Alright, that's it, my computer's goin out the window...

[Ernie Whitt]

...unless someone can help me with this problem. And it's a long drop, so any help would be appreciated.

I have made about 150 flawless backups until this point. I use DVDShrink 3.2 and Nero 6316. I also tried DVD Decrypter. I have an LG GSA-4081B burner. About a week ago I started getting error messages at the "lead-in" point of the burning process. I think I've basically narrowed the problem down to the fact that the drive is not recognizing when a disc (CD or DVD, blank or full) is inserted into the drive. With Nero I get a "write error" and with DVD Decrypter I get a "logical unit not ready; cause not reportable" error. Nero InfoTool recognizes the drive, but not that a disc has been inserted. The Device Manager reports no problems with the drive. I also cannot manually play CDs or DVDs in the drive with Windows Media Player.

I've done the following to try and fix the problem and none have worked:

Gone through the WinXP hardware troubleshooter

Uninstalled Nero and reinstalled it

Uninstalled and reinstalled DVD Shrink

Installed DVD Decrypter and used it instead of Nero

Updated the firmware to A104

Uninstalled and reinstalled the drive

Emailed LG about the problem (no reply yet)

And read dozens of posts here to see if others had a similar problem

The only thing I haven't tried is using different media, but I have been using the same media for all my backups until this point, so I can't see why it would suddenly stop now.

Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Is there something I'm missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

EW

[daamon]

Have you tried cleaning the laser in the drive? It might be failing to read coz of a dirty laser lens / something else is dirty...

Just a guess based on everything else you've tried...

[budz]

when you uninstall NERO it is best to use the NERO CLEAN TOOL that can be downloaded from their website. then reinstall it after using NERO CLEAN TOOL. if you are familiar with going thru the windows registry you can go ahead and delete the AHEAD (nero) registry entries.

you could also update your NERO BURN to the latest version which is 6.6.0.3.

[Soopafresh]

Sure sounds like your burner is taking a dump

1) In your PC BIOS, try forcing PIO mode for the channel/device the CD Burner is on. This is purely for testing.

2) Try a different drive cable. If you have a 40 pin, try an 80.

3) Set the Burner to Master or Slave, rather than CS.

The above are last resort things.


Finally, pull the burner and pop it into another machine and see if she works properly. THAT will tell you most of all.

[macleod]

what has changed with your process? Have you installed new software (SP2 perhaps) or new hardware?

[jimmalenko]

Finally, pull the burner and pop it into another machine and see if she works properly. THAT will tell you most of all.

That's it. Sounds hardware related to me.

[bunyip]

I had a DVD reader that went this way.
It turned out that the laser had got out of alignment, the system didn't report any device problems because everything was functional, but when it tried to read anything it couldn't because the laser was pointing in the wrong direction.
It was going to cost way too much to have it re-calibrated and with no guarentee that it would be successful, so it was cheaper to buy a new one.

[bosss7]

If you do throw it out the window, can you tape it for us all to enjoy?

[winifreid]

When you say you are using the same media, do you mean from the same batch or just the same brand? The brand is not always an indication that it is, in fact, the same media. Even media that has the same code can be different from batch to batch. Will it recognize a store bought CD or DVD?

[Ernie Whitt]

when you uninstall NERO it is best to use the NERO CLEAN TOOL that can be downloaded from their website. then reinstall it after using NERO CLEAN TOOL. if you are familiar with going thru the windows registry you can go ahead and delete the AHEAD (nero) registry entries.

you could also update your NERO BURN to the latest version which is 6.6.0.3.

I've already used the clean tool. No luck.

EW

[Ernie Whitt]

what has changed with your process? Have you installed new software (SP2 perhaps) or new hardware?

Absolutely nothing has changed. That's what's driving me crazy.

EW

[Ernie Whitt]

When you say you are using the same media, do you mean from the same batch or just the same brand? The brand is not always an indication that it is, in fact, the same media. Even media that has the same code can be different from batch to batch. Will it recognize a store bought CD or DVD?

Same brand (admittedly no name, but has never caused a problem before), from 2 different spindles. And no, it won't recognize a store bought CD/DVD.

EW

[Ernie Whitt]

Sure sounds like your burner is taking a dump

1) In your PC BIOS, try forcing PIO mode for the channel/device the CD Burner is on. This is purely for testing.

2) Try a different drive cable. If you have a 40 pin, try an 80.

3) Set the Burner to Master or Slave, rather than CS.

The above are last resort things.


Finally, pull the burner and pop it into another machine and see if she works properly. THAT will tell you most of all.

1) I'm pretty much know my way around a computer, but that's just Greek to me. I'll get one of my computer savy friends to try it.

2) Ditto.

3) It's always been set at Slave and my reader reader drive set at Master.

I think you've got the best idea in trying it in another machine. I'll give that a shot.

EW

[hhhhbk]

try dvd burner in another pc if possible
alternatively reformat from scratch to eliminate software related issue

[glockjs]

i think it sounds hardware related too. i had a friend that his drives laser went out of alignment too. nothing but headaches. i would more or less point at the drive itself. good luck

[ZAPPER]

BE ADVISED! When throwing computer components failure to disconnect any cables can lead to personel injury. Example, when throwing the monitor, the tower and printer will follow about four feet after. And speakers and mice while light weight and cheaply made are still dangerous at high rates of speed!

If cleaning your drive and swapping it to different cables or cable settings isn't working it may be time to bite the bullet and buy a new drive. If that doesn't work it is time to visit the local repair shop. If I think that I have half of a clue as to what is wrong I will let freinds mess around with it, but if I don't have any clue I ask the guy at the shop and sometimes let him fix it.

[glockjs]

bah, throwin heavy stuff out the window is hard on the back. and sometimes dangerous as zapper has stated. thats why i prefer the baseball bat method. less labor intense and a bit more fun

[daamon]

Put on a pair of rubber-soled shoes.
Chuck a bucket of water over it while it's turned on.
Stand back and enjoy the fireworks...

[Kingnog]

Same thing happened to me with an lg-4040b. I called LG, told them what happened, and they said they'd replace it. The guy took my address without even asking about warranty information, and in less than a week they sent a prepaid return package, and within a few days sent back a gsa-4120

[Ernie Whitt]

Same thing happened to me with an lg-4040b. I called LG, told them what happened, and they said they'd replace it. The guy took my address without even asking about warranty information, and in less than a week they sent a prepaid return package, and within a few days sent back a gsa-4120

I think I just found my solution.

Cheers,

EW

[Kingnog]

Glad I could help

[Srembecki]

I always blame Windows. That's only because when something this happens to me, I format, reinstall Windows from scratch, and everything works! Go figure....

[Erevos]

From the description I bet it is hardware problem.

Unlike other devices, CD/DVD recorders don't live for ever
I have thrown away 3 of them over time Each of them lasted about two years maximum.

If it is still on waranty replace it as soon as possible, if not get rid of it and buy a new.