DVD-R for a new Gateway PC

[LT9000]

Hey guys, I wonder if you can help me out with some advice.

The situation is, I just bought a new Gateway computer, and I don't think the DVD-R drive is any good. This is not a big deal as I didn't expect it would be.

I've already tried burning a disc and he wouldn't play on my stand-alone DVD player.

My question is what to do about getting a really good drive.

The main thing I want to use it for his backing up my DVD collection. I'm already about one quarter of the way through this process, using my friends external LG writer with pretty good results for the most part.

What are some of the top drives for this purpose? I guess DVD writing quality is most important to me.

Here are some additional questions:

Are external drives inherently inferior in any way? [If I install an internal drive, I have to open the case thereby voiding the warranty, although I don't rule out doing that.] I could just get the latest version of LG's external drive.

Can someone explain the difference between one sheep, and two sheep drives?
I'm not ruling out internal drives, even if I did go the external route, as I can always get an enclosure case, unless there's something wrong with doing it that way.

I'm all ears. You guys help me make a good decision.

Gateway 5058 AMDx2 3800 two gig of RAM Win XP media edition

[CrayonEater]

Discs failing to burn in standalones is a common problem that pretty much everyone here has dealt with. You can't make a judgment on one failed burn. It could be the media, the burn speed, burning software used, finickiness of your standalone, as well as the drive, or other factors. The drive is probably the last thing I'd blame. Try different media and burn at or less than 4x speed.

As to your question:
Gateway isn't a very good company. Have you tried sending the drive/comp back? If you can't afford to be without your computer, consider buying an internal writer for $35 or so. Tigerdirect and chiefvalue always have good deals.

As to external drives, there is the potential for more problems due to the USB or firewire interface, but I'm not aware of any major ones myself. Usually it's a driver issue, though it doesn't matter whether you are dealing with a purchased external writer or an internal one in an external case. If it won't void your warranty, and assuming you don't want to send your old drive back, I'd go with an internal one. The NEC ND-3550a or Benq DW1650 are good drives that are usually between $30-$50.

In any case, rule out all other options before replacing your DVD writer. Compatibility problems can usually be solved by changing media. And if your DVD player is older than 2002, you may not be able to use burned DVDs at all.[/url]

[LT9000]

I'm using the same media [sony -R] that has been playing on my home DVD player recorded from an LG 2166 external.

Does Gateway suck that bad that I should consider returning it? I've had it about 5 days.

[oldandinthe way]

It doesn't suck that bad. But their AMD based units are highly cost-driven. They really wanted to stay exclusively with Intel.

Which DVDwriter did Gateway install? In the past they shipped LG-GSA 4163B a very compatible and tolerant drive.

What software did you use to write the DVD?

Did you call Gateway support?

[aedipuss]

gateway uses the same damn parts everyone else does. just a different paint job on the shipping carton.

try different media first. verbatim or taiyo yuden +r would be a good start. not all burners like the same stuff.

have you checked what you have for a burner? it pays to find out and install the latest firmware update available for the drive. get it from the manufacturer's website.

[LT9000]

The DVD-R drive is a: TSST corp TS-552D. [Are they any good?]

The s/w used was cyberlink power2go. This was a copy operation from an already decrypted copy of a movie.

The copy I made did play in the new PC's DVD ROM [philips DROM 6216] but my stand alone DVD player did not play it.

[SingSing]

TSST is samsung drive, some of them work, and some don't. The local microcenter has 100's of the returned for $39.00.

You can called Gateway and swap a few drives until it work, or

Stay with your original plan, and go get NEC or Magdog or LG drive.

[LT9000]

Great, thanks.

"go get NEC or Magdog or LG drive. "

I was thinking BenQ 1650[5] as the primary writer and also a Samsung SH-W162C as a 2nd internal drive for it's reading capablilities. [unless Samsung is unreliable.]

What do you think?

[CrayonEater]

Gateway does suck that bad, but the question is whether: 1. you can be without your machine for 2 or 4 or 6 weeks. You also will need to do a full backup and be aware that anything on your machine could get wiped out, either through damage in shipping or by the repair facility; 2. Is the cost of a new drive much more than it would be to ship your machine back? I'm not aware of any manufacturer or retailer that pays shipping costs, even on defective returns; 3. Would replacing the internal drive void the warranty, and, if so, could you get a written waiver so that it wouldn't? You will have to contact Gateway to find out. Although replacing drives usually doesn't, find out for sure.

Personally, the first thing I would do is try different media or burn speeds, regardless of how well Sony worked in the past or how much you like it. I'd try changing the software if that didn't help; I know of a couple versions of burning software that specifically do not like Sony or other discs. If it's any consolation, Sony is a scuzzy company anyway. As I said earlier, it's a combination of burner, software, media, burn speed, the burner firmware, the standalone, the standalone firmware, and other factors. That Sony used to work is no predictor of how it will work with other burner/software/speed combos; you may have the same problem with the Benq or NEC as well.

In the event you do decide to go for a new burner, the Benq is as good a choice as the NEC, though it's a bit more. The Benq is a good drive from all I've read about it. I've been thinking of getting one myself. Seems to take any kind of media, which is a strong plus in a burner.

NEC ND-3550a $30 w/ rebate
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1649374&Sku=N27-1888
Benq 1650 $35
http://www.chiefvalue.com/product/productdetails.aspx?item=27-101-010

[oldandinthe way]

If you get a swap with Gateway and install a working drive you are likely to end up with a drive which is far less picky about media than a Benq or an NEC. (See the media reports on this site - links at the left). Since Benq has sold its DVD business to lite-on you also run the risk of the end of updates to firmware for the drive.

