I am trying to play a vcd (.dat file) on my Sony DVP NC600 DVD player, which is supposed to be able to play vcds. However I am getting an error message that the disc is dirty. Does anyone else have this problem? Is this Sony's problem or the way the vcd was made. The vcd has multiple subdirectories so I am wondering if the dvd player is having difficulty finding the dat file.

-- Allen (aeade@shaw.ca), February 25, 2002

Answers

It has been my experience that Sony machines in North America generally fall into 2 categories - those that play VCD and SVCD but don't support CD-R at all and those that play VCD and support CD-R but won't play SVCD. Most likely, you have a player of the first type. To test this, try burning a VCD to CD-RW. Players of the first type actually will play CD-RW discs. If it plays OK, then your CD-R media is giving you problems. This type of player WILL play CD-R media, but only if it is Prime Peripherals brand. Office Max sells these in North America. I guess they have stores in Canada, but I don't know. I doubt that your player can't find the dat file. Most likely it doesn't like your media.

-- Jason (Jason.Shumate@equant.com), February 27, 2002.