DVD-RAM sector 0 and 2 errors

I used to backup to CD-RW but then I replaced the CD Writer with a DVD Writer and switched to using DVD-RAM for backup. At first I just changed to backup script to use dvd+rw-format and growisofs instead of cd-record to handle the actual disk writing. In other words, I treated the DVD-RAM disks as DVD+RW.

I noticed however that the DVD-RAM disks weren't picking up the latest backups. It's possible that after the initial write, they didn't allow overwriting. Even the dvd+rw-format wouldn't erase the files.

So I decided to try actually using the DVD-RAM disks as DVD-RAM and reworked the script to use mke2fs /dev/dvd to format (in case the user ever puts in a new disk, it will need to be formatted, so I figured formatting each time shouldn't be a problem). And I replaced the mkisofs with a cp -a command (this of course required mounting the disk first).

Sometimes this works (I've only just made the changes so I haven't seen a complete disk rotation yet). Yet in half the disks I've looked at to verify the backup worked, I'm getting errors during the format on sectors 0 and 2.

Warning: could not erase sector 2: Attempt to write block from filesystem resulted in short write.
....
Warning: could not read block 0: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted in short read.
Warning: could not erase sector 0: Attempt to write block from filesystem resulted in short read.
....
Warning, had trouble writing out superblocks.done

I've tried other filesystems with no luck either. mke2fs returns better error messages than say mkdosfs -F 32 /dev/dvd. Bottom line is I can't seem to get a good format so the subsequent mount (and copy) fails.

Any ideas?
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: XP Home Edition - ntbackup.msi
    ... app that is reliable and has a well-understood file format. ... Backup Plus uses the Zip format (though its files are ... as I cannot view the backed up files either on tape ... like any other disk. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: DVD RAM
    ... need special DVD burning software to write or read DVD-RAMs on a computer." ... Your links all say the same thing, that XP will Write to a DVD-RAM drive, nowhere do they say they will format an unformatted disk, and the Microsoft link states explicitly that XP will Not write to a DVD-RAM disk that has been formatted to the CDFS specification. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: restoring backup after reinstallation
    ... Since the first item in the logs after ... the format there have been no system ... It seems to have "fixed" that disk. ... >It the backup file was written to the troublesome disk ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Incremental encrypted backup on DVDs or similar media?
    ... such as DVD-RAM or MO disks; external hard disk drives are already ... used for secondary backup but this is required in addition. ... The same applies to creating a disk ... For encryption you can then use ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage)
  • Re: restoring backup after reinstallation
    ... Before I do the low-level format, ... are coming from the disk the back up is on! ... I'm noticing the backup disk is dynamic while ... I was installing the Windows updates ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)