Toshiba D-R4 Multi-Drive DVD Recorder
Finalizing DVD-R disk has been a nightmare!
I usually stay away from reviewing items, but this one really has me frustrated.  The good news is when the writer works, it works great, but ... trying to finalize a DVD-R disk has become a total nightmare.<br /><br />This is the 2ND unit with the same problem, so I am convinced that it's a Toshiba design flaw.  I will begin at the top.<br /><br />I ordered this unit due to the excellent reviews I've read here and I was really looking forward to transferring our VHS movies to DVD's.  As you know VHS tapes don't last too long without the picture quality going bad and the colors fading.  On the other hand DVD picture quality basically remains the same indefinitely, so it's the best reason for making the transfers.<br /><br />After receiving the initial unit, I read the manual and followed the step by step procedure on the setup. Being a little concerned about using the recommended disks based on the reviewers here, I called Toshiba to get their recommendations and also to find out if there are any other compatible disks in the market not stated in the manual.<br /><br />With this information in hand, I went out and purchased the RECOMMENDED Maxell DVD-R (50 disks), 3 DVD-RW disks 3 RAM disks.  My wife was so excited that she handed me a load of VHS tapes that she wanted transferred.<br /><br />The first copy operation went smoothly using the standard setup and I was even able to finalize it.  Beginners LUCK?<br /><br />When we went to play it on another DVD player, we wondered why we couldn't pull up a menu as you could with a puchased DVD movie. I'm talking about the little thumbnails of chapters that you can jump forward to.  This disk didn't have that feature!<br /><br />Well it turns out that you need to go into the DVD writer setup procedure and change a setting so that the writer will create automatic chapters.  You can set it up for every 10, 15 or 20 minutes.<br /><br />That was a fairly easy process!  However this is when all the problems began.  After making a copy of another VHS tape, it WOULD NOT finalize.  We got a \\"This Operation Terminated because of an error on the disk\\" screen message.  And an error 14 message on the Toshiba DVD writer window.  Had to refer to the manual to get rid of this error 14 message because you couldn't do anything else while this was flashing.<br /><br />Having gotten rid of the error 14 message, I tried finalizing the disk a couple more times with NO luck, so I decided that the disk was bad.  That disk went into the garbage can!  A new blank DVD-R disk, another 2 hours of copying and @#x#@!<br /><br />Again it wouldn't finalize and the same error, same message appeared.  I couldn't have 2 BAD DISKS in a row could I?  So ... I tried it a 3rd time but this time even took out the automatic Chapter setup (which could be causing the problem) BUT ... Same results!  Now I had several COASTERS in hand, I was getting aggravated!<br /><br />I emailed AMAZON regarding the problem, and received a nice friendly response suggesting that I contact Toshiba help line first to try and solve the problem.  And if they're unable to help out to get back to Amazon.<br /><br />The Toshiba TECH support agent didn't have a clue of how to solve the problem,  so he contacted his TECH support TRAINER who suggested that I UNPLUG the machine for at least 1/2 hour.  He concluded that some component had locked up inside the DVD writer and this will reset the system back to it's initial default settings.<br /><br />After unplugging the DVD writer and waiting about an hour, I plugged it back in.  Of course I had to reset the clock and some of the setting that got changed but ... HOORAY, I WAS ABLE TO FINALIZE the last disk.  Unfortunately that enthusiasm was short lived because the very next dvd copy I made, I had the same problem.<br /><br />But hey ... I know how to make it FINALIZE!  Just unplug it again for another hour .. and again it worked.  The problem is this shouldn't be the normal procedure everytime one wants to make copies of VHS tapes and finalize it so that it will play on other DVD players.  Not only is it time consuming, but also NOT good for small electronic components due to the power surges that it creates.<br /><br />So I called Toshiba back and they suggested two things:  Send the unit to them and they will fix it or I could contact the original reseller. (Note that they didn't suggest a refund!).<br /><br />The very next morning I called Amazon and talked to a very helpful agent who without any further questions, sent me a replacement unit which I received within two days.  That's fast delivery considering that I live in Hawaii!  IMHO, That's great service .. but guess what? (Aaargh!)<br /><br />The replacement unit works EXACTLY like the first one.  I am NOT able to finalize a DVD-R after copying a VHS tape without getting the SAME error messages, and having to unplug the machine for an hour and doing the same thing.<br /><br />So I will be calling Amazon one more time to see about returning BOTH units and getting a refund OR purchasing a different DVD writer.<br /><br />BTW: I have never had a bad experience with Amazon agents.  They are all excellent and it's refreshing to know that one company focuses on EXCELLENT Customer Service.  Kudos for you Amazon and your agents!onsuming, but also NOT good for small electronic components due to the power surges that it creates.    So I called Toshiba back and they suggested two things:  Send the unit to them and they will fix it or I could contact the original reseller. (Note that they didn't suggest a refund!).    The very next morning I called Amazon and talked to a very helpful agent who without any further questions, sent me a replacement unit which I received within two days.  That's fast delivery considering that I live in Hawaii!  IMHO, That's great service .. but guess what? (Aaargh!)    The replacement unit works EXACTLY like the first one.  I am NOT able to finalize a DVD-R after copying a VHS tape without getting the SAME error messages, and having to unplug the machine for an hour and doing the same thing.    So I will be calling Amazon one more time to see about returning BOTH units and getting a refund OR purchasing a different DVD writer.    BTW: I have never had a bad experience with Amazon agents.  They are all excellent and it's refreshing to know that one company focuses on EXCELLENT Customer Service.  Kudos for you Amazon and your agents!