Can unplayable DVD-R's be fixed? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2014, 01:16 PM

I have a few homemade DVD-R discs that have basically become unplayable. They will play a few minutes, then start to pause and hesitate, then eventually freeze up all together. The discs are close to 10 years old. I handle and store DVD's carefully, the discs don't have smudges or scratches, but somehow they must be losing their data. Perhaps there is a problem with the dye layer. Anyhow my question is, does anyone know if the discs can be repaired so they will play properly again? Is there a magic spray or solution that can be applied to re-activate playback, or am I just out of luck?

ForzaBot · 07-31-2014, 01:38 PM

Not possible. If the disc has been finalized (aka: plays in a DVD player) there is no way to fix it.

If the disc isn't playing due to scratches on the bottom you can try re-burning the disc and that might fix it, but to me this sounds like an old disc that has begun to corrupt it's data. These discs have dye in them, the purplish to blue color you can see on the bottom of the disc is the dye pad- once that starts to dry up the DVD-r, +r, rw, etc. is basically toast.

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForzaBot

Not possible. If the disc has been finalized (aka: plays in a DVD player) there is no way to fix it.

If the disc isn't playing due to scratches on the bottom you can try re-burning the disc and that might fix it, but to me this sounds like an old disc that has begun to corrupt it's data. These discs have dye in them, the purplish to blue color you can see on the bottom of the disc is the dye pad- once that starts to dry up the DVD-r, +r, rw, etc. is basically toast.

Yea I think that's exactly what the problem is, the dye layer is going bad. Thanks for your reply.

The DVD-R's that have gone bad on me is a 5 disc set of David Cassidy Man Undercover. These are recordings of uncut episodes that aired on Channel America in the early 1990's. I tried to contact the person I got these from, but he told me he's no longer collecting or trading. If there is anyone here who has these episodes and can help me out, it would be much appreciated. Again, I'm looking for the uncut David Cassidy Man Undercover episodes that aired on Channel America in the early 1990's. It's the complete series, all 10 episodes.

Sadsack · 07-31-2014, 01:57 PM

did you at least try to copy them in a computer?
If you tried and got a copy error failure, you can use software like DvdFab and set it to copy with errors. You might get some pixelation with burning a new copy but it might be more playable. Or you could try to edit out the pixelation bit before burning.

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2014, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadsack

did you at least try to copy them in a computer?
If you tried and got a copy error failure, you can use software like DvdFab and set it to copy with errors. You might get some pixelation with burning a new copy but it might be more playable. Or you could try to edit out the pixelation bit before burning.

I have two DVD players, the one player seems to handle the DVD's a little better than the other, but the discs still end up freezing in both players. I also have a CD/DVD high speed duplicator, I tried to make new DVD's from the old ones, it starts to burn the new DVD but then it stops, ejects the DVD and the message says "bad master disc".

Smilings · 07-31-2014, 02:10 PM

If disc can be read by computer, you might individually rip the episode files with free program like Handbrake.

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smilings

If disc can be read by computer, you might individually rip the episode files with free program like Handbrake.

It's strange because the DVD's do load in the DVD player, the menu screen appears. But when I play the DVD, after a few minutes it will start to pause and hesitate before freezing up completely. Maybe I will try your suggestion.

TonyDaLoccsta · 07-31-2014, 03:48 PM

Give IsoBuster a shot...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IsoBuster

http://www.isobuster.com

boechsner · 07-31-2014, 07:19 PM

Just curious ... what kind of DVD's are they? Memorex? Sony?

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I have a few homemade DVD-R discs that have basically become unplayable. They will play a few minutes, then start to pause and hesitate, then eventually freeze up all together. The discs are close to 10 years old. I handle and store DVD's carefully, the discs don't have smudges or scratches, but somehow they must be losing their data. Perhaps there is a problem with the dye layer. Anyhow my question is, does anyone know if the discs can be repaired so they will play properly again? Is there a magic spray or solution that can be applied to re-activate playback, or am I just out of luck?

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2014, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boechsner

Just curious ... what kind of DVD's are they? Memorex? Sony?

They are Philips DVD-R's.

MRPITT · 08-01-2014, 12:05 AM

I have been able to salvage a disc before that was having the same issues, I was able to copy the video_ts folder to my computer and reburn.

