Freezing with Pixellation

[Nordo]

Just an update.

Since my last post I have backed up 5 or 6 dvds and all play perfectly.
I think the main change I have made is to increase my burn speed (with ImgBurn) from 4x to 8x.
However, from past experiences, I am not holding my breath, as in the past, the problem has been intermittent.
Thanks for the advice and suggestions.

[Nordo]

Nordo
If it happens 60-80% through a movie on a DL disc, you may be burning too fast or have poor firmware support for the blank discs you're using in your drive. These points are near the edge of the disc on DVD9s and are the spot where problems like this are most likely. If the playback laser has trouble refocusing at the layer break (same area on DLs) it can also cause freezes/dropped frames when it happens.

I am not sure if your drive supports OPC or not, but if you have the option selected in ImgBurn and the logs say "OPC: No" then I would suspect that it does not. The power calibration can allow ImgBurn to compensate for bad firmware and disc-to-disc variations in reflectivity, which will give you better results, no matter what kind of media you are using. When you replace the drive, check on the replacement to see if it supports it.

If I'm having problems at the original layer change, wouldn't that be a problem with my drive READING the original disc?
Most of my ripping and burning is backing up the main movie of a DL disc onto a single layer Taiyo Yuden (TYG03) disc using DVDFab, then ImgBurn (set up for the Taiyo Yuden blanks) and using my Optiarc AD-7240S (sata) for the reader and the burner.
ImgBurn was burning at x4, but from earlier advice in this thread, I have now set it to x8. The discs are rated at x16.

I did a repeat burn a few minutes ago with OPC turned on. The ImgBurn log says "OPC:Yes". Haven't had a chance to view the video yet. And I can't remember if the previous backup had freezing or not. (long time ago).

[signals]

Nordo
If it happens 60-80% through a movie on a DL disc, you may be burning too fast or have poor firmware support for the blank discs you're using in your drive. These points are near the edge of the disc on DVD9s and are the spot where problems like this are most likely. If the playback laser has trouble refocusing at the layer break (same area on DLs) it can also cause freezes/dropped frames when it happens.

I am not sure if your drive supports OPC or not, but if you have the option selected in ImgBurn and the logs say "OPC: No" then I would suspect that it does not. The power calibration can allow ImgBurn to compensate for bad firmware and disc-to-disc variations in reflectivity, which will give you better results, no matter what kind of media you are using. When you replace the drive, check on the replacement to see if it supports it.

[Nordo]

Thanks Signals. I'll try all those ideas and let you know the results.

I checked my burner drivers, etc last night. Sony recommend using Windows drivers, but advises keeping the firmware up to date as well as the M/B's chipset drivers. My burner already had the current firmware, but I did update the chipset drivers (not too sure if I had the current versions or not).

I'll find out how to clean the lens.

Signals-
How can I check if my burner (Optiarc AD-7240S) supports OPC? I checked Sony's website, but there was no mention of OPC.
From memory the freezing doesn't happen at fast moving scenes. However, it usually happens about 60 to 80% through the main movie, right at the most critical part of the movie!!!!!

[signals]

If you have OPC disabled in ImgBurn, turn it on if your burner supports it. If you haven't done so, play the VIDEO_TS folder with a software player before burning to see if the problem is the creation or the burning. If the video breakup happens is scenes with fast motion, transitions from indoors to out or fast horizontal pans, it could be a playback issue due to the high peak bitrates these types of scenes can produce. Something in the chain can't cope with it. Check the burned discs for errors and burn quality with DVDInfoPro or the Nero tool, again if your drive supports it.

[Nordo]

Thanks guys.

Obviously I'll try the beta DVDFab first, as opposed to replacing the burner.

However, I have had this problem off and on over quite a few years (and many versions of DVDFab), but never been able to pin it down.
I'll also see if there are any new drivers available for my burner before giving up on it.

I've checked all my settings as recommended by DVDFab, but I'll double check again. Last time I checked, I found some settings were not as recommended, which was strange considering I had fine tuned DVDFab and ImgBurn using recommended settings when initally setting them up!!!.

[CBR929]

Hi Nordo
You can also try the Latest Beta Version found here and post back if still having problems.
CBR929

[90312]

I don't see anything in the logs that indicate a problem up to the burner. I would try a lens cleaning disk in the burner, but it may be time to spend $20 on a new burner.

[Nordo]

Can anybody see anything wrong with these logs?

[Nordo]

This is the second half of the ImgBurn.log.


