[xubuntu-users] DVD iso burning 8X?

[James Freer]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2014, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> On Mon, 2014-09-01 at 23:52 +0100, James Freer wrote:
>> How reliable is burning a DVD?
>
> Assumed the software and hardware is ok, burning shouldn't be an issue.
> Did you test DVDs from different batches?

I have a batch of DVD-RW (bought 6 months ago) and DVD-R (about a year old) 
both Verbatim.

> The checksums for the downloaded ISO is what you need to compare before
> the burning! K3b automatically shows it before burning!

I always do the md5sum for each download which was fine 'manually' as I call it 
i.e. md5sum 'iso name' and then after burning, putting the ejected DVD back in, 
mounting it (checking with df -h), and then md5sum /dev/sr0. K3b does say 
burning successful as it automatically checks but I don't trust it.

> An issue is the DVDs durability. DVDs and CDs aren't backup medias.
> DVDRAM could be used for backups, but using them usually is a PITA.

I thought CD/DVD were ok for storage if kept in a ambient room temp environment 
e.g. like a bookshelf but would suffer in variable temps like a 
garage/conservatory without central heating. I have put photos on CD which seem 
to be ok after 5 years.

I have put the old CD drive in a caddy and will get some new blank CD-R and try 
in this newer machine... which would show up a software/hardware problem. 
Getting a new DVD burner isn't a problem but it just seems odd that it's fine 
for playing films but not burning. Using Xubuntu 14.04 and if there's a problem 
no one else seems to have had one so the drive is likely.

Since using ubuntu 2007 I've not had trouble burning so I haven't looked into 
it further. I've thought it was the 8X speed and larger iso size.

thanks
james