gravityfan
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Advice sought: Rules and limits for DVD content
I normally successfully burn CDs and DVDs, but depending on the content, I keep burning DVD coasters, and wonder if anyone knows, or can point me to a website that explains, the rules for content of DVDs.
I sometimes find that if I burn more than 12 directories, the files in the thirteenth directory onwards are not accessible, although the directory displays in Explorer. I assumed that there was a limit on the maximum number of directories, and think I saw a web page at one time that suggested this.
I have no problems burning images and the like, this only happens when trying to create my own content. I use a Lite-On SOHW 1633S, and either Roxio or Nero.
Yesterday, I tried to burn a data DVD with 9 directories, each containing up to about a hundred files. Although it all listed correctly, files in the 8th and 9th directory were inaccessible, and gave CRC errors. I changed the build by removing a couple of the directories, so now there were only 7 directories, but the files on the 6th and 7th gave CRC errors.
My hardware and software are all reliable, and I am led to conclude that I am breaking some specification rules.
Can anyone advise if I should limit my DVDs to a certain maximum number of directories, or a maximum number of total files, or similar?
I need guidelines!
I sometimes find that if I burn more than 12 directories, the files in the thirteenth directory onwards are not accessible, although the directory displays in Explorer. I assumed that there was a limit on the maximum number of directories, and think I saw a web page at one time that suggested this.
I have no problems burning images and the like, this only happens when trying to create my own content. I use a Lite-On SOHW 1633S, and either Roxio or Nero.
Yesterday, I tried to burn a data DVD with 9 directories, each containing up to about a hundred files. Although it all listed correctly, files in the 8th and 9th directory were inaccessible, and gave CRC errors. I changed the build by removing a couple of the directories, so now there were only 7 directories, but the files on the 6th and 7th gave CRC errors.
My hardware and software are all reliable, and I am led to conclude that I am breaking some specification rules.
Can anyone advise if I should limit my DVDs to a certain maximum number of directories, or a maximum number of total files, or similar?
I need guidelines!
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ASKER
I'll check tonight and get back to you.
I know I use Roxio Easy CD/DVD Creator (version 6, I think), and Nero. I'll look up the versions to be sure.
The problem is I can burn one set of files and get success time after time, then another set of files and whatever I do - I get a coaster. It is something related to the set of files I am trying to put on the DVD, it has to be!
I know I use Roxio Easy CD/DVD Creator (version 6, I think), and Nero. I'll look up the versions to be sure.
The problem is I can burn one set of files and get success time after time, then another set of files and whatever I do - I get a coaster. It is something related to the set of files I am trying to put on the DVD, it has to be!
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ASKER
It gets stranger. I ran some tests last evening with a DVD-RW to save making coasters.
It is all down to a single directory.
I was thinking that the directories had a problem because they were not different in the first n characters, like they were named:
thisisalongdirectoryname1,
thisisalongdirectoryname2,
thinking that there needed to be a difference within the first so many characters. That was not the case, but I ended up with only a single letter for the directory name, which makes the typing easier.
Suppose I have a couple of other directories, named "bob" and "tom", each with just a couple of files in them, and the problem directory is now called "f".
If I write these three to a DVD, the root contains:
bob
f
tom
All files in bob and f are accessible and work normally. Files in tom are not.
If i rename "f" to "a", then recreate the disc, the root has:
a
bob
tom
Now only files in "a" are accessible, bob and tom both have problems.
The same happens consistantly with many other tests I performed. Whatever I name the directory, and how ever many directories I copy to the DVD, all directories after this particular directory are unusable on the DVD.
Using Explorer in Win98, the directories are listed in the left pane, but if I click one, instead of the files being displayed in the right pane, I get an error message something about running a program with an invalid parameter.
Using Explorer in XP, the directories are listed in the left pane, and if I click on one of them, the files are listed in the right pane, but if I access any of files, I get a CRC error.
I plan to do some more testing to see if I can narrow this down some, but it is intriguing. I will try reducing the number of files in taht directory or otherwise see if I can limit the occurrence to a single file.
I'm just staggered that copying a perfectly working directory containing a set of perfectly working files to a DVD can cause this sort of problem. Somehow this directory is corrupting the DVD directory.
Anyone got any further ideas that may help?
Thanks, all, for the input. This will be interesting to solve!
BTW, using NERO to create the DVD, with a verificatiob pass after creation just causes NERO to state that the recording failed. No reason is given - no help at all.
It is all down to a single directory.
I was thinking that the directories had a problem because they were not different in the first n characters, like they were named:
thisisalongdirectoryname1,
thisisalongdirectoryname2,
thinking that there needed to be a difference within the first so many characters. That was not the case, but I ended up with only a single letter for the directory name, which makes the typing easier.
Suppose I have a couple of other directories, named "bob" and "tom", each with just a couple of files in them, and the problem directory is now called "f".
If I write these three to a DVD, the root contains:
bob
f
tom
All files in bob and f are accessible and work normally. Files in tom are not.