I 19:12:05 Operation Started!
I 19:12:05 Building Image Tree...
I 19:12:05 Calculating Totals...
I 19:12:05 Preparing Image...
I 19:12:05 Contents: 9 Files, 2 Folders
I 19:12:05 Content Type: DVD Video
I 19:12:05 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 19:12:05 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 19:12:05 Volume Label: GIRL_WHO_KICKED_THE_HORNETS_NEST
I 19:12:05 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 19:12:05 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 19:12:05 TV System: PAL
I 19:12:05 Size: 4,508,971,008 bytes
I 19:12:05 Sectors: 2,201,646
I 19:12:05 Image Size: 4,509,597,696 bytes
I 19:12:05 Image Sectors: 2,201,952
I 19:12:05 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00
I 19:12:05 Operation Started!
I 19:12:05 Source File: -==/\/[BUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 19:12:05 Source File Sectors: 2,201,952 (MODE1/2048)
I 19:12:05 Source File Size: 4,509,597,696 bytes
I 19:12:05 Source File Volume Identifier: GIRL_WHO_KICKED_THE_HORNETS_NEST
I 19:12:05 Source File Volume Set Identifier: 3EF3998200219955
I 19:12:05 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.5.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 19:12:05 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 19:12:05 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 19:12:05 Destination Device: [1:0:0] Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 (D (ATA)
I 19:12:05 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: TYG03) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x, 20x, 24x)
I 19:12:05 Destination Media Sectors: 2,298,496
I 19:12:05 Write Mode: DVD
I 19:12:05 Write Type: DAO
I 19:12:05 Write Speed: 8x
I 19:12:05 Link Size: Auto
I 19:12:05 Lock Volume: Yes
I 19:12:05 Test Mode: No
I 19:12:05 OPC: No
I 19:12:05 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 19:12:05 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 11,080 KB/s (8x)
I 19:12:05 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 19:12:06 Writing LeadIn...
I 19:12:37 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2201951)
I 19:12:37 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2201951)
I 19:19:53 Synchronising Cache...
I 19:20:04 Exporting Graph Data...
I 19:20:04 Graph Data File: C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\Optiarc_DVD_RW_AD-7240S_1.04_TUESDAY-19-JULY-2011_7-12_PM_TYG03_8x.ibg
I 19:20:04 Export Successfully Completed!
I 19:20:04 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:07:59
I 19:20:05 Average Write Rate: 10,123 KB/s (7.3x) - Maximum Write Rate: 11,645 KB/s (8.4x)
I 20:56:43 Close Request Acknowledged
I 20:56:43 Closing Down...
I 20:56:43 Shutting down SPTI...
I 20:56:43 ImgBurn closed!

[Nordo]

And this is the ImgBurn.log for both files (split into 2 posts) -

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I 18:58:52 ImgBurn Version 2.5.5.0 started!
I 18:58:52 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition (6.1, Build 7601 : Service Pack 1)
I 18:58:52 Total Physical Memory: 3,405,368 KB - Available: 2,741,220 KB
I 18:58:52 Initialising SPTI...
I 18:58:52 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 18:58:52 -> Drive 1 - Info: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NP20 2.00 (E (ATA)
I 18:58:53 -> Drive 2 - Info: Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 (D (ATA)
I 18:58:53 Found 2 DVD±RW/RAMs!
I 19:03:13 Operation Started!
I 19:03:13 Building Image Tree...
I 19:03:13 Calculating Totals...
I 19:03:13 Preparing Image...
I 19:03:13 Contents: 9 Files, 2 Folders
I 19:03:13 Content Type: DVD Video
I 19:03:13 Data Type: MODE1/2048
I 19:03:13 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 19:03:13 Volume Label: FASTER
I 19:03:13 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled
I 19:03:13 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I 19:03:13 TV System: PAL
I 19:03:13 Size: 4,440,784,896 bytes
I 19:03:13 Sectors: 2,168,352
I 19:03:13 Image Size: 4,441,407,488 bytes
I 19:03:13 Image Sectors: 2,168,656
I 19:03:13 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00
I 19:03:13 Operation Started!
I 19:03:13 Source File: -==/\/[BUILD IMAGE]\/\==-
I 19:03:13 Source File Sectors: 2,168,656 (MODE1/2048)
I 19:03:13 Source File Size: 4,441,407,488 bytes
I 19:03:13 Source File Volume Identifier: FASTER
I 19:03:13 Source File Volume Set Identifier: 3EF3986600211747
I 19:03:13 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.5.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER!
I 19:03:13 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn
I 19:03:13 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 19:03:13 Destination Device: [1:0:0] Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 (D (ATA)
I 19:03:13 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: TYG03) (Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 18x, 20x, 24x)
I 19:03:13 Destination Media Sectors: 2,297,888
I 19:03:13 Write Mode: DVD
I 19:03:13 Write Type: DAO
I 19:03:13 Write Speed: 8x
I 19:03:13 Link Size: Auto
I 19:03:13 Lock Volume: Yes
I 19:03:13 Test Mode: No
I 19:03:13 OPC: No
I 19:03:13 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 19:03:13 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 11,080 KB/s (8x)
I 19:03:13 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 19:03:14 Writing LeadIn...
I 19:03:46 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2168655)
I 19:03:46 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2168655)
I 19:10:59 Synchronising Cache...
I 19:11:10 Exporting Graph Data...
I 19:11:10 Graph Data File: C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\Optiarc_DVD_RW_AD-7240S_1.04_TUESDAY-19-JULY-2011_7-03_PM_TYG03_8x.ibg
I 19:11:10 Export Successfully Completed!
I 19:11:10 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:07:56
I 19:11:10 Average Write Rate: 10,016 KB/s (7.2x) - Maximum Write Rate: 11,133 KB/s (8.0x)