1960'sTVfan · 08-01-2014, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRPITT

I have been able to salvage a disc before that was having the same issues, I was able to copy the video_ts folder to my computer and reburn.

I tried that but it didn't work, I got an error message.

Fortunately, the discs haven't gone completely bad yet. One of the discs is fine, both episodes play. The other four discs, one episode plays and the other has problems. So I have taken the six episodes that play and transferred them to VHS- SP speed. They look excellent, no drop off in quality from the DVD. So at least I still have something, I'm going to see what I can do with the other four episodes. I've always liked VHS better than DVD. Some VHS tapes I've had for over 30 years, they still play fine, no problems. I haven't had to worry about tapes erasing themselves. DVD is garbage. The dye layer fades over time, and causes playback problems. Junk.

1960'sTVfan · 08-01-2014, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyDaLoccsta

Give IsoBuster a shot...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IsoBuster

http://www.isobuster.com

Not familiar with IsoBuster. Thanks for suggesting, if all else fails I may give it a try. I called my local video store and described my problem, the manager asked me to bring in the discs, he will try something that might make the discs fully playable again. So I'll see what happens with that first. At least for now, I have been able to transfer six of the episodes to VHS.

BettyWhiteFan · 08-06-2014, 09:29 AM

Wow! You've just made me paranoid about my DVD collection. I use nothing but Phillips DVDs for my collections.

Looks like I am going to start backing everything up on my computers just in case something like this happens to me.

BettyWhiteFan · 08-06-2014, 06:48 PM

Phillips DVDs are becoming just as bad as Verbatim and Memorex. Out of a spindle of 50 I only get about 35 that are usable and the rest are trash.

07-31-2014, 01:16 PM	#1
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,104	Can unplayable DVD-R's be fixed? I have a few homemade DVD-R discs that have basically become unplayable. They will play a few minutes, then start to pause and hesitate, then eventually freeze up all together. The discs are close to 10 years old. I handle and store DVD's carefully, the discs don't have smudges or scratches, but somehow they must be losing their data. Perhaps there is a problem with the dye layer. Anyhow my question is, does anyone know if the discs can be repaired so they will play properly again? Is there a magic spray or solution that can be applied to re-activate playback, or am I just out of luck?

07-31-2014, 01:38 PM	#2
ForzaBot Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 18, 2014 Location: USA Posts: 114	Not possible. If the disc has been finalized (aka: plays in a DVD player) there is no way to fix it. If the disc isn't playing due to scratches on the bottom you can try re-burning the disc and that might fix it, but to me this sounds like an old disc that has begun to corrupt it's data. These discs have dye in them, the purplish to blue color you can see on the bottom of the disc is the dye pad- once that starts to dry up the DVD-r, +r, rw, etc. is basically toast.

07-31-2014, 01:57 PM	#4
Sadsack Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2006 Location: Massachusetts USA Posts: 139	did you at least try to copy them in a computer? If you tried and got a copy error failure, you can use software like DvdFab and set it to copy with errors. You might get some pixelation with burning a new copy but it might be more playable. Or you could try to edit out the pixelation bit before burning.

07-31-2014, 02:10 PM	#6
Smilings Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 09, 2012 Location: California Posts: 417	If disc can be read by computer, you might individually rip the episode files with free program like Handbrake.

07-31-2014, 03:48 PM	#8
TonyDaLoccsta Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 01, 2013 Location: Denver,Colorado. Posts: 28	Give IsoBuster a shot... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IsoBuster http://www.isobuster.com

08-01-2014, 12:05 AM	#11
MRPITT Member Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Posts: 1,678	I have been able to salvage a disc before that was having the same issues, I was able to copy the video_ts folder to my computer and reburn.

08-06-2014, 09:29 AM	#14
BettyWhiteFan Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 06, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 183	Wow! You've just made me paranoid about my DVD collection. I use nothing but Phillips DVDs for my collections. Looks like I am going to start backing everything up on my computers just in case something like this happens to me.

08-06-2014, 06:48 PM	#15
BettyWhiteFan Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 06, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 183	Phillips DVDs are becoming just as bad as Verbatim and Memorex. Out of a spindle of 50 I only get about 35 that are usable and the rest are trash.