LG DVD writer can't read DVD's

[LazyLion]

Not quite Vista, eh?
LG sucks at best!

Do you understand the concept of sarcasm?

or are you a Vista fan who got upset at me making a joke of it?

next time I will add a disclaimer... "tongue in cheek, not to be taken seriously!"

 

[sn3rd]

I've had a similar problem before. For me, it wasn't COMPLETELY a no-read on written DVDs, but an intermittent thing. Check that the drive is running as fast as it can. I think maybe in PIO mode, the bus might not be large enough to carry all the data. And so Windows bombs. Right-click My Computer -> Properties -> Hardware -> Device Manager. Then find the IDE controller that the drive is connected to, whether it be primary or secondary. Then make sure the mode is set to the highest possible Ultra DMA setting. I think you need 2 reboots before this takes effect.

Have you tried the drive in another computer? Or another drive in this computer? Would help rule out a few things.

Have you tried a firmware update? If you're thinking that doesn't make sense, just give it a go. Possible that something got corrupted somewhere, and a firmware update might fix that.

 

[sn3rd]

Just realised you're using Vista. Not sure if the steps I outlined above apply, but the idea should be the same: you'll just have to wing it with the button labels

 

[Awesum]

The drive worked perfectly about 2 weeks ago in vista. i havent changed any settings.
I havent tried it in another PC yet. I need to find one.

It can burn blank +R dvd's, but cant read them. The burnt dvd plays in my HT dvd player.
Im thinking about stripping it and try cleaning the lens.

 

[Nether]

My LG-GSA-H20L gave exactly the same problem, you'll find on the cd that they package with the rom an auto firmware update program. Install it, let it find the firmware for you (it'll load itself in your system tray). After I updated the firmware mine worked fine, and is still working good

If the firmware update doesnt resolve the issue, I guess its time for a new DVDRW

 

[sn3rd]

When Windows encounters an error (even if it's from a scratch on a disc or from dirty discs), it's first action is to slow the speed of the drive. After (I think) 2 reboots, it attempts to increase the speed again. If there are further problems, it drops the speed. Then with the next error, the same process happens. After a while, you're left with a slow drive (for seemingly no reason).

 

[howardb]

Collected my replacement optical drive for my HT system from LG today - turned out they gave me a "refurbished" one - to which I told them to get stuffed - eventually ended up purchasing a brand new part through spares, got it home, installed nad working great again.

Turns out that the warranty period for LG retail optical drives is 12 months only, and you can get extended warranties if the drive is built into a PC or HT system - basically, if it craps out in the 13th month, then throw it away and get a replacement...

I will be timing who long this new loader lasts - at least it's not made in China like the one that came with the original HT unit - maybe I'm lucky this time...

...oh, and in case anyone needs a brand new LG DVD writer, model GSA H55N, give me a shout - used it as a temporary solution in my LG DVD Recorder for a week whilst waiting for the replacement part...

 

[Awesum]

Collected my replacement optical drive for my HT system from LG today - turned out they gave me a "refurbished" one - to which I told them to get stuffed - eventually ended up purchasing a brand new part through spares, got it home, installed nad working great again.

Turns out that the warranty period for LG retail optical drives is 12 months only, and you can get extended warranties if the drive is built into a PC or HT system - basically, if it craps out in the 13th month, then throw it away and get a replacement...

I will be timing who long this new loader lasts - at least it's not made in China like the one that came with the original HT unit - maybe I'm lucky this time...

...oh, and in case anyone needs a brand new LG DVD writer, model GSA H55N, give me a shout - used it as a temporary solution in my LG DVD Recorder for a week whilst waiting for the replacement part...

How much do you want?

 

[howardb]

How much do you want?

PM sent Awesum...

 

[NoRulez]

Do you understand the concept of sarcasm?

or are you a Vista fan who got upset at me making a joke of it?

next time I will add a disclaimer... "tongue in cheek, not to be taken seriously!"

