[cjb]

I have an Advent quad core PC with a Optiarc DVD writer. I also have an Advent laptop with a Philips 8820 drive. both running XP Pro.
I also have a LG DVD recorder with LG DVD drive.

I have been experiencing problems with various manufacturers media of late. I got a batch of Imation which although seem to burn OK, on playback I get intermittent errors or complete failure.

I have just bought a new batch of Philips 4x DVD -RW disks and the very first disk I tried just refuses to burn on any of my drives. I am using Nero to burn a simple 100mpg test file and it takes nearly 10 minutes, reporting eventually job completed. When I try it in the same drive to read it, windows reports the drive as a CD drive and no file is visible. If I put the disk into my DVD recorder it tries to format it but reports unrecogniseable disk.

I have no probs with DVD-r disks and usually have success with memorex media... so what is going on here ?
Is it just media or a more sinister problem. I am using XP.

Update. I just tried the same failing disk in my Sony DVD recorder and it dubbed and recorded a program no problem.. and the disk was then readable in my PC. So at least the disks will not end up in the bin.. but I am still wondering what is going on here.