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I/OMagic IDVD16DL - Player Compatibility

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:51 pm
by rkeberdle
I recently installed this new drive and attempted to make some backup copies of DVD movies using DVDShrink and the Nero OEM suite included with the drive. The process completed without a hitch for several different titles using two types of DVD-R media, Imation 8x and Fujifilm 16x. Neither of the discs could be read in my DVD Player and when I gave them to other people to test in their systems they had similar troubles. The movies could be played using DVD-Rom drives and WinDVD, but not in home players. Does anyone have any ideas? At first I thought it might be the media, but considering the discs played in some systems, I don't know if this is the issue.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:53 am
by Justin42
It could be the media or the drive. It seems like the odds of multiple (Different) home players rejecting it are pretty low, unless the disc was mis-authored.

You did create a DVD with the VIDEO_TS folder, correct? (you didn't just burn the files from Shrink onto a disk?) DVD video needs to have its file structure within a VIDEO_TS folder. Computers will be more forgiving of this but a home player will be pretty insistent... (and it would explain the consistent failures you're seeing)

Imation media is pretty crappy. Fuji used to be good but has taken a drastic turn for the worse of late. Try to find some 16X Verbatim media; it is pretty good and pretty easy to find. Burn it at like 8x or 12x; I find best results in that range. I never burn at full speed, I find somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4th the discs' rated speed is a good sweet spot.

Be sure you're using the latest firmware for your drive. I'm not sure who the OEM is for that drive, hopefully it's a decent burner...

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:18 am
by rkeberdle
I did make sure that the proper file structure was in place for the burn to media. I will have to try to find some of the Verbatim 16x discs because I have heard nothing but good things about them. I do not know who the OEM for this drive is but I will try to track this down as well and see if any firmware updates are available. Thank you for the tips!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:13 pm
by VideoRoy
I thought that BenQ was making some of the I/O Magic drives. Is this the model that has LightScribe? If so it might be the dw1655.

When I was tracking down FW GCAB that came on my OEM dw1655 there were a lot of references to I/O Magic.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:47 pm
by dodecahedron
yeah, what is the firmware version of your I/O Magic drive ?

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:57 pm
by rkeberdle
I found a link on cdfreaks for BTC drives, which was what other threads on this site led me to believe mine was. I updated my firmware from A089 to A091 and retested...no luck. I then experimented with burn rates, going all the way down to 4x. The 4x disc loaded after a long delay, but playback was choppy. The 8x burn had similar behavior, and anything above this was totally unreadable. My next test is to buy a new spindle of DVD's, although so far the media costs more than the drive itself.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 8:41 pm
by Justin42
Ick, a BTC drive probably explains your issues (they're not known for being very good, unfortunately)... it's obviously a drive/media mismatch, if slowing it down is helping the problem.

Imation media still is pretty crappy so you might just need to find media that's a better match for that particular burner.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:26 pm
by TCAS
If you post your drive spects and f/w version you have then the people would be in better position to give more senseable answer to your problem and the make of your drive.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:23 am
by rkeberdle
What additional information would be helpful? I have already posted the model number and f/w revision. The distributor's website for the product is the following:

http://www.iomagic.com/Products/show_al ... D=IDVD16DL

However, it provides no firmware updates or other useful information. The f/w upgrade I have already completed I found through forums such as this one.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:13 am
by TCAS
There is high possibility that this drive as other posters have said is BTC if that is the case you are end-up with a lemon drive and my recommendation is to return the drive for full refund.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:36 am
by rkeberdle
I purchased some Verbatim media because I heard these were very good and attempted to burn the same movie I have used as my test case. I burned at 16x and then attempted to play it in my player. The disc loaded quicker than the Fujifilm or Imation discs, but ultimately the playback was choppy. I'm going to try one more time, at a much slower rate, and see if that improves anything. If not, the drive is on its way back to the store.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:09 am
by TCAS
I bought I/) Magic this afternoon from Stples which this week they have on sale for $49.99 Then I submitted Staples $10 coupon + Staples Customer Appreciation Week Couponof %12 discount so I walked out of store with drive for $38 including tax. The drive is BenQ 1655 and I crosss flashed it with BenQ BCDB f/w also.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:23 am
by TCAS
Once Again:

Unbrand Playo disc DVD+R, 8X
MID:AML 002, Made in Hong Kong
SB:Off, WOPC:Off & OS:On
Burning Speed @16X
Burning Time: 5:33 Min
Drive: I/O Magic @BenQ1655

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:42 pm
by rkeberdle
So the drive you bought was...http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/store ... tId=127199

I ask only because there is a second similar drive...http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/store ... tId=131512

...that has also been on sale recently.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:09 pm
by TCAS
The drive is on sale for $49.99 this week at Staples stores and that is what I bought it from. ofcourse $49.99-$10 coupon-$5 (%12 customer satisfaction week coupon)=$35 +tax.