Copied DVDs freeze up

[IHC]

I'm a long-time satisfied user (+ 5 years) of CloneDVD & AnyDVD but I have found of late that many of my copies I have burned onto blank DVDs have simply frozen during play-back. This is true on two different DVD players including one which is brand new!
I have not upgraded either of my programs since the "lifetime" upgrade license expired at the end of 2010 but could this really be what is causing the problems all of a sudden? It seemed that many of the upgrades were related to Blu-Ray copying which is of no interest to me.
Any ideas? Oh, and as I have kids I would prefer to not copy onto blank DVDs anymore but directly onto portable hard-drives so as to better protect my copies from grubby fingers and scratches. How can I do this? All help would be really appreciated. Thanks.
IHC

[AGJ]

For the freezing part not able to help with out log files for those problem DVDs as for the lifetime upgrade offer I believe that is still available, could be wrong though but no that would not be the reason for the freeze ups as need log files to help you with that and if you want help give this link a read http://forum.slysoft.com/showthread.php?t=29302 and post what is asked of you to this thread of yours

Now as for saving your DVDs to Hard drives instead of using the DVD writer for Output Method you select either ISO/UDF image or DVD files and save to the hard drive. It will be faster to save to internal hard drive first and then just cut and paste to external hard drive when you want to transfer to that.

Give both options a try to see which one you like better but I think the ISO option will be the better choice for you. These files can as well be burned to DVD at later time if you decide you want a physical DVD in hand

[mike20021969]

Originally Posted by IHC

I have found of late that many of my copies I have burned onto blank DVDs have simply frozen during play-back. This is true on two different DVD players including one which is brand new!

Probably causes are:
1) Bad blank media.
2) Burning at too high a speed (half the rated disc speed is recommended).
3) Bad burns due to failing drive.

or a combination of 2 or more.