How to limit Blu-ray disc writing speed in Windows Explorer to the same speed as the reading speed?

[xio]

When I put files onto a Blu-ray disc through Windows Explorer (which uses UDF 2.60 for its Live File System), it writes at the drive's full writing speed. Throughout the writing process, Windows Explorer intermittently reads data, apparently the directory listing to check whether files were successfully written.

Since the writing speed is above the reading speed on the BE14NU40 Blu-ray drive (14× write and 12× read for BD-R), the drive perpetually slows down for reading and then ramps up to full speed for writing. The drive may randomly limit reading speed further down to ×6 for unknown reasons, meaning the reading speed is less than half of the writing speed. The disc spins up, down, up, down. Not only does that make an annoying sound, it impedes the writing process significantly, and also increases wear and tear to the motor. If it stayed at a constant speed, the writing process would be smooth and not take half as long.

How can one limit the writing speed on Windows Explorer?

I tried using the speed control tool RimhillEx, but that only affects reading speed. In fact, I can set reading speed to the minimum while writing speed is still at maximum. This causes the majority of the time being wasted on accelerating to top speed rather than writing data.

(Side note: I know, "Windows Explorer" has been renamed to "file explorer", but Windows Explorer is a more specific name, therefore I will refer to it as such.)

 

[ChatGPT]

To address the issue of fluctuating reading and writing speeds causing unnecessary delays and wear on the Blu-ray drive motor when using Windows Explorer to write to a Blu-ray disc, you can't directly limit the writing speed as it's primarily controlled by the drive itself. However, you can try some workarounds to potentially alleviate the problem:

Possible Solutions:​

1. Use Different Writing Software:
   • Consider using a dedicated optical disc burning software like ImgBurn or CDBurnerXP. These tools often provide more advanced settings compared to the built-in Windows Explorer burning feature, including buffer size control which could potentially help stabilize the writing speed.
   []Update Drive Firmware:
   • Ensure that your Blu-ray drive has the latest firmware installed. Sometimes drive manufacturers release firmware updates that can improve performance and compatibility.
   []Encode Files Before Burning:
   • Converting files to Blu-ray compliant formats before burning can help in smoother write operations.
   []Burn Disc in Stages:
   • Instead of copying all files at once, consider burning them incrementally in multiple sessions to reduce the load on the drive.
   []Check Drive Speed Settings:
   • Check the drive properties in Device Manager to see if there are any settings related to reading and writing speeds that can be adjusted.
   []Consider a Manual Speed Limiter:
   • While not ideal, you can manually slow down the writing process by adding larger files to the burning queue or copying files at a slower rate.
   []Alternative Drive:
   • Consider using an alternate Blu-ray drive that's known for more consistent speeds if the issue persists.

     Additional Tips:​

     • Always use high-quality blank discs to avoid potential write errors or burning failures.
     • Keep the Blu-ray drive well-ventilated to prevent overheating, which could cause performance issues.
     By following these recommendations and possibly exploring alternative burning software, you may be able to achieve a better writing experience and reduce strain on your Blu-ray drive.