Format and write to a DVD-RW

[Kristoffel DE GEEST]

I can not write to a RW/DVD (device HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4481B). NOT to a DVD-R and NOT to a DVD-RW
I have no problem when I write to a CD-R or CD-RW with the same device.

I have tried it with tools as xcdroast and k3b. Both utilities recognize my dvd device.

See attachment for the errors and config info.

Why this is not working?

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

It would be somewhat helpful to know the OS and how it was patched.

My experience with writing DVD's on Linux has proven that its almost impossible to do. Seems to be a problem with a lack of software and poor hardware support from the OS.

SEP

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

Sorry forgotten to give OS info

uname -a =>
Linux XXXXXXX 2.6.18-1.2200.fc5smp #1 SMP Sat Oct 14 17:15:35 EDT 2006 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Linux distdistributor: Fedora Core release 5 (Bordeaux)

Attached the output of lsmod

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

Maybe hardware info is also usefull:

HP workstation xw4300

# cat /proc/ide/hda/model
HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4481B

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

s/4300/4200/

[Steve_160]

Try using "groisofs." If not already installed, it should be on FC5 install discs. Here's the command line I use in a script.

In the example "$V" is the volume name, which the script sets to the date and time.

"/dev/hdd" is the writer's device name.

Whatever I want to write to the DVD goes in directory "/cdwrite/data." If it's big, place a link to it in that directory.

"growisofs" will create the image file and write it to the DVD on the fly.

-------- cut here ----------------------
growisofs -Z /dev/hdd -V"$V" -R -J /cdwrite/data
-------- cut here ----------------------

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

Thanks for your help.
unfortunately, still no solution:
with a DVD-RW
$ growisofs -Z /dev/hda -VFC-6-i386 -R -J ./FC-6-i386-DVD.iso
:-( /dev/hda: media is not recognized as recordable DVD: 10

[Steve_160]

Maybe the problem is just that--bad media or media incompatible with your drive.

I have a spindle of Phillips DVD-R's, and about 80% of them return that error. I've had no problems at all with other brands.

"Growisofs" is working for me, but I had the same problems you did with xcdroast and k3b. However, the discs I tried with those were all ruined, so, be sure to try a fresh disc.

Here are a couple of commands I sometimes use to check the status of my drive and media. It might help.
cdrecord -atip
cdrecord -toc

Here's the end of what "-toc" reports on those bad Phillips discs.

Sense Key: 0x2 Not Ready, Segment 0
Sense Code: 0x3A Qual 0x00 (medium not present) Fru 0x0
Sense flags: Blk 0 (not valid)
cmd finished after 0.000s timeout 40s
cdrecord: No disk / Wrong disk!

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

It seems that my DVD is not a DVD/RW, but a CD-RW.

$ cdrecord -toc
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Jörg Schilling
NOTE: This version contains the OSS DVD extensions for cdrtools and thus may
have bugs related to DVD issues that are not present in the original
cdrtools. Please send bug reports or support requests to
http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla The original cdrtools author should
not be bothered with problems in this version.
scsidev: '/dev/cdrom'
devname: '/dev/cdrom'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial libscg transport code version (schily - Red Hat-scsi-linux-sg.c-1.85-RH '@(#)scsi-linux-sg.c 1.85 05/05/16 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 0
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'HL-DT-ST'
Identifikation : 'RW/DVD GCC-4481B'
Revision : '1.16'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-ROM.
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-2 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO SAO/R96P SAO/R96R RAW/R16 RAW/R96P RAW/R96R
first: 1 last 1
track: 1 lba: 0 ( 0) 00:00:00 adr: 1 control: 4 mode: -1
track:lout lba: 2298496 ( 9193984) 35:18:-128 adr: 1 control: 4 mode: -1


$ cdrecord -atip
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Jörg Schilling
NOTE: This version contains the OSS DVD extensions for cdrtools and thus may
have bugs related to DVD issues that are not present in the original
cdrtools. Please send bug reports or support requests to
http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla The original cdrtools author should
not be bothered with problems in this version.
scsidev: '/dev/cdrom'
devname: '/dev/cdrom'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial libscg transport code version (schily - Red Hat-scsi-linux-sg.c-1.85-RH '@(#)scsi-linux-sg.c 1.85 05/05/16 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 0
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'HL-DT-ST'
Identifikation : 'RW/DVD GCC-4481B'
Revision : '1.16'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-ROM.
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-2 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO SAO/R96P SAO/R96R RAW/R16 RAW/R96P RAW/R96R
ATIP info from disk:
Indicated writing power: 3
Reference speed: 4
Is not unrestricted
Is erasable
Disk sub type: Ultra High speed+ Rewritable media (3)
ATIP start of lead in: 223397 (46:220/47)
ATIP start of lead out: 453612 (97:229/87)
2T speed low: 0 (reserved val 5) 2T speed high: 0 (reserved val 10)
A2 values: DA F4 F2
Disk type: unknown dye (reserved id code)
Manuf. index: -1
Manufacturer: unknown (not in table)

Can someone confirm that it is not a DVD-RW device, but only a CD-RW and DVD-ROM device?
But why calling it 'RW/DVD' in the identification?

Thanks for your help.

[Steve_160]

I'd say you're right. It appears that the drive writes CD's but only reads DVD's. A number of the fields, including "Identifikation," are simply the manufacturers description read from the devices ROM chip. It can say anything they want and, intentional or not, it can be misleading as to whether the drive is capable of writing DVD's or only CD's.

Here is a comparison of the "Device seems to be" fields in your output and some of my drives:

Yours: Generic mmc2 DVD-ROM.
Pluto: Generic mmc2 DVD-ROM.
Falcon: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Serv01: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Gaia: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Hera: Generic mmc CD-ROM.

"Pluto" is an HP Pavillion xz-275 laptop that has a factory CD writer but only reads DVD'S.

The next three have DVD writers.

And, for comparison, "Hera" only has a CD-reader.

[DE GEEST Kristoffel]

Thanks again for your help.

I will close this item.

[Gary Cantwell]

Hi Kristoffel,

Please take a moment to assign points to those who have take the time to assist you, here's how:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/helptips.do?#33

Thanks,

Gary