DVD Writer damaging media?

[Jo A]

How likely is it that a DVD drive could be damaging disks? I have had a large number of bad disks since getting a new Gateway computer with a HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GSA H11N drive. It has been very slow to spin up and recognize disks but I can't veryify that it is bad in order to have it replaced. Could the slow spin-up be a warning sign? The disks that are going bad are Sony DVD+RW disks (1 1/2 years old but unused until recently) and some new Memorex DVD+RW disks on a 25 spindle. Earlier Memores disks performed well, though some of them have been going bad recently, too.

[mats.hogberg]

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[Krispy Kritter]

There is no way to know for sure without doing a little troubleshooting. Try the discs in a different pc/burner and see if they work or not. If they do, they your burner could be the trouble, it they don't...then it's the discs. Spin up time isn't a good indication...some drives are just slow to spin up.

[bevills1]

First thing I'd do is update firmware if you haven't already. Firmware update can improve media compatibility.

[budz]

How likely is it that a DVD drive could be damaging disks? I have had a large number of bad disks since getting a new Gateway computer with a HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GSA H11N drive. It has been very slow to spin up and recognize disks but I can't veryify that it is bad in order to have it replaced. Could the slow spin-up be a warning sign? The disks that are going bad are Sony DVD+RW disks (1 1/2 years old but unused until recently) and some new Memorex DVD+RW disks on a 25 spindle. Earlier Memores disks performed well, though some of them have been going bad recently, too.

Use a different brand of DVD+RW media. MEMOREX is crappy media.

[Nelson37]

From the supplied information, it is by no means certain that the drive is defective.

In order to get a factory replacement, it is not necessary that YOU verify the drive is bad. It is only necessary to verify to the FACTORY that the drive is bad.

If a user calls the factory and reports that the drive will not read commercially produced disks, both DVD and CD, and most especially reports that the case has never been opened and that the FIRMWARE HAS NEVER BEEN UPDATED BY THE USER, the factory will almost certainly replace the drive. Update that firmware and your warranty goes bye-bye.

The answer for virus BS is to attempt to boot from a Windows installation CD. If boot order is properly set, and it does not boot from a known bootable CD, the drive is bad. There is a PERIOD at the end of that sentence.

[[_chef_]]

I agree with budz!!!

[oldandinthe way]

In the past the gateway versions of LG drives have had an OEM model number and will not accept updates from the LG site. (I have checked and H11s are oem versions).

Gateway's Bigfix program provided automatic updates to the firmware.

It is possible to cross-flash your OEM unit to an H10N or H12N. Discussion of this and procedures are discussed on the LG forum at

www.cdfreaks.com


I suspect updating the firmware to be a waste of time. Besides your elderly SONY media is probably older than the drive and likely to already have a write strategy in the firmware.

LG drives are ususally media tolerant including with so-called "crap" media.

Are there signs of physical damage on your disks?

Can you write DVD +R or -R media?

Is the slow spin up the only reason you think that the disks are going bad?

Are they disks you have written on the drive?

Do you verify when you write?

Do they read elsewhere?