LG 4040B burns DVD-Rs at only 2x

[sabesh]

My new LG 4040B burns DVD-Rs at only 2x. I've tried both Nero 6.0.0.19 and DVD Encrypter. I've also tried the Korean firmware A301 and the Canadian version of A301 as well. Nero doesn't even let me choose "1x". I can ONLY choose "2x". Same with DVD Encrypter.

I'm using this unit within an external enclosure. I've tried both Firewire and USB2. The enclosure is a Bytecc Me-320:

http://www.byteccusa.com/product/enclosure/ME-320.htm

I've got the 4040B jumpers on "CS" for auto. The laptop I'm using is a Fujitsu P5010D.

Can someone suggest anything to help me burn at the full 4x? The media I use is Legacy 4x.

Thanks,

Sammy.

[bluntman72]

This is all speculation, but you might have 3 things going against you.

First off, you have it in an external enclosure. I don't have the numbers but the sustained throughput needed for a 4x burn may not be available via USB 2.0 or Firewire.

Second, try changinging the jumpers on the drive from CS to Master, I remember having to do that to the hard drive that I stuck inside a enclosure.

Third, you might want to try better media. I and many others have been able to burn at 4x with Memorex DVD (4x) media.

[p0rnLiME]

I'm sorry I didn't read it properly hehe... hm... Must be something to do with the media... Also try what's recommended in the above post.

[sabesh]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried setting the 4040B jumper to "Master" with no success.

I shall try different media when I get a chance

Cheers,

Sammy.

[B0ng]

I also have the same problem. The drive shipped with A300 firmware and I was stuck w/ 2x -R writing capability. I used Nero DriveInfo and I could only select 2x as a writing speed.

I just updated to A301 firmware this morning but nothing has changed. Still can only select 2x as writing speed!

Anyone have a solution to this problem? I kno this media can go up to 4x as my old dvd writer was able to write them at that speed.

[bluntman72]

What media are you using? The drive is quite new and the firmware isn't as "mature" as those on drives that have been out longer. Look at the (crappy) Princo 4x DVD-Rs, it wasn't until a301 was released that the 4040 could burn these at 4x

[Colindale]

Why would you call them "crappy" when they appear to work correctly?!.

Iv'e been using Princo for years and I dont have a problem CD or DVD, it
all depends on the Firmware adjustment.

[B0ng]

I'm using -R's with the media id LEADDATA01

[sabesh]

bluntman72 & p0rnLiME,

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried two other media today: Princo & LeadData (in addition to the Legacy media I have). Princo was the only one that burns at 4x. The other two offer only 2x.

It's a bummer 'cos I have a Legacy 4x 50-disc cake .... Ah well, at least I found media that burns at 4x ...

Cheers,

Sammy.

[bluntman72]

Did you do anything to the burner? Changed the jumpers? Move it to an internal IDE channel?

Try the Memorex +R 4x media from Futureshop, I've been using those exclusively to backup DVDs at 4x.

[sabesh]

bluntman72,

Nope. I still have the drive in the Enclosure (via USB2) and have the jumper set at "CS". The firmware is at Canadian A301.

How doyou find the compatibilty rate with DVD+Rs for DVD backups? I was told that DVD-Rs have better compatibilty with standalone DVD players.

Also, have you used your unit for DVD-RAM backups of data? If so, how was your experience?

Thanks for the Future Shop Memorex tip. I shall look into that.

Cheers,

Sammy.

[p0rnLiME]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried two other media today: Princo & LeadData (in addition to the Legacy media I have). Princo was the only one that burns at 4x. The other two offer only 2x.

Maybe the two others that only burns at 4x is not supported yet? Look under DVD Media @ your media and check if anyone with the LG GSA-4040b commented it as 4x media.

[i am x]

My new LG 4040B burns DVD-Rs at only 2x. I've tried both Nero 6.0.0.19 and DVD Encrypter. I've also tried the Korean firmware A301 and the Canadian version of A301 as well. Nero doesn't even let me choose "1x". I can ONLY choose "2x". Same with DVD Encrypter.

I'm using this unit within an external enclosure. I've tried both Firewire and USB2. The enclosure is a Bytecc Me-320:

http://www.byteccusa.com/product/enclosure/ME-320.htm

I've got the 4040B jumpers on "CS" for auto. The laptop I'm using is a Fujitsu P5010D.

