|
What are recordable DVDs and why are some players unable to play them?
Recordable DVDs are the kind which can be produced either in a DVD recorder at home or by a DVD writer in a PC. They are "burnt" as opposed to replicated DVDs (like the ones you rent in the video stores) which are pressed like audio CDs. The reason why we, and other small scale video producers, use recordable DVDs is cost - to create a replicated DVD is extremely expensive, and can not be justified for the size of our market.
Unfortunately, some DVD players - usually older models introduced in 1997/8 - are unable to play recordable DVDs. However, after 1998, the number of compatible DVD players increased significantly, until today it is very unusual to buy a new player which won't play recordable DVDs.
What if a Nova disc won't work in my player?
Firstly, check your DVD player will play DVD-Rs. Look in your instruction booklet - if it mentions that it WON'T play DVD-R's, then it might be time to look at another DVD player…
Secondly, check the disc. Does it have any visible scratches or marks on it? Try cleaning the disc on a clean cloth. If this still doesn't work, contact us either by phone on 0870 765 5127 during office hours or
e-mail us here for further advice on a replacement disc.
Try the disc in another DVD player or in a PC. If the disc plays fine on another player, then your DVD player is almost certainly incompatible with recordable DVDs. If not, then contact us for a replacement.
What if my player does play DVD-R's, but won't play a Nova DVD?
If this happens, the chances are you have a Nova DVD with a printed sticky label providing the disc information. After exhaustive tests, we've discovered that 95% of all our problem DVDs are due to this sticky label. We used sticky labels because when we started making DVDs in 2002, on-disc printing was - quite simply - rubbish!
Since then, however, on-disc printing has improved dramatically - and from March 2006 onwards, all out new releases and reissues of titles from our catalogue had on-disc printing. However, other stockist may have a some DVDs with sticky labels. You can test this by moving your fingernail from the inside of the disc outwards. If there's a ridge, then it's a sticky label DVD.
If you have a sticky label DVD which won't play on a DVD player you know to play DVD-Rs, contact us straight away for a replacement with on-disc printing.
|
|
