New Samsung writer broken already?

[uNderdog_101]

I got a new burner about a month ago after problems described in this thread https://forum.videohelp.com/topic340812.html.
Anyway, it seem to be broken already as it won't read discs anymore.
My last burn went perfectly well since I use verify on all my burns nowadays, but that was a couple of days ago.
I noticed the problem after having a game crash, needing a reboot, during which time I left the computer to return about ten minutes later to find the computer stuck at the "boot from CD" part, since I had forgotten to remove the DVD from the drive following my last burn. When I removed the disc from the drive the computer continued normally, except now the DVD-writer wasn't working (it may have not worked earlier, but I noticed it now), and since the the crash was in an extraordinary fashion ("Just Cause" demo on Steam crashing to desktop with 4-bit color mode, unable to reset it until after a reboot).

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drive, updating firmware, and rebooting about a halfdozen times. I also booted up the computer with Puppy Linux, and the drive suffers the same problems there, so I know it's not a software issue.

But seriously, one month? I may have been a little harsh on it, burning 7-8 discs in a row on a couple of occasions, but still. Do I need to RMA this already?

[lordsmurf]

Are you a smoker? Smoke kills digital optics.

[budz]

i remember you with your failed burns. what model is that 18x SAMSUNG dvd burner? what burning software are you using? if you didn't use IMGBURN try it. need more info from you.

[uNderdog_101]

i remember you with your failed burns. what model is that 18x SAMSUNG dvd burner? what burning software are you using? if you didn't use IMGBURN try it. need more info from you.

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters/samsung-sh-s182d-ts-h652d/1608

I use IMGBURN exclusively.

Any readable disc, CD or DVD, pressed of burned, fails to read in the drive.
I managed to get a little reading of a CD in Puppy Linux for a couple of seconds before the drive disagreed again.

IMGBURN stays on "Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices..." for about a minute or two (used to be a second or two) before moving on to "Opening device" for the same amount of time before coming to the conclusion of "device not ready (logical unit is in the process of becoming ready)".

Good times.....

[budz]

I'm assuming when you uninstalled/reinstalled the drive the jumpers were set correctly. I'd say to try changing the IDE cable on the drive and make sure you use a 80 wire ide cable. What brand of media are you using? VERBATIM?

[uNderdog_101]

I'm assuming when you uninstalled/reinstalled the drive the jumpers were set correctly. I'd say to try changing the IDE cable on the drive and make sure you use a 80 wire ide cable. What brand of media are you using? VERBATIM?

Uninstall/Reinstall was a software thing, I didn't open up my computer an unplug anything, I removed it from the device manager and rebooted.

The drive worked perfectly until today, and I doubt it's the IDE cable being loose, I pushed that in properly on initial install and they don't just pop out.

[budz]

Then that leaves me with a software conflict of some kind. Trust me I've had my fair share of failed IDE cables. When you say reinstalled I suppose you're talking about removing it from device manager. Look to see your drive is in DMA MODE and not in PIO mode. I asked what Dvd media are you using?

[uNderdog_101]

Then that leaves me with a software conflict of some kind. Trust me I've had my fair share of failed IDE cables. When you say reinstalled I suppose you're talking about removing it from device manager. Look to see your drive is in DMA MODE and not in PIO mode. I asked what Dvd media are you using?

Verbatim media, yes.

[uNderdog_101]

Then that leaves me with a software conflict of some kind. Trust me I've had my fair share of failed IDE cables. When you say reinstalled I suppose you're talking about removing it from device manager. Look to see your drive is in DMA MODE and not in PIO mode. I asked what Dvd media are you using?

I checked my IDE-channels and the secondary on had popped back into PIO mode, I changed it back, still the same problem though. Is the IDE-channel something you have to reboot to notice change?

Also, I checked the drive in Puppy Linux, an OS the basically reinstalls every time you boot it, shouldn't any software issues in Windows NOT show up there as well?

[budz]

I have no clue w/linux.

See this link with the drive stuck in PIO mode:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6645

[uNderdog_101]

I have no clue w/linux.

See this link with the drive stuck in PIO mode:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6645

Ok, gotta check that out "tomorrow", time is 07:00 here and I have yet to sleep.

[lordsmurf]

I recently had a hard drive give me a "semaphore error". I replace the IDE cable, and it was fine again.

[uNderdog_101]

OK, I have ascertained that the writer must be the problem.
I have tried uninstalling the IDE-channels and rebooting, to no avail.
The issue is also not with the actual IDE-cable, as I have switched places (physically) between my old cd-rom (master) and my new DVD-writer (Slave), making my new DVD drive master and my old CD drive slave, still same problem, indicating the cable was not the problem.
Also, after uninstalling the IDE-channels my CD-ROM was the only drive defaulting to PIO mode, previously residing in place 0, now in place 1, and PIO mode moved along with it. It only defaults to PIO mode, you can set it manually to DMA and it's fine.

I think I'm officially done with Samsung gear.

