I was burning some DVDs and ended up having to do it a bit roundabout.
I like to create an ISO disc image file before actually burning disks, to maintain consistency between copies. (For this project, I always make at least four copies of every disk.) I used Roxio for that stage, because it automatically uses the current date and time as a volume label. Nero just calls every disc "My Disc", which I find annoying so I always change it. (Then I have to worry about keeping volume labels consistent.)
I proceeded to re-load the ISO file and burn the first of four copies using an old version of Roxio, because Roxio give you control over the burn speed. (I always select the slowest.) What Roxio didn't do, however, was give the option of verifying the disc after burning it. So, I put that first copy in another computer and let Norton scan it for viruses. I figured that would force it to read the entire disc and that it would throw an error message if it encountered a write error. I ended up using Nero to burn the other three copies, because though it allowed no control of burn speed, at least it verified it. Even after all that verification, I still spot-check the discs by opening a few files at random.
Of the four discs I used for this, two were DVD+R and two were DVD-R. I read somewhere that DVD-R might be more prone to error, but I have noticed that when it's a video DVD, it works in more DVD players than DVD+R. For the video-compatibility issue, I chose DVD-R for my most recent order of blank DVDs. I also made sure it's a brand I trust (Verbatim) and that it's LightScribe. (Looks better than the thermal labeler that I have been using the past few years.) The two DVD-R copies were on these Verbatim discs. The DVD+R copies were from a 100-pack of Sony discs that is getting near the bottom of the stack and often showing dust, smudges, and scratches even new. Before the Sony discs, I had been using Memorex.
The very first CDs I have burned are about 10 years old, so I'm planning to do a re-burn of them to some of the new Verbatim discs.
Finally, I mentioned LightScribe. I've been using that at work for the better part of a year and everyone's happy with the results. (Showing the agency's logo and detailed description of the contents, instead of marker scribbles and free advertising for the manufacturer of the discs.) I was finally able to get a LightScribe burner for one of my home computers, so I'm now phasing it in for my own projects. I've noticed another technology, LabelFlash, had been trying to compete with it. Some computers are available with LabelFlash drives. For while, you could get those in Office Depot, but apparently not anymore. But forget it if you try to find a LabelFlash drive to install yourself. Has anyone here ever used LabelFlash?
The project I was referring to above is archiving my photographs and occasional video projects. (Photography being a longtime interest of mine.) The subjects of the photographs are mainly science fiction conventions and other events of that subculture, my cats, the animals at my volunteer job, and nature scenery (the vegetation at the many parks around here, both in visible light and infrared). I know what you folks are thinking, and no there's no porn in there, unless you want to count a pair of raccoons I saw going at it in one of the parks I've visitied.
I'm posting all this to compare notes, to see what some of your preferences are as to what brands of blank media you trust and whether you prefer DVD+R or DVD-R.
Oh, and how do you prefer to store the burned discs? Of the four copies I burn for every volume of photo discs, I keep two at home, one in a set of 200-disc three-ring binders as the archive copy, and another as a viewing copy. The other two copies go to another location in case something happens to my home.
