changed anthing on the recorder; just put in the new disc and left everything set up the same as it had been for 8 months. I was hoping the "no sound" was just trouble at the network, but I had a "backup" VCR recording upstairs (just in case) and that one had sound.

I'm about ready to toss this whole DVD system out the window. Sad

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Keep shopping for..
Mar 4, 2006 1:18AM PST

One of those hard disk based DVRs. We found a RCA for about 150. It has a 40GB drive and holds whatever hours that works out depending on what quality level we pick.

Our DVD recorder (an Artec) doesn't get used much anymore.

Bob