www.makemkv.com

Sorry if this isn't the right spot (I didn't see a category for non-HD), but is there a drive just for basic DVDs (not Blu-ray or UHD) that would work reliably?

We have various DVD movies for the kids and I want to just stream them from the TV over DLNA instead of hunting for all the disks all the time (which gets lost as well).

Speed isn't a huge issue, but consistency and reliability of being able to back up is more important.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Most UHD-compatible drives are actually LESS reliable for reading DVDs. But... DVD-specific drives are getting rare on the "new" market.

For best DVD reliability, you want a red-laser DVD/CD-only drive. If it can read BDs, it uses a blue laser, and there are some DVDs that do not work well with blue lasers.

Woodstock wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:33 am

Most UHD-compatible drives are actually LESS reliable for reading DVDs. But... DVD-specific drives are getting rare on the "new" market.

For best DVD reliability, you want a red-laser DVD/CD-only drive. If it can read BDs, it uses a blue laser, and there are some DVDs that do not work well with blue lasers.

the drives i have taken apart have 2 lasers not sure if one is red and one is blue or if one is for reading and the other writing but i got another amazing defective WH16NS60 ill throw a dvd in it with it open after cleaning and see if it is red i have seen the blueish purple one for blurays through the disk.

backupn00b wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:07 am

Sorry if this isn't the right spot (I didn't see a category for non-HD)

DVD posts are probably better suited here:

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=7

And from my experience—as Woodstock advised—DVD only drives are rare now-a-days. But standard DVD/BD combo drives do get the job done. Which are good? There are hundreds of reviews/discussions/articles on this. A quick Google search would provide plenty of these. Searching Amazon could also provide an idea of what’s out there at the moment and potentially popular/reliable.

In this sub-forum advise could be subjective on this, because after all, we are explicitly discussing UHD content.

Well The LG and asus drives that are UHD friendly/official have both a red and blue laser see photos and video below
dvd red

Blu ray blueish

both video
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9JZxUzaFxPEaKCQX6

also if just an fwi the drive is "FIXED" no read errors after cleaning lasers LGs clean room is a joke or nonexistent.

ASUS 24B1ST
Very effective and cost effective drive on MOST discs. I have had a small number of problem discs out of the large number I have ripped.

Thanks for the thoughts/ideas and taking the time. I'll take a look at the Asus and will research an external SATA enclosure to USB.

What about an external drive? Are ASUS best for those as well? Or what about LG instead? I have seen their drives be top rated on a bunch of different lists
https://tenpire.com/best-external-dvd-drives/
https://www.lifewire.com/best-external- ... es-4584282