CD-R thinks blank CD is full - 16X compatibility issue? (1 Viewer)

[Marvin]

After almost 2 years, I finally got around to trying out the CD writer that came with my PC (which runs on XP). (The CD-R model is by Samsung.) A while back I had picked up some TDK 16X CD-R discs, which is what I used to try to write something (an LP copy) to disc.

I kept getting prompted to put in a disc with at least 41 minutes of free space (the length of the album I had copied), no matter how many times I clicked on "retry" or put in a different blank disc. When I would just click "ignore", the write would fail right away.

I checked the CD writer's properties in "My Computer" and it showed that the entire disc was full (blue) though it also showed there were 0 used bytes and 0 free bytes.

Out of desperation I tried putting in an audio-CD-R (the more expensive type you have to use for stereo based CD recorders). And this worked fine.

So I'm wondering, does this mean a CD writer that can't go above 8X speed isn't able to handle a 16X CD-R disc? The discs aren't downward compatible? Or could it be a brand incompatibility or bad batch of discs?

I assume it's a speed incompatibility issue but I'd like to verify that before picking up a different batch of CD-Rs. Thanks!

 

[Kyle McKnight]

I don't think it's a speed issue. I use CDRs rated at 48x in my 6x burner.

 

[Jeff Jacobson]

Sometimes certain CD burners don't like certain brands of CD-Rs.

 

[Mike Fassler]

yeah sounds like your burner has a problem with that media, try out another brand. or could be a bad disc, i have a TDK VeloCD 48x burner and had a bunch of bad discs in the last 50 pack i used. my burner isnt very picky towards media, i can generally burn any media, but there are only a few i really like.

Memorex,Fuji,and Maxell discs seem to be the best ive tried out of all the brands ive used in the last few years.

 

[Marvin]

OK, thanks for the responses. I guess I can rule out the speed incompatibility. I tried a few discs from the top of the spindle with the same results. Maybe I'll try a few from the bottom just in case. I guess it could just be a bad batch but from the responses, it sounds like it's more likely a brand incompatibility. As I mentioned, an audio
CD-R worked, so maybe I'll try a data CD-R of the same brand (Memorex).

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

There are some discs listed as "high speed" or some such thing that won't work with all burners... i run into this issue at work.

The app says the disc is full or invalid.

-Vince

 

[Marvin]

I ended up buying a pack of a different brand of CD-Rs - Philips - that are 48X speed and they worked fine. So I guess it's most likely a brand incompatibility. The TDK discs have a slightly bluish tint so maybe that's the key.

 

[nolesrule]

How old was the spindle? Unburned discs can go bad after awhile if not stored in ideal conditions.

 

[Marvin]

That's not a comforting thought.

I had the discs in an unopened package about 1 year and a half, give or take a few months. I keep them in the same closet as my audio CD-R discs, none of which has caused a problem so far. Maybe it's not a good idea to stock up on these things??

 

[MarkHastings]

Have you tried burning at lower speeds? Even try 1x, it may help.

 

[Rob Gillespie]

TDK blanks used to be pretty much the best in the business. Then they started to outsource manufacturing and the standards have slipped.