I recorded some TV programmes, that were shown weekly, on my Sony DVD Recorder. They played fine when I first played them back. Now, when I insert the disc into the original machine the disc was recorded on, I get the message "Cannot play this disk" and the DVD disc is ejected. The instructions say I only need to finalise the disc if I want to play it on another machine. As it is being inserted into the original recorder/player I thought I didn't need to finalise it. I have given the disc a good clean, but still it will not play. Pre-recorded, shop bought DVDs play OK, so I don't think it is the recorder that is at fault. Any advice, please, or should I consign the disc to the bin?
Hmmm ... The term finalizing referrs to +RW or -RW format disks that you want to play on another machine (like you said). But you have referred to your disk as a -R format. Unless you mistyped what you meant, a -R or a +R format disk does not need to be finalized. So, if the disk is indeed a -R format, then I suspect it to be defective. Does it play on another machine? Maybe your recoder is cranky. Try another blank disk to see if it does the same. My VHS / DVD combo player is not the same brand as yours. I have not had a problem like yours. So, I can't duplicate your symptom or offer much more in advice.
Incorrect. A RW does not necessarily need to be finalized, but a -R or +R always needs to be finalized to play on another machine, and sometimes even to play on the machine that recorded it (if the disc is defective). There is a good chance your media is bad, especially if it's some kind of retail-store-bought or no-name brand. Stick with Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden. You might try updating your recorder's firmware in order to get it to recognize the media, but if your recorder recorded to it once, it probably won't change anything. If it won't finalize and play, see if it will work in a PC DVD drive, and try copying the directories and files and reburning.
Thanks for the replies. The media is actually a Sony DVD-R. I bought a pack when I bought the recorder. I don't have a DVD drive on this PC but there is one on the laptop my wife uses for school. I put the disc in that one and it wont play, or even recognise it. It just makes a clicking noise. It looks like the disc is defective so it's into the bin for that one. Fortunately the BBC are about to release the programmes (The Impressionists) on a DVD so I will buy it when it comes out. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