Using Vista on my one laptop only - not really a fan, but also nothing wrong with it (apart from some software incompatibilities). Certainly not an issue when it comes to LG hardware.
I've personally scrapped 4 LG burners in as many years, not to mention the replacements on clients machines over the past 6 or 7 years.
One thing is certain: LG burners make good crossbow targets...

 

[cclark]

I have just replaced my dvd writer in my RH199H
on the original writer there were no jumpers on the master or cs or slave
when i turn on the recorder it hangs sying please wait when i put the jumper in the master it tapes for 10 secs & hangs there when i put the jumper on cs it tapes for 20 secs then hangs if i put the jumper on slave it won't start it just keeps saying please wait
it plays normal dvds no problems can someone please help me with this problem?

Craig.

 

[D4N]

For anyone looking to buy a new DVD burner, get a Samsung SH-203, it's best drive out there at the moment.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Samsung-SH-S203B-DVD-Burner-Review
Hi-fi corp have them @ R250

 

[maestro_za]

My 2nd drive in my tower is a LG DVD Multiwriter GSA 4163B (approx. 4 yrs old). It doesn't write Dual-Layer discs but it has worked no problem for ages.

I do still run XP though. I've had LG CD-RW crap out on me several times. I had a Benq DVD-RW give me issues too. Just replaced that with a Samsung Lightscribe model.

My policy is, opticals are dirt cheap these days. If it gives you probs, BIN IT. No questions asked.

I'll be taking out my LG once I get a Eee PC, plug it in via a IDE-USB adapter and use it as an external

 

[howardb]

I have just replaced my dvd writer in my RH199H
on the original writer there were no jumpers on the master or cs or slave
when i turn on the recorder it hangs sying please wait when i put the jumper in the master it tapes for 10 secs & hangs there when i put the jumper on cs it tapes for 20 secs then hangs if i put the jumper on slave it won't start it just keeps saying please wait
it plays normal dvds no problems can someone please help me with this problem?

Craig.

What model drive did you replace the original with - the RH199H/RH1999H can only take certain replacement optical drives - did a lot of investigation on this when my drive went pop. Did you "transfer" the intenal parts from the new to the old case?

From what I read, the RH199H/RH1999H/RH1XXX series came out with the LG GSA-4164 drive installed.
This series can only handle the following drives, as tested:
- GSA-4163B
- GSA-4167 (best solution)
- GSA-H22N
- GSA-H42N
- GSA-H44N
- GSA-H55N
- Sony DRU-120C

NOTE -- it does not like the lightscribe optical drives at all - these are usually marked with an "L" at the end of the model number.

The drive I got and used successfully was an LG GSA-H55N (can get from Frontosa)
The only thing I found was that the drive speed was very audible, as it's obviously made for a PC and not an HT system - the original 4164 drives are made for HT systems and are thus very quiet. I also had to put the jumper on Master for it to work correctly - as you said, the original does not have this.

I also recall that the first time I switched it on and tried to record, it bomed out after a 20 or so seconds. After a reset, and a firmware update, it was fine. I have all the docs and files that I found on the BIOS update, so if you need them, let me know and I'll dump them on my server for you to pull.

BTW, if you want region free on this recorder, use the following codes from the remote:
- open the loader tray first
1) press "Setup" on the remote control;
2) go down padlock icon without selecting it;
3) press "0" button seven times;
4) a message will appear confirming that "your unit is now region-free"
5) if it is already region free and you do this, you will deactivate it - just follow these steps again to reactivate it

 

[a3dm86]

i worked in a computer shop as a "laitie" coupla years ago
historically samsung was by far the worst performing drive (too many returns) and also the cheapest.
liteon/benq came in with competitive prices and didn't have as many many returns.
lg and sony performed quite well(i left before the lightscribe era).
its usually the lens that goes in these suckers, cleaning it is your best bet when its out of warranty.
i burn a spindle of 50 every month and don't have problem with my lg.
the last time an optical drive gave up on me was a cd-writer (a-open) back in 2000.
lastly, optical drives very cheap nowadays and any bumb can install it.