Fun CD Burning Problems! Yay (sarcasm)!
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Cardcaptor Takato
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Fun CD Burning Problems! Yay (sarcasm)!
Yay! I have fun cd burning problems for everyone to solve! Ok, where should I start? First of all, I'm having problems burning VCDs with Nero. Sometimes when I try burning a VCD, it'll say "burn completed successfully" or something like that, but when I watch the VCD, the screen will pause and the audio will keep on going. I'm also having problems burning simple 'ol data discs. I'll burn the file to a data disc and then open up the file from a media player, but it'll say nothing's there. So, I check out the cd-r drive and yep, I don't see any files there. I tested this with three cds and different files and the same thing happens, so does anyone have the solution to this problem?
"If we can''t comprehend the plan at hand, how could a higher plan make any more sense? I'd say you can only be a martyr if you know what you are dying for, and choose it"-Elphaba
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
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Slrjoecool
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You may want to attempt getting a CD-ROM drive cleaning disk to see if that will fix it. They run around $10 at any office supply or computer store, or Wal-Mart.
Otherwise, it could be bad media (ie. a bad batch of disks). In this case, you would want to buy new disks.
Hope this helps.
Otherwise, it could be bad media (ie. a bad batch of disks). In this case, you would want to buy new disks.
Hope this helps.
~~ Married to my Tiffu on August 4th, 2007 ~~
Flesh may cross the portal,
and seek it’s master Death.
Life may go where Death has trod,
and challenge, like Scheherazade,
he who reigns beneath the sod,
to spare a mortal’s breath.
My Journal: Hope
Web Gallery of Michael’s Pictures
Flesh may cross the portal,
and seek it’s master Death.
Life may go where Death has trod,
and challenge, like Scheherazade,
he who reigns beneath the sod,
to spare a mortal’s breath.
My Journal: Hope
Web Gallery of Michael’s Pictures
Concerning the problem with data discs ... there can be a lot of things that cause that sort of problem. First of all, it would be important to know if the disc has actually been burned. When you pop the disc in, right-click on the icon for your CD drive, and go to properties. It should show, among other things, the File System used and the amount of Used Space/Free Space.
If the File System is RAW, and the CD has 0 bytes Used Space and 650 MB (or 700 MB, or whatever size your CD is) Free Space, then nothing has happened. If the format is something beside RAW, and the Used Space and Free Space are both 0 bytes, then it's likely that the CD just started to be burned, something happened to stop it, and now the disc is effectively useless. If you have something beside this, then something else is going on.
One word of advice - while testing this out, I would recommend using a CD-RW rather than CD-R's. That way, if something messes up with the RW, you can just erase it and try again. It's slower to write to an RW after the first time (rewrite speeds are always slower than write speeds), but it could save you from winding up with a whole bunch of coasters.I've burned probably close to 100 VCD's with Nero, and I've never had a problem.
As for the VCD stuff ... I use TMPGEnc to encode the files as MPEG-1 files. As Sakuya said, you have to make sure you have the standard VCD template loaded. If you're converting the files yourself, this could be a potential problem ... although I don't think Nero will let you burn files that are not the VCD standard as VCD's. (I didn't encode some files properly one time, and I seem to recall Nero complaining that the files I wanted to use for a VCD weren't correct.)
A few other quick things:
1) Do you have any other CD/DVD drives on the computer (in particular any CD/DVD burners)?
2) Have you burned data discs or VCD's in the past? If so:
- When did this problem begin to arise?
- Did you install any new hardware/software recently? (Even something seemingly unrelated to a CD burner might affect it.)
- Do you use Nero to burn everything, or do you use Nero just for VCD's and another program for data?
As Sakuya said, the problem with VCD's might be related to your computer's DVD player and/or playback software. For example, I use WinDVD, and I have had no problems with VCD playback with either of the DVD drives I've had.
If you have a DVD player (i.e. one not hooked up to your computer) that supports VCD's, you can try playing the VCD in there. However, I would be careful - my (non-computer) DVD player doesn't like the VCD's I create, and when I try to play them it messes the VCD up. Check your manual to see if it supports VCD's.
If the File System is RAW, and the CD has 0 bytes Used Space and 650 MB (or 700 MB, or whatever size your CD is) Free Space, then nothing has happened. If the format is something beside RAW, and the Used Space and Free Space are both 0 bytes, then it's likely that the CD just started to be burned, something happened to stop it, and now the disc is effectively useless. If you have something beside this, then something else is going on.
One word of advice - while testing this out, I would recommend using a CD-RW rather than CD-R's. That way, if something messes up with the RW, you can just erase it and try again. It's slower to write to an RW after the first time (rewrite speeds are always slower than write speeds), but it could save you from winding up with a whole bunch of coasters.I've burned probably close to 100 VCD's with Nero, and I've never had a problem.
