Windows Movie Maker + DVD Maker = incomplete discs?

[snakeyez]

HP CDDVDW SH-216DB (HH20 firmware) (RAID)

I'm using the newest version of Windows Movie Maker on a 64 bit Windows 7 desktop. I'm capturing 640x480 video from a camera with WMM and then building projects and using WMM to burn the project to DVD, which uses Windows DVD Maker. The projects use between 3 to 4.1 GB of DVD disc space.

My problem is that my discs are not reading in some DVD players well or not at all in others. I got a copy of ImgBurn to check the discs out that I burn, and it's saying they are "incomplete".

I have tried different projects that save as .wmv on many different media. I've tried Verbatim AZO DVD-R, some older Verbatim DVD-R, some Memorex DVD-R, and some old JVC DVD-R. They all burn as "incomplete" according to ImgBurn. I can burn a Verbatim Life Series DL DVD+R disc "complete" every single time with no issue. I have not tried any other DVD+R media yet. I don't want to have to continue to solely use dual layer +R media when the required space doesn't require DL space.

I don't know if it's me, the drive, or Windows DVD Maker that WMM uses to make discs that is my problem. Would bitrate setting make DVD Maker mess up? There are no errors while burning, discs burn successfully.

Any ideas?

I have updated the firmware on the DVD burner and fully updated all important Windows Updates. I have tried burning at every speed from slowest to fastest.

UPDATE:
Today I tried some Memorex DVD+R discs and they burned and duplicated perfectly. Either my drive or Windows DVD Maker hates DVD-R discs. If I knew it was the drive, I'd replace it. Maybe I can find someone with a USB burner that will let me borrow to try a DVD-R disc on this machine.

Here's what ImgBurn has to say about the last DVD-R I burned:

Spoiler

hp CDDVDW SH-216DB HH20 (RAID)
Current Profile: DVD-R

Disc Information:
Status: Incomplete
State of Last Session: Empty
Erasable: No
Sessions: 2
Sectors: 1,457,040
Size: 2,984,017,920 bytes
Time: 323:49:15 (MM:SS:FF)
Free Sectors: 793,728
Free Space: 1,625,554,944 bytes
Free Time: 176:25:03 (MM:SS:FF)
Next Writable Address: 1504160
MID: CMC MAG. AM3
Supported Write Speeds: 4x, 6x, 8x, 10x, 12x, 14x, 16x

TOC Information:
Session 1... (LBA: 0)
-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 - 1457039)
-> LeadOut (LBA: 1457040)

Pre-recorded Information:
Manufacturer ID: CMC MAG. AM3

Recording Management Area Information:
TSSTcorp SH-216DB

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: 0@P-!-00
Book Type: DVD-R
Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120 mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 1,653,647
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Performance (Write Speed):
Descriptor 1...
-> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 5,540 KB/s (4x)
Descriptor 2...
-> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 8,310 KB/s (6x)
Descriptor 3...
-> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 11,080 KB/s (8x)
Descriptor 4...
-> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 13,850 KB/s (10x)
Descriptor 5...
-> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 16,620 KB/s (12x)
Descriptor 6...
-> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 19,390 KB/s (14x)
Descriptor 7...
-> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 2297887 (0x0023101F)
-> RS: 8,310 KB/s (6x) - WS: 22,160 KB/s (16x)

 

[WyomingKnott]

I'm pretty sure that I can't help you, but I have one low-probability idea. There is an option when burning discs to "finalize" the session. If this is not done, more data can be added later and you have a multi-session disc. If it is done, you can never add more to the disc. Some players cannot read multi-session discs.

I don't know enough to determine if your disc is finalized or multi-session, though. I suggest that you check your settings when burning a disc and, if "finalize" is available and unselected, burn a test disc with it selected.

Low probability of success.