LiteOn LVW5001A reports "no disc" present for *all

[garyjo]

LVW5001A no longer recognizes *any* DVDs, including commercial DVDs and DVDs recorded on the unit. Unit reports: "No disc".

After a month of use, this problem has appeared. "Turn on, turn off" does not reset unit. I have not updated the firmware, as unit was manufactured in Oct 2003 and seemed Ok until this problem appeared.
(Could not update firmware now, even if I wanted to, as unit does not recognize any DVD or CD.)

Has anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?

I have EMailed LiteOn Tech support - but they have not responded.
LiteOn site for this unit has a FAQ area - but this topic is not covered.
I have not seen this issue discussed on this forum either.

[smartblue]

hi garyjo:
I think you can do few things before call LITEON service,
1) Use computer cd rom cleaning tools to clean the DVD lens
2) Burn the latest firmware CD using lowest burning speed, try again
3) When you put the CD into the dvd recorder, please clock how long it report invalid media
4) when you put the CD into the DVD recorder, please also listen very
closely to the DVD recorder, do you hear any sound come from dvd recorder drive? Is the drive spinning?? is the head seeking the disc
5) when you put the DVD into the recorder, do the same clocking and listening to the DVD recorder

6) go to setup , look at bottom of the screen , what is your current SN: ?? ????-1129-E???(????-???)
Thanks

[garyjo]

hi smartblue,

Thanks for your troubleshooting suggestions.
Here are the results:
1. CD rom lens cleaner not recognized. Unit reports: "No disc."
2. Burned latest firmware at lowest burning speed. Unit reports: "No disc" during load process.
3. "Close, Load".... then "No disc" within 6 seconds.
4. For CD, the drive does *not* spin during the load process.
5. For DVD, drive does *not* spin during the load process.
6. SN is ??????-1129-E2S5.

Are you aware of reliability problems with units from this SN grouping (where the drive no longer spins during load process)?

In your opinion, is this a burned out drive - after only 25 days of light use?

Or, do you think drive is Ok but some of the wires/cables within the unit have come loose?

Is there anything else I can do to troubleshoot the cause before contacting LiteOn?

Who did you contact at LiteOn regarding the issues you reported?

garyjo

[smartblue]

Look like your dvd drive fail.

One time I disconnect the IDE cable from thedvd+rw drive then power up the machine, then you will see "FAIL" message form the from panel.

see pic below

http://fire.prohosting.com/aiblue/liteon

click Front_view_big_picture.JPG



In addition, there is 4 wire from power supply to drive

if the RED (+12V)and Black color(ground) not connected properly, you should not able to eject the DVD+RW tary or spin,
if Yellow (+5V)and black color (ground) not connectd properly, all circuit board on DVD+RW will not work.

AGAIN, I DO NOT RECOMMAND OPEN UP YOUR LVW-5001, YOU MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY!!!!!!


so I think you have defective dvd+rw , Call their 1-800 number. be sure to mention your drive not able to spin.

more DVD+RW troubleshooting
http://www.liteonamericas.com/us/trouble.htm

[donpedro]

I wouldn't open recorder if you don't want to loose waranty.

[smartblue]

Hi guys, I am going back to www.dvdplusrw.org

[donpedro]

Hi guys, I am going back to www.dvdplusrw.org

Too bad for you

[smartblue]

Just because LITEON developers are replying our problem on that forum daily!!
To me, This forum , "how to" and DVD media section are best in Cyberworld!!

[donpedro]

They can replay and follow this forum as well If they are interested in making their product better. At least I would if I had company that makes it.

[skyknight]

LVW5001A no longer recognizes *any* DVDs, including commercial DVDs and DVDs recorded on the unit. Unit reports: "No disc".

Has anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?

You should get your unit to be repaired or replaced a new drive. Seems there's no other solution or workaround for this hardware damage.

[garyjo]

I agree with your assessment.

I have asked Best Buy to exchange the unit.
They advise they cannot. They do not have any units available.
They did not hold back any units for exchange for defective units sold.

Futhermore, Best Buy service technicians (in my local store) refuse to examine/repair the unit... under mfr warranty. They stated that since the unit was never sold in their stores (best buy.com sales only), they wil not help.

I have asked LiteOn to repair and/or exchange the defective unit.
They refuse to respond to my many EMails and phone calls to tech support.

Their website states:
"If you are requesting service and support, please contact the dealer where Lite-On products were purchased."

See for yourself.
http://www.liteonamericas.com/us/service.htm

Best Buy has opened a case number and has promised to pursue.

But, as you know, with no one accepting responsibility for support (under mfr warranty), this will take time.

And if I return the unit for credit (my only option, per Best Buy), Best Buy advises they will *not* sell me a replacement unit for $199 when they return to stock. I will have to pay the current $299 price.

[jobedo1]

but why would you want another one at any price
jo

[garyjo]

You asked why I would want another LiteOn unit -- at any price.

The LiteOn unit has great promise.

It has a state-of-the-art encoder chip, for one. Unfortunately, it seems to be a unit rushed to market. Cheap construction (eg, remote) and/or firmware/design limitations (I suspect) were necessary -- in order to price the item for $199.

The LiteOn unit can only get better over time.

If they improve upon their design and reliability, and can keep the pricing $150-$200 below the cost of Sony and Panasonic units, they have a winner.

I still have much respect for the LiteOn name, and will watch their new entries into this market closely.

============

In the meantime, I have purchased a Sony RDR-GR7 for $474 from a local Best Buy store.

What a difference in build quality. For one, unlike the LiteOn, the Sony unit has a fan and runs cool to the touch. And the Sony recordings are clearer and sharper, which is most noticeable on 2 and 4 hour recordings. Perhaps because the Sony time base corrector and noise reduction circuitry seems markedly better. For one, the Sony circuitry includes *record and playback* control of brightness, contrast, hue and color intensity. Very useful in cleaning up VHS tapes digitally.

My vote goes to the Sony RDR-GX7 unit -- even though it costs considerably more than the LiteOn unit ($474 vs $199).

For the moment, the RDR-GX7 unit has
--Best picture.
--Easy for wife to use.
--creates DVD-compliant files
(eg, can import them directly into several authoring programs,
such as MyDVD)
--Quality build.
--And if ever needed, great support organization.

[chuliu]

garyjo,
I got the same problem from my lvw5001a. Everything was fine until I put in a ritek refurbished dvd+rw, the next morning, it won't recogzine any disc. I sent it to the local store immediately hopefully to get it fixed soon.

[donpedro]

BTW: LiteOn official user forum http://forum.liteonit.com.tw/

[soflawill]

good luck-my HP 300I quit on me after 7 months-flat out stopped burning in the middle of a disk. Then wouldnt recognize any disk-kept getting the no disk present message. After 1. 5 hours on hold to get HP tech support, the idiot made me uninstall all non-hp burning software, then spent two hours with me before finally deciding it was a hardware problem and the unit needed to be replaced. I wonder how much time this cost HP considering the damn thing is now on clearance at 69.99? Oh, and get this-my unit was manuf in 1/2003, and they replace it with one manuf in 1/2003-talk about mold from the back of the closet!!