DRU-500A no longer reads DVD's but will read CD's

[IndySmooth]

Probably a complete newbie question but I'm stumped...

I have a Sony DRU-500A which I've had for about a year now. Have had no problems with the burner so far, only the software I was trying to use with it.

However, a few days ago it has decided it no longer wants to read DVD's of any type...movies, software, blank DVD-R's. I was 20 Ritek DVD-R's into a spindel with absolutely no failures. At the time of the problem, I hadn't installed new software of any type in quite a while, especially burning software. The burner reads and writes CD's with absolutely no trouble. After reinstalling in Windows and physically removing and reinstalling the drive, Windows lists it in Explorer as a "CD Drive" rather than a DVD drive like it did before.

Sony is useless in helping me fix this problem. Been there, done that. DriveCheck2.1 stalls when I try to run it and after reinstalling Nero it asks me to select a burner but lists none.



I searched for some older threads which had one that suggested doing the following:

""If I were you, I would try the following:

1. Uninstall Nero.
2. Uninstall the Sony drive through Device Manager.
3. Turn the computer off and then on.
3. Check the device manager to see if the Sony drive is reinstalled.
4. In the Device Manager, check the IDE drives to make sure the Sony is on DMA. If not, uninstall Sony, and also uninstall the secondary IDE ATAPI controller and turn the computer off and on again. I would not mess with the Primary IDE chanenel.
5. Reinstall Nero. ""



Long story short, I did this and no go. It will still recognize CD's and CD-R's but no DVD's of any kind.

I'm not sure how it could need cleaned, but if there's something I don't know and it DOES need to be cleaned, I'm clueless as to how to do so and would be very appreciative for a link on how to do such a thing.

Otherwise, does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? My system specs are as follows:

1.6GHz Sony VAIO
512MB DDR SDRAM
Radeon 9700 All-In-Wonder Pro
SoundBlaster Audigy 2
Nero Burning ROM and DVDXCopy Xpress installed
Sony DRU-500A, latest drivers, latest firmware ****
-The original DVD-ROM is still installed as a master to the DRU-500A slave. Had no problems with this setup before.

I'm desparate to get back to my burning as I'm in school for animation which eats up quite a bit of space and require being burned to DVD's.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Regards,
Smooth

[Brainiac]

Hi

I have a DRU-500A and was having trouble reading/writing DVDs. It was still under warranty and I sent it in for repairs. I chatted live online with Sony and did all that they asked before they issued a RMA. Took about 1 1/2 weeks to get it back and it works better than it did before.

If you haven't already, try the live chat.

Brainiac

[IndySmooth]

I thought that the DRU-500A had a 3 month labor, 1 year parts warranty?

Did you have to pay for the work?

[Brainiac]

I just paid for shipping one way.

I was 11 months into the warranty period. Just in time.

Brainiac

[Roll Tide]

Hi brainiac,

I'm still trying to get them to take my drive for repair. Lately, it won't even read a pressed DVD, much less an RW disc and I'm still hearing that clicking noise. I've even referenced your RMA with them, and they lied and said your drive wouldn't read any type of media. Mine will still burn DVD-Rs, but it takes a long time to recognize the blank disc. It won't even read a DVD-R immediately after it's burned.

The lack of read on store-bought DVDs is a recent development, so I guess I'll try again. As much as I hate to condone dishonesty, I think the only way to get Sony's attention with any amount of urgency is just to tell them the drive is dead. I've been jumping through hoops like a trained poodle for over three months. Oh well, 4 weeks of warranty left...

[handyguy]

Did you restore your ASPI layer? Cuz it needs that.

[IndySmooth]

I downloaded "ASPIrest.exe" and attempted to run it on XP but received an error message that I couldn't use it on NT4 or 2000.

Yaaaaaaaaay.

[IndySmooth]

Bump.

Going to try the live chat tomorrow during business hours. I can't seem to find a technical support number for Sony dealing with burners. The website only lists the support website and email, which I've tried.

Any other ideas?

[JohnnyCNote]

I ran the diagnostic program and it had an 800 number in the box when it finished and gave instructions that it would e-mail the results and to call in 24 hours. If you run it you should get the number again....

[IndySmooth]

Every time I run the DriveCheck diagnostic tool it simply keeps asking to insert a blank DVD, which it never finds because the drive isn't recognizing DVD's

[IndySmooth]

Update: Finally got ahold of a support rep. I'm 13 months into a 12 month warranty. They offered a pay-for-support helpline, then I explained everything that I'd done to fix the problem. The woman said that rather than send me to the pay for support and charge me $20, she thought I'd done everything they would have me do. Bluntly, she said there's nothing they can do.

<--- my face after being kicked in the nuts

If someone has suggestions that end up fixing this issue, I'd be willing to pay for the help at this point. My other option is dropping another $300 on a new burner just before Christmas.

[KXS]

Guys,

Is this a confirmed hardware problem? Does the burner need to be sent for repair or can the problem be fixed with firmware/software...

I have the same problem, my Dru500 does not recognize DVDrw or pressed DVDs, just cd(r, rw)s. I have also been able to read DVD-rs.

[Roll Tide]

Guys,

Just got my DRU-500A back from Sony, and it works like new. The only information I could drag out of them was that an optics part was replaced (I have the part number at home).

From the many posts I've seen on here, I'd say it's a pretty common problem - at least common symptoms. If your drive is exhibiting clicking noises, slow recoginition, or failure to recognize written discs, I would immediately begin calling Sony, because they can be very stubborn about taking the drive for repair. I had been trying since September and finally got them to take it in December. My problem was the same as one of the other posters - they insisted on having the log file from their DriveCheck program, even though it wouldn't finish its routine due to the inability to read the disc.

Hope this helps.

[NYJabroni]

After all that you have done I would say your out of luck. The thing is probably dead. It happens to all of us at one time or another. You dont need to spend 300 bucks on a good DVD burner though. Get yourself a TDK indi 4x burner for 159 at best buy. It's rock solid. I've had mine for a year now and have not had one hiccup. Never coastered any discs either.

[Popee]

I also have a DRU-500AX. Same problem. Reads and writes CD's but not DVD's. I contacted Sony via the web support and was told to fax an invoice within the warranty period.

I then called the next day and was told to run the DriveCheck program. Did so, and DriveCheck did not even recognize my drive.I was given a RMA# for repair, I will keep you updated as to the end result.

Seems to be a pretty common problem, that is why I am posting this info here.

[Roll Tide]

Popee, Glad you and some of the others had luck getting them to take the drive back so easily. When I was having my problems, they were stubborn in insisting that I complete a DriveCheck program cycle so I could email the error log. They didn't seem to understand that like your experience, my drive could not even read a disc to complete the tests. I finally got hold of a moderately sympathetic tech who talked his "supervisor" into letting him issue an RMA. At least it works fine now.