Why Won’t Your Disc Play?
Burning CDs and DVDs is a common activity of many people today. This is done for many reasons, such as for transferring audio files, photos, and movies. Some also use it to file electronic documents and other data. Blank CDs and DVDs are the most popular media storage devices today. Even so, there are instances when the CD you have burned does not work.. Although you can easily blame this on the blank CD RW or blank DVD media you used, you should know that there are other factors involved.
Here are several reasons why your burned disc won’t play.
The Type of Blank Disk You Use – There are numerous types of DVDs today, and some DVDs and burners do not accept some types of disks. Make sure you check your DVD burner or player’s manual to see if you’re using the right kind of CD or DVD.
Your DVD or CD Player - Most recent models of DVD players can play almost any type of DVD or CD, even if you just burned them on your home PC. However, if you have an old DVD model, chances are it won’t accept and play home-burned discs. Check your player’s manufacturing date. Maybe it’s time to replace it with a newer version.
The DVD Label - As much as possible, avoid using the stick-on CD labels. They may be cheaper and easier to use, but in most cases, they can prevent a well-burned disc from playing. If the CD is for personal use, why not use a permanent marker? You can also opt for an inkjet printer or a DVD writer to put the labels and titles on the DVD or CD.
Scratches and Damages – Too much scratches or dust on your disc can damage it, and hinder its proper playing. This is why it’s important to store away your CDs properly. Clean the DVD and see if it will play. There are many effective ways to do this. If there are too many scratches, just burn a new copy.
Burn Speed – When you burn a Blank CD or Blank DVD, you’ll be given the choice of your preferred speed: 2x, 4x, 8x, and more). Choosing a slower burn speed will give you a better burn quality, resulting in a better burn. Here’s a hint: Some players cannot even play DVDs or CDs that are burned at speeds that are higher than 4x.
DVD Format - As much as we think they are, DVDs are not universal. It’s likely that what’s playing in the US won’t play anywhere else. If the DVD you have is formatted or coded for another global region, then it might not play in your player at all.
There are many reasons why DVDs don’t play. Sometimes, it’s even just a bad burn; an error on your PC, or a dust speck on the CD might have affected the burning process. Don’t stress over this too much, though. You can always try it again.
