SOS: My Sony DRU 500 Has Difficulty Reading DVDs and Blanks

[Ashok]

Hello,

My four-month old Sony DRU AX500 (internal, 2x) used to work fine, but now has difficulty recognizing the disc I insert--both movie discs and blank discs. It starts making cranking kind of noise for a while and stops after a minute. The Windows 2000 says "Insert a disc". Sometimes it recognizes the disc after I have inserted it 3-4 times; sometimes it just doesn't.

Once it recognizes a blank, the writing part has been okay, for the most part. Occasionally, it fails to finalize after writing; Nero just sits there ticking away the time meter, but the writing doesn't finish. I am forced to re-boot; interestingly, the DVD-R plays, so I haven't minded it too much.

Any suggestions about what I can do? Will it help to buy a disc cleaner thingie (which kind)?

Thanks.

Ash

[handyguy]

You have to let us know what media you are using & what firmware, these are 4x machines, not 2x when you have the right firmware

[Ashok]

1. Onr problem has nothing to do with the media. The Sony has problems recognizing a DVD video disc I insert with the intention of viewing or ripping. Sometimes it works after I put it in several times; sometimes it fails altogether to recognize it. (I am talking about good original discs that play on other DVD drives and stand-alone DVD players).

2. The second problem is: the same thing happens often with blank media. I have to insert and eject several times before it recongizes it as a blank (e.g., using Nero's Media Info command).

Almost all the times, I have used 2x DVD-R and DVD+R (I rarely use RW). Brand names I use are TDK, Fuji, Imation, and Meritline generic.

3. I didn't know it could work at 4x. I have stayed with the firware it came with.

Thx.

Ash

[handyguy]

No, you need the better firmware, it was made to make it more compatible with media types & to get it to recognize any media. Its free firmware. Only takes a minute or two to download & install .....other than that your laser might be dirty.

[lechtin]

2 suggestions:

- Try a newer firmware - my DRU500A runs the latest firmware 2.0f and I have no problems with it

- Sony provides also a drive check utility (same page as firmware updates). Run that and if your lucky, it'll say your drive is no good anymore and you'll get a nice new DRU510A under warranty.

Good luck

[Ashok]

Thanks, folks, for taking the trouble to deal with my troubles! Couple
more questions if you don't mind.

1. I couldn't find the place from where to download the firmware. Where is it? At Sony site?

2. How do I clean the laser? Do I just go to BestBuy and get one of those laser lens cleaning thingies?

Thanks.

Ash

[Redd]

1. I couldn't find the place from where to download the firmware. Where is it? At Sony site?

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500axdwn.htm

2. How do I clean the laser? Do I just go to BestBuy and get one of those laser lens cleaning thingies?

Use compressed air in a can. You can get some at pretty much any computer store.

[Ashok]

Hello Geronimo,

>http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500axdwn.htm

Thanks. I downloaded and tried to use the DriveCheck software, but a basic problem. My Sony DVD burner doesn't recognize the CD-R blank. It's a Catch-22! At least, now I have a number I can call.

>Use compressed air in a can. You can get some at pretty much any computer store.

Sorry for a basic question. I have one of those cans. Where do I aim the air flow? Is it enough to eject the tray and squirt some air inside and hope for the best?

Thanks again.

Ash