Dvd Burner Testing

Testing a combo DVD/RW, DVD/ROM, CD/RW Drive

• Grab a DVD/RW drive
• Jumper it so the drive is the master
• Plug the DVD/RW into the machine. Remember both the power and ribbon cable.
• Boot the computer.
• Test write functions with K3B, if you are unfamiliar with this program check out the "Getting to know K3B" section below.

You can use either DVD-RW or DVD-R discs. When using DVD-R make sure to leave the session open under the Misc tab of the Burn Menu

• Start a New Data DVD project
• Use the "Test" file from the desktop
• Click "Burn", make sure the "Verify Written Data" box is checked.
• Burn
• If the disc burns successfully then go through the same process to test the CD/RW function.

Getting to know K3B

K3B is an application for burning to optical media. Here are some tips for using different types of media with K3B:

• K3B will check previous sessions on the media to see if you have already burned the same files. Because of this you should always select "Start MultiSession" under the MultiSession Mode of the Misc tab when using CD/RW or DVD/RW media. This will allow you to overwrite the old files on the disc before starting a new session. If you select "Continue MultiSession" you will need to change your filename as described below.

• Since K3B checks previous sessions you will need to rename your test file if you are using CD/R or DVD/R discs, since these discs can only be written to once. For example, say you grab a CD-R disc, when you put it in the drive a window should open showing you the files that are already on the disc. If your "Test" file from the desktop has the same name as anything on the disc it won't actually write. Go to the desktop and right-click the file, select rename, and name the file "Test1" or something similar...make sure it is obvious to the next person that this is the correct test file. Once you have dragged this file to your data project area to be burned you should click burn, go to the "Misc" tab and select "Continue MultiSession" under the "MultiSession Mode" section.

DVD Read Functions

• Test DVD read functions using the VLC Media Player.
  • Put in a DVD. Totem will probably start automatically, you can close it.
  • Select "File" and "Open Disc" from the VLC menu
  • From the next menu select "DVD" under DVD type and OK
  • Your DVD should start playing. Watch for a little while to verify that you can hear sound and there is no jittery video.
  • If you cannot hear sound, make sure the sound isn't muted on the computer and try changing the VLC audio channel to left or right (this will take a few seconds to take affect).

Label the drive to show that all functions are okay, power down, remove the drive, and put them in the crate of tested drives.