What dvd disk do I need to use with a Pioneer DVR-1810?

Question

I recently bought this dvd drive but it won't write dvds. Under My Computer when I insert a DVD-R or DVD+R it marks it as a cd drive, But when there are no dvds in the drive it marks it as DVD-RW drive. Does this mean that I need to use a DVD-/+ RW disk? What confuse me is that I have this DVD+R disk that I have written a while ago and it reads it fine. I already updated the firmware and I went to each program under Nero and updated it as well. Here is a link to the DVD drive specs site http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/support/details/0,,2076_310070398_394322650_tab=E,00.html?compName=PNA_V3_SupportDetailsComponent Any suggestions?

Answer 1

When you place a blank DVD-R or DVD+R in to the DVD drive, it will mark it as "CD-Drive" - this is normal. If you want to burn a DVD in Nero, you have to select what drive you want to use. If you are using Nero Express, you need to use an account with Administrative privileges (i.e. Administrator account not a limited user). Follow these steps:

1. Insert blank DVD in to drive
2. Start Nero Express
3. On the first windows which appears, look at the upper right hand corner. There should be a selection box.
4. Click on the small down arrow and a drop down menu will appear.
5. Scroll down and select your DVD drive. For example, if D:\ is your DVD drive, you will have 2 options. D:\ [DVD] and D:\ [CD-RW]. Choose D:\[DVD] (or whatever drive letter your computer uses).
6. Next, from "What would you like to burn?" choose "DVD-video files ."

You can use DVD-/+R or DVD-/+RW and dual layered disks. I think the problem is that you selected "D:\ [CD-RW] and not "D:\ [DVD]."

Answer 2

A cool little utility that will tell you what kinds of disks your drive can use and what it can do...it's part of Nero under applications.
Nero Info Tool
Don't worry how your drive is marked when you put certain disks in the drive as long as it still burns to them! Sometimes Mine is also marked as a CD drive...but it still burns the DVD-R and that's all that matters to me...And yes I use Nero 7 Ultra for all my burning needs.