Bad DVD burner or something else?

[Wishdiak]

I have a DVD burner (Lite On SHM-165H6S) that I've had since June of 2006. For the most part it's been reliable, but recently it stopped reading certain media.

The media in question is Ritek DVD+R. The funny thing is that it would read these fine up until about a month ago.

I can burn data (and video) on these discs, the drive just won't read them. Discs burned with this drive are readable by other machines and even set-top DVD players. This drive just won't read them, but it will read pressed DVD's. I have some old discs I burned on DVD-R media and it reads them just fine.

Does this sound like a symptom of a bad drive, or just low-quality media? I've tried upgrading the firmware, replacing the IDE cable, cleaning the drive, but none of that helped.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSE: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[cdogg]

Do you have a spare DVD-ROM drive you can throw into the PC? If it's an option, do so and make sure that reading the DVD's content is not being restricted by Windows in any way.

Because it can read pressed DVD's, then it sounds like it might be a hardware issue. Even though you've tried cleaning the lens, do so again. Try using a can of compressed air to clean it. Some will even recommend you go as far as taking the drive apart and cleaning the lens with a lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[paparazi]

Or
Put the LiteOn DVDRW in another PC to test.
You will know straight away if the fault is transfered to the other machine or not.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[ceh4702]

It might be dirty lens or something. However, then you should have trouble reading normal CD's also. It might also be the media and the speed at which you are recording. I wonder if this is an issue with Windows and it is looking form some kind of Digital Rights identification or something like that. Sometimes you can turn this feature on or off in Windows. By default I always elect to turn it off when I install XP.

I was wondering if there is a way to upgrade the firmware on that DVD Drive or perhaps you are not finalizing the burn of the drive like on CDS that are rewritable.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Wishdiak]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I was hoping to avoid returning it, but it is still under warranty.

I've tried cleaning it with a lens cleaner and compressed air. The firmware is the latest, and I flashed it to the same version just to be sure. I can't swap it with another burner or try it in another machine easily.

I've already got a RMA number, so I'll be sending it back this week.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSE: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com