what r the symptoms of a dying burner ?

[cyflyer]

before installing a new Plextor burner recently, I noticed a few freezes, a few pixelations, on a couple of my dvd-r's recorded with my old Lite-on 851. Worry. The discs were MCC Verbatims, and also a TY. Started thinking "problem with the discs or problem with the burner ?" So what the symptoms of a dying burner ? Burn one moment ok then sudden death ? or occasional good burns, and the occasional skip/freeze burn for a while ?

[lordsmurf]

Dying burners usually won't burn anything but 1-2 "favorite" discs, and then after a short while, it won't burn anything. It usually loses the ability to read DVD and all CD abilities too.

[Krispy Kritter]

I had a failing Lite-On that always completed a burn "successfully". But then I had a 50/50 shot if the disc would even be readable. I've also seen instances where a drive would burn most (2/3-3/4) of the disc fine, but anything beyond that would be corrupt. There could be any number of symptoms. You're best bet is just to get another drive, they are cheap enough now that it isn't an issue. They usually make good spare/backup drives for reading discs.

[oldandinthe way]

My LG 4163b burner which died recently after a long life exhibited the following symptoms

DVD read problems, wouldn;t recignize any DVDs. Then occaisionally recovered. CDs read well. Could write CDs or DVDs.
.
Later, lost ability to read DVD or CD. Continued to burn well.

[OneSickPup]

I'm sure it's like most things - varies with the situation. I only remember two opticals failing for me. I had a Sony DRU-510 that died a slow painfull death. Started when it refused to read back anything it wrote even though playback on anything else was excellent. Then it starting refusing to readback pressed dvds or audio cds. The last and final stage it would not recognize any blank dvd-r or +r - or it least it was a frustrating adventure. You might have to insert fifty blanks before it would recognize. The strange thing was - if it ever recognized it - it would burn it flawlessly. Needless to say I just tossed it from frustration. Recently I lost an old Benq 1620 Pro that I was fond of. Burned and read flawlessly to the end. It's drive tray mechanism failed - would not eject except by manual emergency pinhole method. Once open I could never get it to stay closed. Really hated to toss that one.

[cyflyer]

Krispy Kritter, sounds like your description is the most accurate. Already replaced it with a plextor, and placed the 'dying' Lite-on as the reader. The nagging worry is how far back the trouble began, and how many back ups are dodgy ??? (having no time to check every one). It would be simpler if the burners had an inbuilt safety sustem that made them die quick and sudden, rather than a lingering painful (for the owner) death.

[handyguy]

Some do that when the laser is dirty. Clean it.