As for the VCD stuff ... I use TMPGEnc to encode the files as MPEG-1 files. As Sakuya said, you have to make sure you have the standard VCD template loaded. If you're converting the files yourself, this could be a potential problem ... although I don't think Nero will let you burn files that are not the VCD standard as VCD's. (I didn't encode some files properly one time, and I seem to recall Nero complaining that the files I wanted to use for a VCD weren't correct.)
A few other quick things:
1) Do you have any other CD/DVD drives on the computer (in particular any CD/DVD burners)?
2) Have you burned data discs or VCD's in the past? If so:
- When did this problem begin to arise?
- Did you install any new hardware/software recently? (Even something seemingly unrelated to a CD burner might affect it.)
- Do you use Nero to burn everything, or do you use Nero just for VCD's and another program for data?
As Sakuya said, the problem with VCD's might be related to your computer's DVD player and/or playback software. For example, I use WinDVD, and I have had no problems with VCD playback with either of the DVD drives I've had.
If you have a DVD player (i.e. one not hooked up to your computer) that supports VCD's, you can try playing the VCD in there. However, I would be careful - my (non-computer) DVD player doesn't like the VCD's I create, and when I try to play them it messes the VCD up. Check your manual to see if it supports VCD's.
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Cardcaptor Takato
- ZOMFG 1337
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 8:43 am
- Location: Chattanooga, TN, USA.
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The file I was burning to a VCD was Sailor Moon S, episodes 23-28 and I got it from Anime Galaxy via Bittorrent. The files were originally AVI, which Nero converted to MPEG for me.Sakuya wrote:For the VCD, where did you get the MPEG files for it? If you converted it yourself from an AVI, then did you use the standard VCD template? Or maybe your DVD player does not support VCDs?
1) Do you have any other CD/DVD drives on the computer (in particular any CD/DVD burners)?
2) Have you burned data discs or VCD's in the past? If so:
- When did this problem begin to arise?
- Did you install any new hardware/software recently? (Even something seemingly unrelated to a CD burner might affect it.)
- Do you use Nero to burn everything, or do you use Nero just for VCD's and another program for data?
The problem with the data discs seems to have been fixed and I didn't even have to do anything to fix it. It just suddenly started working again, but I'm still having problems with VCDs.
1)No, I don't have any other CD/DVD drives on the computer, but I do have Easy CD Creator 6 installed on it. That program is broken and doesn't work anymore though, so I don't ever use it until I can get it fixed.
2)This problem with the data discs just started yesterday and it's fixed now. ^^;; I can't remember any hardware/software that's been installed recently. I also use Nero to burn everything. I sometimes use Realplayer to burn audio cds, but other than that, I always use Nero.
"If we can''t comprehend the plan at hand, how could a higher plan make any more sense? I'd say you can only be a martyr if you know what you are dying for, and choose it"-Elphaba
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
Glad to hear the data disc related issue has been cleared up. Maybe you just had a bad disc or two? I've had a few discs just simply not work.
Anyway, as for the VCD thing ... I just spent about 10 minutes doing some searching, and apparently Nero's built-in AVI to MPEG converter is not that great. Some people get it to work, but it's very hit-and-miss.
Many people have suggested using an external program to do the converting, and I would recommend doing so as well. A very popular program for converting between formats is TMPGEnc (http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_main.html).
Here's how I create VCD's:
1) Open TMPGEnc. Near the bottom-right corner, there is a "Load" button. Click it, find the "Template" folder, and select "VideoCD (NTSC).mcf" - NTSC is the North American (among other places) standard for videos, while PAL is primarily European. NTSC Film is a specific thing that I've never used. Go with NTSC.
Along the bottom of the window, you should see "Video-CD NTSC (MPEG-1 352x240 29.97fps CBR 1150kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)". If you don't, then you didn't load the correct template.
2) Select the file to download as both the video and audio source (some people like to split the audio source using yet another program - like VirtualDub - because it can give better quality, but I find TMPGEnc does a fine job with it). Then, select the output file name (it will have a .mpg extension).
3) Click "Start" at the top-left. TMPGEnc will encode the file. The amount of time varies - I've had it take between 20 minutes and 45 minutes to do a 25-minute episode.
There is a way to set up a batch encode - once you have the first file loaded and ready to go, click File -> Save Project. After saving it, repeat steps 2 and 3 for each file, making sure to save each project. (The project files end with a .tpr).
Afterwards, click File -> Batch Encode. Click the "Add" button, and add in the .tpr files. Once they're all added, click "Run".
4) Once it's done, open Nero. Select "Video CD" from the menu, and then add in the .mpg files that you just created. Once that's done, you can burn the compilation. For me, it takes just over 5 minutes to burn one VCD with 3 normal-length episodes.
