SONY DRU530A WRITER THAT MADE CASTERS

[raviradh]

I bought the much talked about 4x[8x] DVD writer Sony DRU530A[f/w 1.0e] from a local retailer. Installed in my PC running windows XP-SP1. Everything seemed okay until I wrote the first DVD on a DVD-R media Imation, The disc looked fine and I used TMPEG Author. The sony writer played back ....finely. I removed the DVD to play on a standalone player and the player said" no disc". I tried on a DVD rom drive and the Windows XP reported the disc cannot be read. I upgraded the DRU530A firmware to 2.1a and also downgraded to 2.0d,a and the result was the same. I tried everything...like changing DMA, IDE cables changed media and returned to the retailer. He changed the drive and gave another and I had the same problems over. Meanwhile I ended up making a dozen coasters of various media..

What the problem??

I checked on another machine that runs Win2K and a Sony DRU510a by replacing the drive with Sony DRU530a and the same problem!!

I returned this one too back to the dealer...HELP I'm stuck. Is MSI writer good? or a Liteon??

[alchemistresearch]

I've heard that you must use an 80 pin UDMA cable on these writers. But, not owning one I can't confirm this.

[handyguy]

It should be a liteon.

No dvd player plays all disks. Some prefer -r media, some +r media.

Did you tell your system bios that you put in a new unit? Some remember the old unit is still in the machine until you update it. But you didn't give any system specs so just a guess.

[raviradh]

The bios is fine as I have a 865 GBF MOBO from Intel. The drive is recogonised by the software with its firmware number as well. Initially I installed in my pc as the 5th IDE device using an Escalade controller card.The i connected as secondary master but no remedy. Because the DVD that are written are read perfectly by the DRU 530A but all others fail to read.

[budz]

I wouldn't put a dvd burner on a pci controller card. I suggest you put the dvd burner on your motherboard ide. Use a pci controller card for your hard drives.

[jameshgross]

Why are you making coasters? You do know about DVD-RWs?
Get a couple and save yourself some money.

[raviradh]

I removed the DVD drive and connected to the Secondary IDE as Master.
I tried using the DVD RW but I couldnt erase the written DVD RW with any software I tried!!

[spiderman2k1]

Simple fix do not buy Sony there junk. I had two DRU500AX nothing but problem's went back to my Pioneer AO4 still no problem with Pioneer. I upgrade to a LG 4081 no problem plus LG does DVD-RAM.

People buy sony for the name there one of the biggest companies. They just put ton's of stuff out and if 30 percent of people have problem they do not care 60 percent are not having problem and that 60 percent is like 10 million people. And they make ton's of cash. How do they do this they make ever part out of cheep part's and charger high end price's.

[raviradh]

I think the best suggestion is not to break heads over the SONY DRU530A writer simply return it to where it was bought from!! Try any other DVD writer . I like the SPIDERMAN2K1 formula!!

[alchemistresearch]

Got to agree with you. Sony seems more concerned with making their products look good but the quality and reliability have been lost in doing so.

[handyguy]

"I had two DRU500AX "

Sony made those, but this 530 is a LiteOn not a Sony.

[raviradh]

Its sad that SONY has stopped making their own DVD drives and pefer to rebadge them from others. I understand after going through forums that the Sony 530A is an Optorite DD401 rebadged.
Also the Sony customer service [atleast on the web] seems to be for US & Canada only. What happens to the rest of the world?

Now I plan to exchange the DRU530 A with an MSI ...any suggestions?

[budz]

get a Plextor if money isn't a problem, get a pioneer, nec & liteon if you wanna use cheap media. that's just my opinion.

[Infiniti2004]

What a nightmare this Sony DRU530A writer is. I kept mine for 2 days and returned it after 6 coasters in exchange for the HP 8X Internal DVD+/-RW Drive Brand/Model: HP DVD420I which is the same price.. I got a fireware upgrade notice as soon as I installed , got it and voila it's working just fine. Sony sucks

[raviradh]

I got my Sony DRU 530A replaced by the dealer for a MSI DR-8A writer.
I used TMPEG DVD Author to write a DVD [the way I write with the SONY DRU 510A drive] and came a coaster that plays with the MSI and not on anything else.

Then I used Sonic MYDVD 4.5...the DVD plays ....I use a Nero 6 to burn the DVD and it plays....upgraded the TMPEG DVD to the latest version...the problem happens again!!

Crazy!! I wonder what controls the TMPEG DVD Author to write...the PX engine ...doesnt seem to work well on all writers...

Any thoughts..!!

[tedwinters]

Yeah, I got a Sony 530a as well.. What a waste of money.....
Upgraded to the newest firmware, and tried using the rest of my stash of Ritek G04 dvd-rs....

Was burning nicely, clearing off my harddrive, verifying the write, etc...
Burned 10 discs, when I decided to try one on my other computer...
Wouldn't read in the ROM...
Tried it on my xbox.. Wouldn't read either....
All 10 discs would ONLY read on the burner...
Tried a Pioneer DVD-RW (2X)... same problem...
Memorex DVD-R (4X)... same problem...

Switched over to a memorex DVD+RW, and suddenly, no problem!!!

It appears that dvd-rs are not readable in other machines when you close the disc, disabling further writing.....
When I tried burning data with TAO - not closed (in recordnow max), the discs were readable...
As soon as I closed it, unreadable...

Any video discs I made using the newest nero, and any iso's burnt using dvd decrypter, resulted in the same thing...

Must be some sort of firmware problem... DVD+R's write fine, DVD-R's have issues....

anybody have this problem?? Or know a solution (short of buying different discs?? I've burned over 1000 Ritek G04's on my old pioneer before it gave up the ghost, very few problems...)