If you own an LG 4020b DVD writer please read!

[RiG]

Thought this drive was a great buy, burns everything and my standalone has no problem playing the dvds...until I started testing with DVD-RW. It will format a blank dvd-rw fine, as soon as you have written to it the drive will not erase the media. I've tried different types of media, updated firmware, tried all kinds of software, even DVDinfo Pro, enabled DMA and blah blah blah...you get the picture. I've returned this drive 3 times, some ran quieter than others but still had the same bad attitude with -rw. So to make a long story short...burn a dvd-rw and try to erase it, if it doesn't do it take it back asap. Some software will indicate a successful erase but check it after...Nero will give an "Internal Target Error" message. This drive is a joke, buy a Pioneer for the extra $20 CAD you'll be glad you did. To all the other people that have had "other" burning problems that posted their comments that they bought DVD+R/RW, the drive is DVD-R/RW not +. This is an issue that LG apparently can't address in a firmware update but if you have a drive that behaves this way take it back, there is nothing that can be done to correct this problem. Just thought I'd give people a heads up because it was 2 months before I used an -rw and found this problem. Spent too many hours trying to fix the problem and maybe this way I can save YOU those many hours!

[Jukka]

No problems with mine.

[evade]

Strange, I've tried at least four brands, including the horrible Pacific Digital media that Price Club sells.....
This drive does prefer Maxell DVD-R and RW media though.....

[i am x]

Thought this drive was a great buy, burns everything and my standalone has no problem playing the dvds...until I started testing with DVD-RW. It will format a blank dvd-rw fine, as soon as you have written to it the drive will not erase the media. I've tried different types of media, updated firmware, tried all kinds of software, even DVDinfo Pro, enabled DMA and blah blah blah...you get the picture. I've returned this drive 3 times, some ran quieter than others but still had the same bad attitude with -rw. So to make a long story short...burn a dvd-rw and try to erase it, if it doesn't do it take it back asap. Some software will indicate a successful erase but check it after...Nero will give an "Internal Target Error" message. This drive is a joke, buy a Pioneer for the extra $20 CAD you'll be glad you did. To all the other people that have had "other" burning problems that posted their comments that they bought DVD+R/RW, the drive is DVD-R/RW not +. This is an issue that LG apparently can't address in a firmware update but if you have a drive that behaves this way take it back, there is nothing that can be done to correct this problem. Just thought I'd give people a heads up because it was 2 months before I used an -rw and found this problem. Spent too many hours trying to fix the problem and maybe this way I can save YOU those many hours!

Forgive me, but I don't see how this could possibly be a problem. If it doesn't want to burn -RW, then use +RW. Problem solved. My Apex AD-1200 standalone player for some odd reason won't play +R discs, and I've tried about 4 different brands of +R with it, and it won't play any of them, even though according to it's stats, it's supposed to. BUT, it DOES play +RW discs. Go figure. Even so, I would never exchange my standalone because it plays EVERYTHING else. Same goes for my LG 4040b. I simply don't have a reason to return it because it won't erase a burned -RW disc. I simply use +RW discs with it, and as long as it works with and kind of eraseable media that can play in it, and in my standalone, then I don't consider that to be a problem. Now if it weren't able to burn and re-erase either + or - RW media, THAT would be a problem, as I do need to be able to use erasable medie with it.

[Sasarchiver]

I AM X, just reading and saw that your standalone DVD doesnt play +r's. this is true, most DVD standalones play the -R with really no problems, but a few others wont play the +r format. I learned this lesson the hardway, bought a good DVD player without checking the specs, and i have a dvd+r and it didnt work.
to the main question, i dont understand why u cant erase ur data on a dvdrw, like the other guy said, try the + format....Sasarchiver

[nextlife1]

I've erased many -RWs with mine without a problem.

nextlife1

[Synergy]

If it doesn't want to burn -RW, then use +RW. Problem solved.

FYI, the LG 4020B only supports -R/RW and DVD-RAM.