That should be it. I've done this same process a whole bunch of times, and never had any problems (except for the faulty-disc incidents, which obviously has nothing to do with the files themselves). All in all, it will probably take you close to 2 hours to burn one disc of three episodes (~1.5 hours for encoding, and the remaining time to check the files, burn them, and then check the VCD).
If you have enough hard drive space (.mpg files are ~250 MB each), I would recommend burning a whole bunch of files at once, and then burn a whole bunch of VCD's at one time. That's what I usually do.
One last thing - sometimes when I use TMPGEnc, it will cut the last second or two of a file. On its own this isn't bad, but if I'm doing a batch encode then the entire batch will stop. It can be very irritating. That's why I like to run the program while I'm around but not using the computer (e.g. eating supper, watching TV, etc.). That way, if it messes up, I'll catch it and can restart the batch encode. Overall, though, it's a really good program, and I would strongly recommend it.
Anyway, as for the VCD thing ... I just spent about 10 minutes doing some searching, and apparently Nero's built-in AVI to MPEG converter is not that great. Some people get it to work, but it's very hit-and-miss.
Many people have suggested using an external program to do the converting, and I would recommend doing so as well. A very popular program for converting between formats is TMPGEnc (http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_main.html).
Here's how I create VCD's:
1) Open TMPGEnc. Near the bottom-right corner, there is a "Load" button. Click it, find the "Template" folder, and select "VideoCD (NTSC).mcf" - NTSC is the North American (among other places) standard for videos, while PAL is primarily European. NTSC Film is a specific thing that I've never used. Go with NTSC.
Along the bottom of the window, you should see "Video-CD NTSC (MPEG-1 352x240 29.97fps CBR 1150kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)". If you don't, then you didn't load the correct template.
2) Select the file to download as both the video and audio source (some people like to split the audio source using yet another program - like VirtualDub - because it can give better quality, but I find TMPGEnc does a fine job with it). Then, select the output file name (it will have a .mpg extension).
3) Click "Start" at the top-left. TMPGEnc will encode the file. The amount of time varies - I've had it take between 20 minutes and 45 minutes to do a 25-minute episode.
There is a way to set up a batch encode - once you have the first file loaded and ready to go, click File -> Save Project. After saving it, repeat steps 2 and 3 for each file, making sure to save each project. (The project files end with a .tpr).
Afterwards, click File -> Batch Encode. Click the "Add" button, and add in the .tpr files. Once they're all added, click "Run".
4) Once it's done, open Nero. Select "Video CD" from the menu, and then add in the .mpg files that you just created. Once that's done, you can burn the compilation. For me, it takes just over 5 minutes to burn one VCD with 3 normal-length episodes.
That should be it. I've done this same process a whole bunch of times, and never had any problems (except for the faulty-disc incidents, which obviously has nothing to do with the files themselves). All in all, it will probably take you close to 2 hours to burn one disc of three episodes (~1.5 hours for encoding, and the remaining time to check the files, burn them, and then check the VCD).
If you have enough hard drive space (.mpg files are ~250 MB each), I would recommend burning a whole bunch of files at once, and then burn a whole bunch of VCD's at one time. That's what I usually do.
One last thing - sometimes when I use TMPGEnc, it will cut the last second or two of a file. On its own this isn't bad, but if I'm doing a batch encode then the entire batch will stop. It can be very irritating. That's why I like to run the program while I'm around but not using the computer (e.g. eating supper, watching TV, etc.). That way, if it messes up, I'll catch it and can restart the batch encode. Overall, though, it's a really good program, and I would strongly recommend it.
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Cardcaptor Takato
- ZOMFG 1337
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 8:43 am
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I've already been using TMPEGnc to convert OGM to MPEG and to seperate large files, so I'll give it a shot with AVIs. I'll just use it for any files that Nero has trouble with. I like TMPEGnc myself, but I hate having to seperate files because when I move the little cursor thingie to select where in the movie I want to seperate it at, it moves verrrryyy slowlllllly and gets very irritating at times. ><
"If we can''t comprehend the plan at hand, how could a higher plan make any more sense? I'd say you can only be a martyr if you know what you are dying for, and choose it"-Elphaba
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
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Cardcaptor Takato
- ZOMFG 1337
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 8:43 am
- Location: Chattanooga, TN, USA.
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Ok, yesterday I was trying to burn Gundam Seed episodes 47 and 48 to VCD when all of a sudden I got this weird message from Nero that said "Unexpected expcetion." The burning, of course, didn't work but what the heck does this mean? I've never gotten this kind of message before and I want to know if there's anyway to fix this.
"If we can''t comprehend the plan at hand, how could a higher plan make any more sense? I'd say you can only be a martyr if you know what you are dying for, and choose it"-Elphaba
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"
"Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix a mistake. Man can't return to the past. That's why we drink. Drunks, lushes, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be denied.-Vash The Stampede"