You also will continue to have a machine on which Gateway's Big Fix operates properly. I have a BigFix update running right now.

And it will not cost you anything but time. Gateway will ship a replacement drive at their cost and include a tag which allows you to drop it off at FEDEX or Kinkos and ship it at their cost.

[budz]

Since Benq has sold its DVD business to lite-on you also run the risk of the end of updates to firmware for the drive.

BENQ released 2 weeks ago two firmware upgrades for the 1640 & 1650/1655. Do some homework before posting assumptions. BENQ is the one of the few manufacturers that has frequent official firmware upgrades for their dvd burners. Yes, BENQ sold their optical dept. to LITEON but who's to say what sort of drive and firmwares will be released. It'll be a wait and see kind of game!

[classfour]

If speed is the real issue, order a drive from newegg or another online vendor that you trust.

I've personally had good luck with NEC drives, as well as Panasonic, Plextor, Toshiba and MadDog (which was a Toshiba drive way back then).

It's really your personal choice.

I've not heard of the drive that you've listed for the gateway, so it must be a re-labelled or secondary vendor.

You could go through the BS of uninstalling, etc., to see if it comes back; change burning programs, etc..

I've personally switched to converting ALL dvd folders to .iso files, then burning with DVDDecryptor (thank you LightningUK!!!!) for compatibility, even though I have a ton of programs that can burn - some have issues.

Study the drive that you're looking to install - read ALL the sources as to the reliability and compatibility of the drive - then purchase.

BTW: Media IS critical. After much experimentation. I only purchase Taiyo Yuden OEM Japan Media.

Your personal mileage may vary - m 2 cents.

[oldandinthe way]

It is clear that Lite-On is not planning to retool DVD production to build BenQ drives. No company is going to retool DVD production until one of the HD formats wins or both loose.

BenQ is dead. The only question is when support will end. And indeed one should wait and see, but not invest in new BenQ product.

TSST is a Toshiba/Samsung joint venture and their products are usually refered to as Samsung products. Occaisionally labelled as Toshiba product. A very high volume operation.

The another very high volume operation is the Hitachi-LG joint venture generally referred to as LG drives. Gateway uses these as well.

Not secondary vendors.

And highly tolerant of most types of media.

[OneSickPup]

It is clear that Lite-On is not planning to retool DVD production to build BenQ drives. No company is going to retool DVD production until one of the HD formats wins or both loose.

BenQ is dead. The only question is when support will end. And indeed one should wait and see, but not invest in new BenQ product.

I have yet to see an official statement from Lite-on as to their intentions post acquisition. Could you share your source of information?

If you get a swap with Gateway and install a working drive you are likely to end up with a drive which is far less picky about media than a Benq or an NEC. (See the media reports on this site - links at the left). Since Benq has sold its DVD business to lite-on you also run the risk of the end of updates to firmware for the drive.

Huh?!?!?! The worst drive I've ever personally experienced was a Samsung TS-H552B. It was a far cry from being media tolerant. I also own two LG's and love them for certain things, but to say they are superior to all Benq's or NEC's as far as media compatibility is not only incorrect - it's irresponsible. I currently own 2 Pioneers, 2 LG, 2 Benq's, 2 Lite-On's and 1 NEC. I assure you that the two Benq's I have are either at or near the top in media flexibility. The Nec I own is average but my 3550 is only one of literally dozens of NEC models. You don't have to take my word or experience as an accurate measure. Spend some time reading reviews over at CDFreaks.com and then browse the Samsung forum there as well.

[budz]

It is clear that Lite-On is not planning to retool DVD production to build BenQ drives. No company is going to retool DVD production until one of the HD formats wins or both loose.

BenQ is dead. The only question is when support will end. And indeed one should wait and see, but not invest in new BenQ product.

I have yet to see an official statement from Lite-on as to their intentions post acquisition. Could you share your source of information?

If you get a swap with Gateway and install a working drive you are likely to end up with a drive which is far less picky about media than a Benq or an NEC. (See the media reports on this site - links at the left). Since Benq has sold its DVD business to lite-on you also run the risk of the end of updates to firmware for the drive.

Huh?!?!?! The worst drive I've ever personally experienced was a Samsung TS-H552B. It was a far cry from being media tolerant. I also own two LG's and love them for certain things, but to say they are superior to all Benq's or NEC's as far as media compatibility is not only incorrect - it's irresponsible. I currently own 2 Pioneers, 2 LG, 2 Benq's, 2 Lite-On's and 1 NEC. I assure you that the two Benq's I have are either at or near the top in media flexibility. The Nec I own is average but my 3550 is only one of literally dozens of NEC models. You don't have to take my word or experience as an accurate measure. Spend some time reading reviews over at CDFreaks.com and then browse the Samsung forum there as well.

with onesickpup!

To oldandinthe way: by using the dvd media list here to match up a dvd burner isn't exactly the correct way to determine which dvd burner is best to use. I've mentioned before that using the dvd burner's manufacturers recommended list of dvd media is the best to use. Every dvd manufacturer has different write strategies for their dvd burners. As for your BENQ/LITEON statement it remains to be seen what will happen. As I mentioned BENQ released 2 firmware upgrades for the 1650, 1655 & 1640 and this was long after the announcement that they sold their optical drive dept. to Liteon.