[Nordo]

Did some backups a couple of days ago - The Girl Who Kick the Hornets Nest; and Faster.
I've Watched both.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest ran fine.
Faster partially froze with pixellation about 3/4 of the way through.

This is the Internal.log of both-

DVDFab 8.1.0.0 (2011/07/19 17:28:08)

0m 01.62s: option dvd2dvd 1 dvd2mobile 1 bluray2bluray 1 bd2mobile 1 bd23d 1 bd2dvd 1 file2mobile 1 filemover 1
0m 01.68s: Qt Translator file load success
0m 09.61s: detected dvd
0m 10.79s: drive D
0m 10.79s: dvd type 1
0m 10.79s: volume label GIRL_WHO_KICKED_THE_HORNETS_NEST
0m 11.04s: got copyright 1 f7
0m 11.09s: got udf/iso
0m 12.52s: got discinfo
0m 12.52s: pathplayer enabled
0m 20.28s: got dvdinfo
0m 20.28s: opened dvd
18m 53.22s: detected dvd
18m 53.26s: drive D
18m 53.26s: dvd type 1
18m 53.26s: volume label FASTER
18m 53.34s: got copyright 1 e5
18m 53.58s: got udf/iso
18m 55.06s: got discinfo
18m 55.06s: pathplayer enabled
19m 17.63s: got dvdinfo
19m 17.63s: opened dvd

And this is the burn_vso.log-

2011-07-19 18:10:18 ---- ******************** Log session stop 19-Jul 18:10:18.898 PID 3964********************
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info Current Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info Using Advanced SPTI interface
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info System default language : English (Australia)
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info User default language : English (Australia)
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info DLL Version : 4.0.19.487
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info DLL : C:\Program Files\DVDFab 8 Qt\vso_hwe.dll
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info Version : 8, 1, 0, 0
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\DVDFab 8 Qt\DVDFab.exe
2011-07-19 17:28:17 Info OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)
2011-07-19 17:28:17 ---- ******************** Log session start 19-Jul 17:28:17.325 PID 3964********************

[Nordo]

Delete the logs that are currently there so that new ones are created for your next attempt.

Done!
Thanks

[GregiBoy]

Delete the logs that are currently there so that new ones are created for your next attempt.

[Nordo]

....split

2011-06-27 18:28:21 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:28:21 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:28:16 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:28:16 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:28:16 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:28:11 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:28:11 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:28:11 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:28:06 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:28:06 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:28:06 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:28:00 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:28:00 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:28:00 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:55 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:55 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:55 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:50 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:50 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:50 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:45 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:45 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:45 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:40 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:40 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:40 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:35 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:35 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:35 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:27:30 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:27:30 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:27:30 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 18:05:52 Info Disc (DVD-ROM) not empty.
2011-06-27 18:05:50 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2011-06-27 18:05:50 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2011-06-27 18:05:50 Info New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info Current Drive selected : 1:0:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S 1.04 [D] (Ide)
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info Using Advanced SPTI interface
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info System default language : English (Australia)
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info User default language : English (Australia)
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info DLL Version : 4.0.19.487
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info DLL : C:\Program Files\DVDFab 8 Qt\vso_hwe.dll
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info Version : 8, 0, 9, 8
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\DVDFab 8 Qt\DVDFab.exe
2011-06-27 17:55:43 Info OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)
2011-06-27 17:55:43 ---- ******************** Log session start 27-Jun 17:55:43.645 PID 408********************

Are these the logs I should have posted?


I'll raise my burn speed next time (try 8x instead of 4x for a start).
Also, because the problem appears to be intermittent, I don't really want to verify every burn unless everyone thinks that's a good idea.

Thanks for all the help and responses.