DVD-RW or DVD+RW or both

I have an LG "“ HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N (DVD/CD-ROM Writer).

My problem is which type of DVD should I use for backing up my files and photographs.

I have surfed the web and really am none the wiser as to which type I should use, one type or both types!!

Could any one out there please advise this Gerry Attrick type person.

It would seem that DVD+RW will work but have not tried the DVD-RW yet although it did work with the CD-RW.

I await any thoughts

Gerry Attrick

 

Burning DVDs for an eventual read by the same computer isn't going to make much difference - either + or - should work just fine. The problem or difference between the two comes into play when you burn from computer #A for an eventual read by computer #B or #C or use in some other device like a home DVD player. My experience has been that DVD-R works better with home electronics than does DVD+R. Others may have a different experience to report.

One important thing to note is that you should "close" the DVD (meaning nothing further can ever be written to it) if you plan on using it in some device other than the specific computer it was burned on. I close all my DVDs and CDs regardless.



edit: I see Steve posted while I was slowly typing. His experiences sound similar.

 

I truly thank you.

Thank you so very much for your prompt response.

It is truly appreciated by this Gerry Attrick person.

Jacobowicz

 

DVD-RW or DVD+RW

Further to my question and your most helpful responses received on the subject of -RW or +RW , I approached Maxell on their website and they came back with the following response, for what it is worth.

We cannot know the compatibility of all systems to our discs, the customer would have to refer to the manual for their system.
- The only difference between the discs are the speed at which they record -RW records at 1-2X speed and the +RW is 1-4X speed, you cannot use a 4X speed in a system that can only take up to a 2X speed as the disc spins too fast for that system to record, please refer to your manual for more details.
- There is no difference in the sound or vision quality between + and - discs; it is for your different re-recordable needs.

 

My comments in response to a PM along the same lines.

I certainly admire your quest for an answer on this and the fact that you went right to the source. I would consider what they said as gospel with regard to RW discs. My comments were pretty much focused on R discs, however, lets go a little further. Recording to RW discs involves a packet writer in the form of your software. The RW discs made from this software are read differently by different machines. In other words, if I write an RW using InCD and you have Roxio software or DirectCD, you might not be able to read my disc. Even worse, if you have Nero and InCD, you still might not be able to read my disc. Again, I only use R discs because of this, pricing and preference. I can write to CDR, CDRW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and all are very readable in the machine they were written on. The problem comes when I take them to another machine and my experience is that CDR and DVD-R are more universally "readable" - thus my comments about DVD-R.

Hope this helps explain my comments.
Regards,

 

I thought that I might enlighten you further on my investigations re the above subject.

I went onto the LG website, found my model of writer the GSA-H55N, et voila, all was revealed.

I found the installation instructions as an Adobe Acrobat Document.

The results were an eyeopener and answered most or nearly all of the questions.

It might be interesting to other members for future reference don't you think?

 

Steve

Thank you for your comment of encouragement, - it is appreciated

If only others would do the same as I and search the web. However we live in hope.

Thank you once again.

Gerry Attrick also known as Jacobowicz