How many times can you reburn a DVD RW?

I noticed yesterday that I could only burn one movie on it,and not several at a time. Today the same thing happened and when I used a new disc, it worked.

I'm just curious how long one can use such a disc.

The DVD RWs I'm using are Ricoh discs. I think I own them for six months now.

Are you sure it is a ReWritable disc and not only contains the RW sign of the DVD+RW alliance?

I know this sounds confusing (it indeed is) but there can be an RW sign on it although it is not a ReWritable disc. It just tells you it is a medium supported by the DVD+RW alliance. Probably a DVD+R.

If it is a true ReWritables disc you should be able to write it about 1000 times.

PS: this is how the RW alliance logo looks like

Hehe, no, it's not the RW sign of the DVD+RW alliance. I recognize that

It's a regular DVD ReWritable. I think I wrote it 100-120 times until now.

1000 is too many. I think 100 is ok. I have had DVDs and CDs - both rewritable - that I could only rewrite about 20 times. I guess it depends on the quality.

OK, then I presume this one is dead.

I never use RW media. Don't trust it.

I use it only for testing but never for storing data permanently.

That depends on what you want to use it for. I use it to transfer
programs from one computer to another (I've got a couple compies
that aren't on a network). Or if you have a divx player, it's handy
for writing, watching, erasing, and start all over. I would never ever
use them for archiving though. I had a couple CDRW from the late
90s that I had backed up some photos on. I went to go view them
about a year ago and I couldn't read the disk.

I use them just for that

And of course I would never ever use them for archiving, duh...

*cough* xbmc *cough*


I use usb pens for transferring files when the machines aren't on a network

I find that if I use the full format option I can get another 20-30 uses out of the DVDRW then it's dead.

Haha, I KNEW you would come on with this!

Thanks for the tip, nagidar. I'll use full erase mode next time.

Yeah me too. I actually felt someone looking over
my shoulder when I typed 'divx player'

As for usb pens, whatever floats your boat. I've been using the
same pack of 10 DVDRW for about 3 years now. At a whooping
$8, I am fully satisfied with my purchase.

Sometimes I actually come in handy

Quick question though... how many dvd-rws does it take before you can play something with advanced profile settings and vobsubs on your divx standalone?

I'm always amazed at how much time people are willing to throw away for a couple of dollars. I mean, you save what.... $20? Hours of re-encoding, incompatabilities, etc? Not worth it in my book

So the reason, at least on my part, that i'll mention something like XBMC that saves you hours upon hours, is the utter fascination with the wasteful. that's why i'll keep asking people what basically boils down to, "why are you wasting your time?".

I don't have the feeling of wasting my time. I just haven't bought an Xbox up to now. Maybe I'm gonna do so in the future, but right now, I'm saving up for a new PC first. I think. I'm actually not sure what my next big purchase is gonna be. I still don't have a couch in my living room, that's another very important thing. It's about choice: what do you think is most important right now? I don't think buying an Xbox is the answer for me. I read your giude about it and it looks real interesting, like I said, I might buy one someday. That day is just not today, that's all.

So you think having to re-encode, repack, and ultimately not be able to play what you want to play immediately isn't wasting your time?

Come on, honestly?



I'd suspect for both of us the answer would have been the same; time. Its too valuable a commodity these days for me anyway. When i was a student i wasted shit loads of it, these days...

Its kind of an irony in the end, being lazy will cost you more time very quickly. I wasted my own time by investing much later than i should have done and it really bugs me i faffed around with shitty solutions for so long. Wasted hours and hours.

ps.. big purchase? Xbox costs £30 with a year warranty now from a high street store in the uk. Cheaper if you go to ebay or somewhere so its more of a stocking filler (if you have a fat ladies stocking anyway)!

Hehe, you got a point. I'm just not ready for it, that's all

One actually. I've not yet had a divx file fail on my Divx player. The
damn thing even will play mpgs. I've put in several types of subtitle
files and all have played with no problems yet. I've had no audio
sync problems nor resizing problems. I've spent approximately zero
seconds re-encoding one single download.



The XBMC appears to me to be a little mini computer when you
strip it all down. For me, I will most likely end up resurrecting one
of my old computers and hooking it up to a tv and presto! No need
to hack an Xbox. I've recently bought a hauppuage 150 and have
started to convert our outrageously numerous VHS collection. Once
that little project is done, I'll not only have a divx player but a TIVO
to boot.

Oberon, your standalone, what's the make and model?
I can make mpeg4 content that will most likely be unplayable that shouldn't be. Just need to start checking quality improving features.

As for subs, are you using .idx and .rar ?

XBMC is a pc, but with a excellent (read: unsurpassed which is why there's huge appeal to get it ported to linux) interface designed for media playing.

Using a mouse and keyboard is a tad shitty to be honest, I used to do it myself using pc+tvout. Was a worse option in the long run