Help! My LG DVD Burner has slowed down. A common problem?

[ryandk]

Hi --

I had an LG GSA 4040-B. Used it for 11 months and burned a few hundred DVDs when the drive slowed down -- took 45 minutes to burn a disc instead of 15 minutes. I figured the drive could only handle so much. LG sent a replacement drive -- a brand-new 4120 -- and the same thing has happened after only 4.5 months. I haven't burned anywhere near as many DVDs on the replacement drive.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is there anything I can do to fix it? LG is no help, as it's been more than one year since my original purchase date. I'm a bit peeved, though -- shouldn't the new replacement drive work for at least a year?

Aargh!

[TBoneit]

Short answer yes and no.

Example: If we were to track 100 cars of your favorite make and model from the factory to the junkyard. Even if they were made sequentially they would all varying lifespans due to usage, excluding accidentt, in the real world.

With relation to your drive?

Was the replacement a new drive or a refurbished ? Are you certain it was new? It was probably a discontinued model after 11 months. They have no obligation to give you a new drive as I understabnd it, stinks ? Maybe?

[Bodyslide]

Could be an issue of the drive changing from DMA to PIO mode. Look Here for some tips.

[Nilfennasion]

I had a similar incident with an LG drive. My GSA-4040B simply stopped burning altogether after about six months. Had it replaced with the GSA-4120B, and so far I have never had a problem with it.

I would contact someone at LG and explain to them that this crapping out of two drives in a row after less than six months a piece is making you very hesitant about buying anymore LG product. Unlike a lot of companies, LG seem to understand that positive experiences promote return sales, or at least that has been my experience.

[ryandk]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Yes -- the drive was in PIO mode, and not DMA. The LG tech on the phone didn't suggest checking this.

I followed the instructions at
http://sniptools.com/vault/getting-back-to-dma-mode-in-windows-xp.htm and that did the trick! The drive is working as fast as it should now.

Thanks again!