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Newbie...Patience please.
I have just installed a NEC ND-1300a into a Dell. I can read DVD's with no problem. I am using 123copydvd to make backups of my collection and am unable to create DVD that can be played back.
Tried Sony, TDK, Maxell dvd's
Any suggestions? I have the drive info. Should I post it here?

Just wanted to ask a quick little question. Are you using something to de-CSS the DVD before you try to back it up? If you are not, you might want to download DVDShrink or some other ripping program to extract the DVD content before attempting to manipulate and burn it onto your blanks. Personally I love DVDShrink, it works great, allows you to get rid of all the extras and menus, shrinks it to fit on your single layer disc, and it even allows you to use Nero to burn a copy automatically right after it encodes. All for free!

Yes, the 123copydvd handles the de-CSS as it copies it to my harddrive. The product then copies it from the harddrive to the DVD rom.
Between the original posting and now, I downloaded the DVDshrink and Nero 6 demo. I am having similar results. I can copy to the harddrive with DVDshrink, but I am unsuccessful in creating the DVD with Nero.
What other info can I provide?

Hook 'Em HORNS!!

What settings are you using for your burns? Try using the DVD Video setting, and just take all the stuff in the VIDEO_TS folder, but not the folder itself, and drag it to the VIDEO_TS folder set up by Nero. This should make the most compatible disc that your drive can burn. I am not sure if these drives can bitset but if they can and you have a +R/+RW disc then set the disc to DVD-ROM for even more compatibility.

I did this, but I was using DVD-R.
I bought this drive on eBay (real cheap). It may not be a good drive.
If I wanted to start over, what drive would be a good drive to purchase? I have 2 goals.
1. Backup my existing collection. Would want to be able to view backups on most DVD players & PC
2. I want to convert my old vhs home movies to DVD ( I realize this would require additional hardware & software)

Unfortunately, I am on a budget. My system is a Dell 2400 with 2.8 P4, 768mb of ram and a 80g hard drive. OS is XP Home Edition with sp1. I would use the DVDShrink & Nero to burn the DVDs.
Any suggestions?

Try +R media before you give up on this burner. I know for a fact that this model worked a ton better using +R media than -R, especially if it is cheaper media. I used to own one of these and it did a solid job for me, but I almost exclusively use +R media. Depending on how much of that -R media you have, you may want to look at one of the Pioneer drives if you decide to start over. That being said, I absolutely love my NEC 3500AG. It burns a ton of the cheaper 4x media at 8x and it just does its job well. However, I realize you may be a little wary of another NEC . Check out Newegg as they usually have great deals on these drives (the NEC and Pioneers), and avoid the cheapo's on sale every other week at BB, CC, and OM as they are usually the lesser brands and you will probably not be happy with them in the long run. Just my two cents.

I will try the +R.
I noticed that alot of the drives are OEM.
Example at newegg.com: NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK, OEM
Do I need to steer away from these or are they OK?

If you already have burning software then you really can get by with the straight OEM. If not then by all means get the OEM package with burning software. I hear that NEC is going to sell a retail package in the States soon, but until then NEC is an OEM drive here in the US. The Pioneer is sold in the US in a retail package, but at a premium. The OEM represents a nice value though the warranty is limited to what Newegg will provide. I wouldn't worry a whole lot about warranty with either of these drives however as they both have excellent reputations for build quality.

I finally burned a backup.
I deinstalled Sonic DLA. I downloaded the latest firmware and upgraded. Rebooted. I removed the drive using Device Manager and had the system rediscover it.
Nero (demo) worked.
Thanks for your assistance.

Hook 'em Horns!!!