Memorex recorder-burned DVD's won't play on iMac

Question

Memorex recorder-burned DVD's won't play on iMac

Hello. We have two DVD recorders for our TV's: a Memorex mvdr2102 (-R) and a Phillips 615 (+R).

My iMac can play the Phillips-burned DVD's, but not the Memorex-burned ones.

Our Mac mini can play both types of burned DVD's.

So, what's your guess as to why my iMac cannot play the Memorex burned DVD's? Both recorders are fairly new; maybe a year or so. The Phillips has always played and the Memorex not. They play ok in their own machines.

I would just buy another recorder, but I might have the same problem with the next one. So I'd like to get some information first, if possible.

Thank you,
Wilma

IMac PowerPC G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Mar 18, 2007 8:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 19, 2007 5:20 PM in response to Wilma Wildcat

First, Welcome to the discussions.
Without going into a 2 or 3 page explination, this can really be confusing to most casual users that just burn every now and then.
There is a big difference in BURNERS, PLAYERS, SOFTWARE, SPEED, MEDIA.
You see any one of these can have an affect on the ability to play, copy, or read media.
Many stand alone Players come with software that can be PC only when copying, Not like Software like Roxio's Toast 7 or 8 that allow you to select the fomat for copying to PC only, Mac only, or PC or Mac. So as you can see from that the Memorex Player probably has PC only. so you don't have any option to select how projects are burned.
Enough for that, next lets touch on Media Brands. Again there is a huge difference in the Media you choose to use. I find that if you simply follow this Media Guide you will probably be money ahead.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
Next, Speed can also have this same effect. Not all Computers are able to play and read all media Formats and some also have a problem with the higher speed media.
Normally I personally use DVD-R Media. (REASON) it is the most widely used and recognised across the board with Players and Computers.
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd
Most users think DVD is DVD, and that is simply not the case, Many of the older computers have burners that are only capable of burning at 1X or 2X speed, but as time goes buy these speeds and compatability seem to have improved. The bottom line is read the packaging on the Media you buy. and remember Mac is picky about the Media it uses, they simply do not like the cheaper bargin basement Media. You will have your best luck buying top of the line media and when you read the better media will tell you the media will burn at 1X, 2X, 4X, 8X, and 16X. This better media will burn in the old and the new and is top of the line.
Hope this helps you some.
Don

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 20, 2007 9:25 AM in response to Donald Morgan

Thank you for the blank-media link. That should come in handy.

I don't think the blank media is the culprit here, because I use the same brand (different R) in both recorders; and the Phillips-made DVD's play on my IMac, where the Memorex recorder's doesn't.

I have already tried switching media, using Apple's own blanks (again the Memorex is -R, so that part is compatible), and yet the IMac will not read the Memorex-recorded disc.

Also again, our Mac Mini plays discs recorded on both recorders.

If I can't discover and fix the problem, I will need to buy a new recorder -- my problem here being that I don't want to buy another one that isn't compatible.

Can someone recommend a DVD recorder whose recordings will play on my IMac?

Thank you.

Reply