No errors reported for Sony DRU500a, but no burning success.

[LVLLN]

I've had a Sony DRU500a for about 10 months now, and until about a month ago, had absolutely no problems. But all of a sudden, it has a 100% coaster rate when burning DVDs. I can burn CDs just fine, but when I burn DVDs using CopytoDVD, I just get coasters. Neither of my DVD drives can read it, saying that it's a format that's unrecognized. But the program CopytoDVD reports no problems when burning. I also tried using the DriveCheck program provided by Sony, but it finds no problems, even when it's supposedly reading the burned data. Likewise, in Nero, if I make it check the data after burning, it says everything's fine. But the DVDs are still unreadable.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? Hopefully a possible solution? I've been using Ritek g04 DVD-Rs this whole time.

[handyguy]

Try some other media. What you get in a batch of media is like a box of chocolates.

You can uninstall your 500a in control panel & restart too.

[lacywest]

I still have my Sony Dru500 [still working I use it for computers that have CD-Roms that can't read my burnt CDs ... yeah some people still use cd roms in there computers dated 1996] but not installed.

I bought the LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-832S ... it's actually the 8x DVD +/- DVD burner with the hack.

But the way ... whats with the new Liteon 12x DVD+/-RW Drive White ??

just seen it at PCCLUB

http://www.pcclub.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1546998

[wesociety]

You may want to try using a Lens cleaning disc.

10 months should still be within the warranty period.
You should consider sending your drive in for an RMA.

If your warranty is expired and your drive absolutely refuses to write any DVDs, your best bet would be to take the drive apart and clean the lens manually.

[Mrsash]

I think I might know what the prob is. I have seen the same sometimes if I have the Copytodvd software open. I think it happens because it uses a differest burn engine... Usually a reboot or a couple of reboots(pain in the a&&) hopefully will fix your prob like it did mine.

[LVLLN]

Well, I'm not sure what fixed it, but I tried two things:

First, I opened up the drive and cleaned the lens using a q-tip and alcohol. Then, I tried burning using the ISO option on DVD Decrypter, since Mrsash said that Copytodvd might have problems. Now the burning speed has gone down to just 2x, but I'm making DVDs that work just fine. Maybe it was the cleaning that did it or maybe it was using DVD Decrypter.