If i rename "f" to "a", then recreate the disc, the root has:
a
bob
tom
Now only files in "a" are accessible, bob and tom both have problems.
The same happens consistantly with many other tests I performed. Whatever I name the directory, and how ever many directories I copy to the DVD, all directories after this particular directory are unusable on the DVD.
Using Explorer in Win98, the directories are listed in the left pane, but if I click one, instead of the files being displayed in the right pane, I get an error message something about running a program with an invalid parameter.
Using Explorer in XP, the directories are listed in the left pane, and if I click on one of them, the files are listed in the right pane, but if I access any of files, I get a CRC error.
I plan to do some more testing to see if I can narrow this down some, but it is intriguing. I will try reducing the number of files in taht directory or otherwise see if I can limit the occurrence to a single file.
I'm just staggered that copying a perfectly working directory containing a set of perfectly working files to a DVD can cause this sort of problem. Somehow this directory is corrupting the DVD directory.
Anyone got any further ideas that may help?
Thanks, all, for the input. This will be interesting to solve!
BTW, using NERO to create the DVD, with a verificatiob pass after creation just causes NERO to state that the recording failed. No reason is given - no help at all.
This is one of the weirdest problems I've ever heard of...
Did you update the firmware for your drive yet?
WP
Did you update the firmware for your drive yet?
WP
Make sure your PC is free of any spyware. Also remove unecessary Programs from starting up automatically (use msconfig to deselect them).
Makes sure you have "burn proof" (or another, similar option) turned on from within the burner program.
Makes sure you have "burn proof" (or another, similar option) turned on from within the burner program.
ASKER
Thanks again for the input.
Firstly my apology, I got the model number wrong. I was going to get an SOHW-1333S. I have an SOHW-832S.
As far as firmware - the only changes I see on the Lite-On site are for more media compatibility, so I haven't as yet.
I'm fully scanned for spyware, and virus clean. I have little else running, and am using BurnProof.
Now get this! More experiments. The directory name is 41 characters, including spaces. It contains 85 files, each having a filename of 35 characters, plus period plus 3-letter extension.
If I delete ANY ONE of the files, I get a good burn. If I shorten the filenames by ONE CHARACTER - I get a good burn.
I've done literally dozens of burns with loads of combinations, and this is certain, and reproducable 100%.
85 files with 35 character names or longer (+".ext") and anything after that directory on the DVD is unreadable.
85 files with 34 character names or shorter (+".ext") and the whole DVD is great.
I even switched back and forth between these two to prove that it is repeatable. It is.
I will upgrade to the latest firmware tomorrow evening and see if it changes anything. If it isn't a erstriction on the DVD format specification, maybe it is a fault in the writer's buffering that a firmware upgrade will cure.
I still have no idea what's going wrong here, so comments/ideas/suggestions
Firstly my apology, I got the model number wrong. I was going to get an SOHW-1333S. I have an SOHW-832S.
As far as firmware - the only changes I see on the Lite-On site are for more media compatibility, so I haven't as yet.
I'm fully scanned for spyware, and virus clean. I have little else running, and am using BurnProof.
Now get this! More experiments. The directory name is 41 characters, including spaces. It contains 85 files, each having a filename of 35 characters, plus period plus 3-letter extension.
If I delete ANY ONE of the files, I get a good burn. If I shorten the filenames by ONE CHARACTER - I get a good burn.
I've done literally dozens of burns with loads of combinations, and this is certain, and reproducable 100%.
85 files with 35 character names or longer (+".ext") and anything after that directory on the DVD is unreadable.
85 files with 34 character names or shorter (+".ext") and the whole DVD is great.
I even switched back and forth between these two to prove that it is repeatable. It is.
I will upgrade to the latest firmware tomorrow evening and see if it changes anything. If it isn't a erstriction on the DVD format specification, maybe it is a fault in the writer's buffering that a firmware upgrade will cure.
I still have no idea what's going wrong here, so comments/ideas/suggestions
SOLUTION
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ASKER
I didn't get a resolution to this problem.
I have since burnt DVDs with a large number of directories, some with a large number of files, some
of which had very long filenames.
This particular directory, however, I cannot put to DVD without directory corruption on the resultant burn.
However, everyone's help was much appreciated, especially for the useful links, so I have split the points. Each award is only a small number of points, but it's a "Thank You" for trying.
Trying to help someone else is a commendable thing, whatever the outcome.
gravityfan
I have since burnt DVDs with a large number of directories, some with a large number of files, some
of which had very long filenames.
This particular directory, however, I cannot put to DVD without directory corruption on the resultant burn.
However, everyone's help was much appreciated, especially for the useful links, so I have split the points. Each award is only a small number of points, but it's a "Thank You" for trying.
Trying to help someone else is a commendable thing, whatever the outcome.
gravityfan
No problem, thanx.
ASKER
That's not the solution.
I've come up against the max filename length, this time it's not the cause.
This isn't just inconsistant writes. I can reliably and repeatedly burn good DVDs, then I can repeatedly burn these bad DVDs.
It's not a reliability problem, it has to be some rules that I am breaking.