Can someone suggest anything to help me burn at the full 4x? The media I use is Legacy 4x.

Thanks,

Sammy.

I have the same burner. It burns for me at 4x all the time. Try Ritek G04 discs (excellent quality and compatibility) to burn on, and as far as the burning engine, I use either ULead Movie Factory 2, or TMPEG DVD Author. Both of those show that the burn is going at 4x. A lot of people say that Record Now Max is the best burning software out there, but unfortunately, it doesn't recognize the LG-4040B drive.

[i am x]

I'm using -R's with the media id LEADDATA01

I wouldn't recommend these discs at all. I used to use them for my customers, and they ALL would bring back the discs after about 2 weeks, saying the same thing; that the movies on them were freezing during playback. They seem to play the movies fine at FIRST, but if you play the discs on a continuous basis, they stop working correctly.

[bluntman72]

Sabesh

How doyou find the compatibilty rate with DVD+Rs for DVD backups? I was told that DVD-Rs have better compatibilty with standalone DVD players.

The numbers say that -R media is a little more compatible with standalone DVD players, but in my home I have two Panasonic DVD players, an older A120 and an RP91. Now, with Panasonic being part of the -R camp, one would think that I would have a greater chance of success with -R media, but all of the -R media that I've burned and played on the A120 failed to work properly. The -R discs work properly on the RP91. For that reason I've stuck to the Memorex +R media, it works great on both players, surprisingly.

Also, have you used your unit for DVD-RAM backups of data? If so, how was your experience?

I haven't tried the DVD-RAM disc, I now have a Panasonic DMR-E80 DVD Recorder that uses these and I am really tempted to give the discs a try instead of always recording to the built-in hard drive.

As far as the Memorex discs go, oddly, some Futureshops sell a 5 pack for $15 while others sell them for $12.99, check around.

[myckee]

Right now futureshop has a deal where if you buy 2 of a 5pack of Maxell either +R or -R, you get one free.

The Maxell +R is identical to the memorex. It is manufactured by Ricoh, just as the Memorex and has the same media ID code as well: RICOHJPNR01.

I have been using both the Memorex and Maxell +R media exclusively (all bought from FutureShop) as well, and after over 50 burns with gsa-4040b I haven't had one bad one.

[epsilon20]

Sabesh

Actuall USB 2.0 is able to send about 480MB per second so its more than enough to send data to dvd writers. I have a usb 2 enclosure and i have never had any problems will feeding data to the dvd writer from my laptop.

Its very important that you put the drive as master otherwise it wont work well. I have had three enclosurs and they all required the drive no matter what to be set to master.

As for upgrading the firmware its all the same whether the drive is in an external enclosure or internal. I have flashed the firmware of my pioneer A03, Optorite DD0203 drives successfully in the usb2.0 case.

[urbanlegend]

Sabesh

How doyou find the compatibilty rate with DVD+Rs for DVD backups? I was told that DVD-Rs have better compatibilty with standalone DVD players.

The numbers say that -R media is a little more compatible with standalone DVD players, but in my home I have two Panasonic DVD players, an older A120 and an RP91. Now, with Panasonic being part of the -R camp, one would think that I would have a greater chance of success with -R media, but all of the -R media that I've burned and played on the A120 failed to work properly. The -R discs work properly on the RP91. For that reason I've stuck to the Memorex +R media, it works great on both players, surprisingly.

Also, have you used your unit for DVD-RAM backups of data? If so, how was your experience?

I haven't tried the DVD-RAM disc, I now have a Panasonic DMR-E80 DVD Recorder that uses these and I am really tempted to give the discs a try instead of always recording to the built-in hard drive.

As far as the Memorex discs go, oddly, some Futureshops sell a 5 pack for $15 while others sell them for $12.99, check around.

For the since the 4040B does not accept most (in fact all "-") I have been using the DVD+R/RWs with a hiccup of a problem. In fact I was more in line with "-" before because of my Panasonic DMR-E50 but now have become a follower of the "+". All movies and backups work perfectly. Also I have bought Maxell only DVD+Rs and Verbatim DVD+RWs and have stuck with them only.

