Problem with DVD drive...

[k0409964]

I hope this is the right place to post this, forgive me if it is not.

I have got a real problem with my DVD drive, its on a laptop, and the drive is a QSI DVD +-RW SDW-082 LX44. Now, its not just when i try and backup my DVDs but i will use that as an example.

So i have an image that i want to write to DVD, i use NERO 7 and follow all the instructions etc, and start writing, now for one it seems to take a long time to write, but okay i'm on a laptop, but it goes all the way to 100% and then says its finsihed and pops the dvd out the drive, all very normal i am sure you are thinking, but then when i turn the DVD and look at the side were the data is written, and you know you can sorta see the line were it has written to on the actual disk, so if the disk is full us expect it to be near the outter edge and vise versa, well with a image of 4.35gig the line is only about 9mm from the center of the disk, and when i put it back in the drive it just totally f*cks up just frezzing etc!!! please can someone help me cos this is driving me mad!

i am running Win XP SP2 etc, and i 99% sure i have all the right drivers etc

P.S it writes to CDRW fine no problems!! and it is not just NERO, if i try and use the default windows writter it does the same thing!!!


Thanks for the help...

[setarip_old]

Hi!

1) Is this a recent problem? Have you previously been able to successfully burn DVDs with this same hardware?

If so, perhaps your system has reverted to PIO and needs to be reset to DMA. To do this:

In the Device Manager (via the Control Panel>>System>>Hardware>>Device Manager), you simply have to remove the applicable IDE channel (Click on "IDE...Controllers") and let your computer reset it to DMA as follows:
Right click on the pertinent channel in Device Manager
Click on uninstall
Reboot
After rebooting go back to Device Manager and change the setting to "DMA if available"...

2) If you haven't previously successfully burned DVDs with this hardware, your problem may be related to the quality of the burnable media you're using and/or the speed at which you are burning it.

To determine the capabilities/limitations of your DVD burner, as well as media compatibility, go to:

www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdwriters

(If necessary, open the Device Manager in the Control Panel to determine the make and model number)

[k0409964]

well, to be honest i cant rememeber if i have been able to burn dvds or not on this laptop because i have had to very simplar in the last 2 years.. but i will try tho suggestions. thanks.

[k0409964]

setarip_old i have tried doing that thing you suggested... under both the primary IDE channel and the secondary IDE channel the transfer is mode is set to Ultra DMA mode 5 for primary and mode 2 for secondary, or DMA if avalable. is that what is should be set too?


also i have tried both DVD+R and DVD-R and still no luck with either.

[setarip_old]

What is shown for "CURRENT transfer mode" for each? (Different than "Transfer mode"). If "PIO", try the procedure I suggested.

[k0409964]

Both say 'ultra DMA if avalible'....

[k0409964]

here have a look http://williamld.googlepages.com/dvdproblem Sorry about the page by the way lol

[setarip_old]

Both say 'ultra DMA if avalible'....Actually, NO, that's not what either say for "CURRENT mode" - but what they do say is that your drive has not reverted to PIO mode, so that's not the cause of your problem...

[k0409964]

o right thanks, have you any other suggestions?

[setarip_old]

its not just when i try and backup my DVDsWhat other problems are you having with this burner?

[k0409964]

well it wont write anythink to DVD, not pictures, documets anything, again it says everythink is going fine but, when the disk is ejected at the end the same thing happens evey time.

also i dont know if this means anything but in the MyComputer window when there is no disk in the D: drive is labelled 'dvd-RW drive', however when i put a blank DVD+R disk in the drive label changes to 'CD Drive'!

does this mean anything?

Thanks for all your help, by the way!

[setarip_old]

Since you say it burns CDs properly, but not DVDs, I'm guessing you have a 2 laser burner (one for CDs, one for DVDs) and the one for DVDs is out of alignment.

It's likely time to replace the burner...

[k0409964]

o right, it is just interesting it changes when i put a recordable DVD from DVD-RW too just CD drive. but ur right i am prob just going to have to replace it!!

[k0409964]

The strangest thing just happend, i managed to burn a DVD and got it to work fine, i have no idea why, and did'nt do anything diffrently, i manage to backup a dvd on a sony DVD+R disk fine, and it works perfectly!!!!

again thanks for all the help!!

[setarip_old]

i manage to backup a dvd on a sony DVD+R disk fineIs that the same media that you used for you problematic/failed burns?i cant rememeber if i have been able to burn dvds or not on this laptopI found this both remarkable and funny, when you first posted it - bit now, based on your saying:The strangest thing just happend, i managed to burn a DVD and got it to work fineI think you should remember today as the day you burned "one good one" ;>}

I'd still speculate that your burner is in its death throes...

[k0409964]

haha, yes it has failed on this media before but for some reason it worked last night.

I droped my last laptop and got a replacement (same model just slightly better spec) that why i cant remember if i have ever been able to burn dvds with this laptop cos i know with my laptop i have but i am not sure if it was pre or post replacement.

but ur right 07/03/07 the day i burned one good one!!! lol

thanks anyway...