Page 1 of DVD+RW question

I`ve ordered my Philips DVD Recorder and hopefully will have it in a few days! I`ve got a question before hand regarding the DVD+RW discs.

Can I finalise the DVD+RW discs to be played back in a standard DVD player like I can with the DVD+R discs. Once the DVD+RW disc has been finalised is it possible to be able to put it back in the DVD recorder and erase it.

The reason I ask is that I would like to tape films and programmes off the TV onto a DVD+RW and if I decide I would like to keep them long term I would prefer to copy them onto DVD+R media as this is cheaper. The only way I can think of doing this would be to play back what I recorded onto the DVD+RW disc through my DVD player linked up to the recorder and copy it that way onto a DVD+R.

Aaarrrggghhh looks confusing but simple!

You can finalise DVD+RW discs but u then cant erase them.
Your other method is much better.
For example I am recording the current series of League of Gentlemen onto a DVD+RW disc.... When I have all six I will then record from the DVD+RW disc onto a +R disc editing any adverts etc. I can then erase the DVD+RW disc and use it again.
I`m not sure but I don`t think that all DVD players will play a DVD+RW disc unless it has been finalised. I know my ex Wharfedale didnt like them but my Pioneer does.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd October 2002, 11:31

Good idea Cush. Hopefully my Aiwa DV370 will play them. Its been very good playing all kinds of cdr and dvdr which not all players I`ve come across can manage. I have got an old Grundig player lying around as well, I`ll give that a go if the Aiwa lets me down.Fingers crossed.

BTW - your a lucky sod, I wish I had my DVD recorder a few months ago. I`m a big fan of TLOG and want series 3 on DVD!!! Hopefully BBC Choice will re-run them all or UK Gold will get the early. I will be buying he official release though if it is anything like the previous two - loads of great extras.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd October 2002, 11:52

Cush- How can the +RW`s be finalised?, as far as I`m aware you can ONLY finalise +R discs. It`s possible to edit a +RW and then `Make edits compatible` (for use in regular players), but even then the discs can still be erased. The equivalent of finalising on a +RW is simply making it `protected` (to avoid accidental recording) and maybe changing the bit-setting to 2 or 3 if it won`t play in a particular DVD player. Even after all of that though, you can still completely wipe the contents. It`s even possible to erase a corrupted +RW (which has `unknown data` on it), so the flexibility of +RW is pretty impressive...

Good point but I`m sure I`ve managed it somehow !!
I have a DVD+RW disc which I have used several times and just recently recorded a film on it....Now I`m not sure what I`ve done exactly but now I`m unable to record on it at all. It doesnt let me into the menu or anything. Could I have "protected" it by accident and if so what do I do to get it back to rerecordable or is the disc knackered. ???

Sounds a bit odd!. Usually, if you decide to wipe a protected disc, you can just go to the menu at the top and change it back to `Unprotected` (you can then edit/erase it as you see fit). Obviously, if you can`t get into that menu then there`s very little you can do!. It`s possible that the TOC is corrupted and the recorder is reading the +RW as a regular DVD, in which case you`re better off considering the disc `trashed` IMO (as even if you erase the disc, future re-recording will always be a bit dodgy)....