DVD-RAM I have backed up my hard drive to and am constantly removing and adding files using explorer because of the FAT32 format of DVDRAM. Works grrrrrreat!

[sabesh]

epsilon20:

I've successfully connected my laptop via USB2 to a Bytecc ME-320 Enclosure. I can also connect via firewire. I have the jumper setting at "CS". This does not appear to be the problem, as I get the same results via the "master" setting as well.

The problem is the LG 4040B firmware for sure, as I can burn at 4x with selected media now (thanks to the advise of bluntman72 & p0rnLiME). Here's a better description of the problem:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13018

LG has to be made aware of the different brands of media out there for them to incorporate a firmware fix to accomodate all these media issues.


urbanlegend:

Thanks for the info! What brand/model of DVDRAM media are you using? Also, have you done HD image backups using Ghost or Drive Image or other image backup apps?

Thanks,

Sammy.

[urbanlegend]

urbanlegend:

Thanks for the info! What brand/model of DVDRAM media are you using? Also, have you done HD image backups using Ghost or Drive Image or other image backup apps?

Thanks,

Sammy.

I have used Panasonic DVD-RAM and not the supplied Maxell DVD-RAM which came with the drive. I bought a pack of 3 Panasonic DVD-RAM for $29.99 (Canadian) from 2001 Audio/Video but also available at Futureshop and Best Buy Canada.

No Sammy I did backup using a HD image, I just used windows explorer.

[B0ng]

I'm using -R's with the media id LEADDATA01

I wouldn't recommend these discs at all. I used to use them for my customers, and they ALL would bring back the discs after about 2 weeks, saying the same thing; that the movies on them were freezing during playback. They seem to play the movies fine at FIRST, but if you play the discs on a continuous basis, they stop working correctly.

Holy shit! I had no idea. I bought a 25 pack of these suckers and have backed up 7 movies so far. No problems yet. Hopefully mine are an exception. :P

[i am x]

Holy shit! I had no idea. I bought a 25 pack of these suckers and have backed up 7 movies so far. No problems yet. Hopefully mine are an exception. :P

Yep, that's the same way I found out,m by buying TWO 25 packs to use for my customers. They ALL complained about the discs. My lesson was definitely learned. Sometimes, it's not good to go for the lowest prices when it comes to media.

[Nigel_Tufnel]

I just picked up this drive for $140 (US) and it's been great so far. The manufacture date is Aug/03 and the firmware is 3.0. So far I've burned to DVD-R(Maxell&TDK) X2, DVD+R(TDK) X4 & DVD-RAM and CD-R(Verbatim) with no problems using Nero in Win98. I've also burned to CD-R & DVD-RAM using K3B in Debian Linux as well. I have to try burning DVD's in Linux next. The DVD-RAM feature is a nice plus and you can't beat the price. The software that came with it is pretty much useless. All the DVD's I've burned play in my Sony DVD player as well as my DVD rom drive (in Win & Linux).

[sabesh]

Just an update for those with the same problem I had before (not being able to burn at 4x using Legacy / LONGTEN 001 media):

I upgraded the firmware to a302 via LG's Canadian site and all is OK now. I'm happily burning away at 4x using Legacy / LONGTEN 001 media (cheapest media I could find and plays in all DVD players I've tested except by a Samsung DVD player).

Cheers,

Sabesh.

[raptor333]

Right, here we go:
With firmware A300 & A301 I have burned at least 75 DVD's + & - with:
TDK -R made in Japan @ 4x (Tayo Yuden)
Verbatim 4x-R made in Japan @ 4x (Tayo Yuden)
Verbatim 4x-R made in Singapore @ 4x (MCC)
Verbatim 4x-R made in Taiwan @ 4x (CMC)
Verbatim 4x-R made in India @ 4x (Mose Bayer)
TDK 4x+R made in Taiwan @ 4x (Ricoh)
Verbatim 4x+R made in all the above factories @ 4x
with Firmware A301 you can also burn Princo 4x -R @ 4x (Princo = rubbish media )
Memorec 4x -R will burn @ 2x with A300/301 dunno about A302
so in a nutshell, a very well made burner, with the most features that does not like shi..y media.
Burning cd's:
Verbatim data life plus 48x will burn @ 24x
Acer 48x Gold burns @ 24x
Hitachi Maxell 40x & 48x will burn @ 24x