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Frequently Asked Questions to take advantage
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Imation products. For more information, including brochures, demos, and spec sheets, visit the DVD / High Definition Media product page.
Can I use Imation 8x DVD media in a 2.4x or 4x DVD drive? If you have additional questions or comments, please contact our Technical Support.
Yes, if your drive manufacturer has supplied that ability, usually done in the form of firmware updates. Firmware versions are published regularly, and each one adds additional functionality. But even with a firmware update you may only burn at the drive's original 2.4x or 4x speed. For specific compatibility information please contact your drive manufacturer.
Existing 2.4x drives require a firmware update to ensure compatibility with Imation 4x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, and 4x DVD-R 4.7GB media. Another firmware update may be required to allow you to use 8x media in your DVD drive.
Please see your drive manufacturer's Web site, or check the following informational sites:
DVD+R and DVD-R are both write once media and are used for permanent storage of your data. The only difference is which drive supports which type of media. DVD-R recordable drives will only write to DVD-R media, and DVD+R recordable drives will only write to DVD+R media. Some of the newest drives are capable of writing to either format so be sure to check with your drive manufacturer to be sure. Once written the media can be read on most DVD recorders and players. Both are good for general consumer use, i.e., recording video, music, or images.
- DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, and DVD-RW are all rewritable DVD formats.
- DVD+RW and DVD-RW were designed to be compatible with existing DVD-ROM drives and DVD-Video players when recorded on a DVD+RW or a DVD-RW video recorder or PC DVD+RW or DVD-RW drives.
- DVD+RW and DVD-RW can be re-written 1,000 times and DVD-RAM can be re-written up to 10,000 times.
- DVD-RAM is compatible only with DVD-RAM drives and is generally in a cartridge. However, it can be accessed randomly like a hard drive making it a good choice for computer data applications.
Keep in mind when purchasing DVD media whether the media you choose is compatible with your existing players and recorders.
The problem is that computers and DVD drives and its media count the numbers differently. Computers count according to a binary system (base 2). The creators of DVD standards decided to count bytes in a decimal system (like a human counts). A DVD labelled for 4.7GB capacity actually only holds 4.39GB in computer terms.
Total storage capacity may be even less on DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, because these discs require formatting before or during burning, and the format takes up space as well.
This decision was made by the DVD industry — not by Imation. Imation manufactures DVDs to industry standards.
In computer terms: 1GB = 1 gigabyte = 1,073,741,824 bytes
In DVD terms: 1GB = 1 gigabyte = 1,000,000,000 bytes
Many double layer (DL) DVD burners hit the market before affordable DL media was widely available. As a consequence, most of the early burners are not optimized for the DL media that is now available. This can result in functional problems, for example interchange problems or failed discs.
Fortunately, this issue can be easily resolved by installing the latest firmware update. Firmware updates are usually found free of charge on the drive manufacturer's Website. Please carefully follow the instructions given by your drive manufacturer when downloading the firmware update. If no update is available for your drive, visit the Website again soon.
If your drive was bundled in a computer package, please contact the company you purchased your computer from for more information.
Click here for more information on firmware.
Imation 8x DVD Discs with ForceField™ scratch-resistant coating, like any standard DVD media, are compatible with most DVD burners. The ForceField coating provides an extra layer of protection against everyday use and is designed to repel finger prints, dust, and static buildup. The coating itself is less than one micron thick and does not interfere with a drive's ability to read or write. The real issue may be associated to trying to burn faster speed media than your burner allows. Most DVD recorders, both TV-set top recorders and DVD recorders attached to your PC, require firmware upgrades to burn to higher speed media. Firmware upgrades are easily obtained via most drive manufacturers' Web sites. A limited number of TV-set top recorders may be "locked in time," meaning that the user is unable to upgrade the firmware. Therefore the drive will not recognize any brand of media with speeds greater than 4x. If this is the case you will not be able to burn to 8x media in these recorders, and are likely to receive an error message when you load any brand of 8x DVD media.
Yes, the HD DVD consortium has developed a special 'hybrid disc' which contains 2 distinct sets of information: one is the High Definition information, which will need a true HD DVD player to read it, and one is the standard definition information which can be played back on today's DVD players.
Yes, most definitely. This technology is not designed to make everything you currently own redundant. It's simply designed to give you a better experience in the future.
No, this may look like a DVD, but the technology is all new. The decision to invest in all new technology was made so that the performance of the disc could be maximized.
Yes, most definitely. This technology is not designed to make everything you currently own redundant. It's simply designed to give you a better experience in the future.
Yes, several leading consumer electronics companies (including Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and LG) have already demonstrated products that can read/write CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs using a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical head, so you don't have to worry about your existing DVD collection becoming obsolete. Although it's up to each manufacturer to decide if they want to make their products backwards compatible with DVD, the format is far too popular to not be supported. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) expects every Blu-ray Disc device to be backward compatible with CDs and DVDs.
No. A Blu-ray disc will not play in an HD DVD player and vice versa. However, it looks likely that manufacturers such as Samsung, will manufacture 'dual format' drives, players and recorders that will accommodate both formats in the future, in the same way that some manufacturers currently offer multi-format DVD players and recorders that can read and play DVD+ and DVD- discs.