GAAAH!!! Can I or can I NOT burn a DVD-R(W) disc on a DVD+R(W) burner?

This is driving me CRAZY and the intertubes can't seem to provide a definitive answer. I need to buy a stack of DVD-R's. My DAW's burner says DVD+RW on the front and my laptop seems to claim it's a DVD-RW. I just need to know whether I can buy a stack of DVD-RW and be certain I can burn data on them on either machine.
 
The only definitive info states that using the wrong kind just may not play back movies on DVD players but I don't care about that. I'll be using them for storage of data, creating boot discs and crap like that.
 
So does it matter or should I buy two stacks of each?
 
kthx

Wow, too bad.  Personally, I've always liked Plextors.  Maybe their quality has gone down?
 
 

Got the same program on both machines? Something like Nero version 10 or so. It should be a standard for both machines to burn a DVD-R (more reiiable but only once) or DVD-RW (burn more than once, but in the end does not last as long) and should be standard readable type DVD or CD. It is a standard. The only thing you have to watch is that in the program you select that it can be read on all computers not just the computer you are burning it on. That is an option in the program. I burned CDs that still work as CD-Rs, and actually gave up on CD-RW because just don't need them and can be read on any computer I have since they were done on old computers I do not use anymore. The price of a stack of say like Sonys DVD don't cost that much or FUJI or whatever, and I never use them all in a stack of ten. Of course I am not burning daily or anything just burning the OS and some other things and the rest is stored on the harddrive if needed. Like anything after a few years, it is either not going to be used anymore, or is not needed anymore.
 

This is more about the + vs. - format in regards to burners (and their + or - status).
 
Unless of course you mean it simply doesn't matter if the burning software can somehow just do what it needs to.
 
I usually just use the Windows 7 burning utility and it seems to work for the stuff I've done so. I just double checked the original set of system image discs I made for the DAW and I did use DVD+R discs (which correspond to the burner and in retrospect I bought them specifically because the drive is marked as DVD+).
 
So if I were just buying them for the DAW I would buy DVD+R but I would like them to burn on my laptop which says "DVD-Super Multi DL drive" (but is only listed as generic at the moment in Windows which might be because I did a clean Win install).
 
So really it's just a simple matter of knowing whether a DVD-R will burn properly in a DVD+ burner and vice versa.
 
Frankly I'm very annoyed that these little DVD alliances and whatnot did this crap. STANDARDIZE BIZNATCHES!!!

Yup, that's the crux of it. I've formulated a plan anyway just put this to rest and calm the voices in my head. It will at least half work.

I would avoid RW discs completely, as they are unreliable. Of course, someone will be along shortly with facts to disprove this.

jamesg1213
I would avoid RW discs completely, as they are unreliable. Of course, someone will be along shortly with facts to disprove this.

Yeah... I'll probably just get single burn discs, single layer at 16x.
 
No need for speed and if I buy a spindle then I'll have enough to last a while and/or just use another disc if I get a bad burn. I do like the idea of having the extra space of a dual layer BUT I know those don't play nice with some tasks (like burning a set of System Image discs IIRC).
 
Cheers.

And when you go to a store, they do not even list that (- or +) anymore, and maybe a DVD-RAM would be different, but anyway, all DVD-R or DVD-RW would be the same anymore.
But the DVD unit in the computer would be more flexible to handle all of it (includes DVD-RAM) whereas most DVD-RW in a computer nowadays handle the usual DVDs made.
 
The laptop I think if I remember handles all of those kind including the DVD-RAM, the newer or other computer may not handle the DVD-RAM, but I fail to see where they are even listed when going to a store anymore.
If you want DVD-RW just pick up DVD-RW, and if you want DVD-R then just pick those up, and make the DVD compatible to be read in all DVD drives.
Standard, standard, standard.
All have been combined probably, but DVD-RAM may still be a question, and no doubt, probably no one uses them anymore if they ever did in the first place.
 

They most certainly do list the +/- designation. I'm looking at products to buy right now (thus the thread) and they have those designations printed right on the packaging.
 
Not trying to be argumentative. I appreciate the effort but I have been looking at any resource I can find on this.
 
Thanks though. Cheers.
 
Edit: And really you are probably right that it simply doesn't matter for my needs. Otherwise I'd imagine there would be far more details out there. However the lack of a definitive "you don't need to worry about it unless you are burning discs for standalone units" is weird and making me go all shizwizzle.
 
Or was... because it'll all work out one way or another. Just don't want to make multiple trips or orders. It's a pain and costs more money.

In some of those articles you'll see that there is a specific symbol used for burners that are considered + and - as shown in the following quote from WIKI...
 
"Hybrid drives that can handle both, often labeled 'DVD±RW', are very popular since there is not a single standard for recordable DVDs."
 
I've seen that on internal burners (and really thought that's what I bought when I built my DAW but I guess not).
 
Again it probably doesn't matter because I have also read that many newer burners do and can handle both but I figured they would show that symbol if they did.
 
As a side note it does seem to be that when searching for discs far more retail listings are of the - variety and they are usual at the top of the product list pages. There also seem to be many indications that the - format is the more common/universally compatible one so as I said I'm going to buy those and see if they work in the + drive on the DAW. If they work I'll be sure to update the thread. I might go out next week to do all this.
 
I also need to by a new hard drive for the DAW (as a backup/extra storage) and some USB drives. Just getting the research out of the way beforehand because it seriously is a huge PITA for me to get out to stores these days and I don't want to make any f*ckups.
 
Cheers.