[budz]

OK, I have ascertained that the writer must be the problem.
I have tried uninstalling the IDE-channels and rebooting, to no avail.
The issue is also not with the actual IDE-cable, as I have switched places (physically) between my old cd-rom (master) and my new DVD-writer (Slave), making my new DVD drive master and my old CD drive slave, still same problem, indicating the cable was not the problem.
Also, after uninstalling the IDE-channels my CD-ROM was the only drive defaulting to PIO mode, previously residing in place 0, now in place 1, and PIO mode moved along with it. It only defaults to PIO mode, you can set it manually to DMA and it's fine.

I think I'm officially done with Samsung gear.

So you refuse to buy a new ide cable for the sake of testing the drive itself. Good luck with whatever drive you end up with.

[uNderdog_101]

OK, I have ascertained that the writer must be the problem.
I have tried uninstalling the IDE-channels and rebooting, to no avail.
The issue is also not with the actual IDE-cable, as I have switched places (physically) between my old cd-rom (master) and my new DVD-writer (Slave), making my new DVD drive master and my old CD drive slave, still same problem, indicating the cable was not the problem.
Also, after uninstalling the IDE-channels my CD-ROM was the only drive defaulting to PIO mode, previously residing in place 0, now in place 1, and PIO mode moved along with it. It only defaults to PIO mode, you can set it manually to DMA and it's fine.

I think I'm officially done with Samsung gear.

So you refuse to buy a new ide cable for the sake of testing the drive itself. Good luck with whatever drive you end up with.

OK, I'll try with a new IDE-cable I have lying around tonight.

[vcdlover]

I got a new burner about a month ago after problems described in this thread https://forum.videohelp.com/topic340812.html.
Anyway, it seem to be broken already as it won't read discs anymore.
My last burn went perfectly well since I use verify on all my burns nowadays, but that was a couple of days ago.
I noticed the problem after having a game crash, needing a reboot, during which time I left the computer to return about ten minutes later to find the computer stuck at the "boot from CD" part, since I had forgotten to remove the DVD from the drive following my last burn. When I removed the disc from the drive the computer continued normally, except now the DVD-writer wasn't working (it may have not worked earlier, but I noticed it now), and since the the crash was in an extraordinary fashion ("Just Cause" demo on Steam crashing to desktop with 4-bit color mode, unable to reset it until after a reboot).

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drive, updating firmware, and rebooting about a halfdozen times. I also booted up the computer with Puppy Linux, and the drive suffers the same problems there, so I know it's not a software issue.

But seriously, one month? I may have been a little harsh on it, burning 7-8 discs in a row on a couple of occasions, but still. Do I need to RMA this already?

I had the same problem like you with one of my PCs which had a Samsung drive in it several months ago. It lasted about 4 months and refused to read any DVD, but CD-R only. It would take up to 2 minutes to read one. I then decided to replace it with a Pioneer 112D and it's been working fine since. A new drive is cheap now aday. Good luck...

[redwudz]

I use this method to reset the IDE channel:

To check DMA/PIO mode within Windows:

Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.

From there, right click on one of the channels and choose 'Properties>Advanced Settings'. All drives should be DMA mode. The 'Current Transfer Mode' for Hard drives is usually DMA 4-6 and DVD burners DMA 2-4, DVD ROMs usually DMA 2. If you see any in PIO mode, that can slow things down.

Changing them back may be easy or complicated. First see if you can change them in that window. If not, I usually uninstall the channel the drive is on and let the OS reinstall it. This will usually take a reboot and it should correct the DMA settings. If not, see if they can be changed manually. This will not damage any files on the computer.

It that doesn't change it back to DMA mode, then follow the link budz posted.

If you are using the old IDE cable, I would spend a $1 and put a new one in. The wires can break on them and that can cause your type of problems. And of course, I assume you set the drive jumpers correctly or the same as the old drive?

[uNderdog_101]

I use this method to reset the IDE channel:

To check DMA/PIO mode within Windows:

Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.

From there, right click on one of the channels and choose 'Properties>Advanced Settings'. All drives should be DMA mode. The 'Current Transfer Mode' for Hard drives is usually DMA 4-6 and DVD burners DMA 2-4, DVD ROMs usually DMA 2. If you see any in PIO mode, that can slow things down.

Changing them back may be easy or complicated. First see if you can change them in that window. If not, I usually uninstall the channel the drive is on and let the OS reinstall it. This will usually take a reboot and it should correct the DMA settings. If not, see if they can be changed manually. This will not damage any files on the computer.

It that doesn't change it back to DMA mode, then follow the link budz posted.

If you are using the old IDE cable, I would spend a $1 and put a new one in. The wires can break on them and that can cause your type of problems. And of course, I assume you set the drive jumpers correctly or the same as the old drive?

DMA mode is fine, only my old CD-ROM defaults to PIO mode after a complete reinstall of the IDE-channels, but is fine after I set it to DMA mode manually (using the same procedure as in your post). My DVD writer defaults to UDMA mode 2.

IDE cables don't just break spontaneously do they? I mean, they have absolutely zero moving parts, so wear and tear should be infinitesimal.

[lordsmurf]

"IDE cables don't just break spontaneously do they"

Yes, they can and they do.

The cables are twisted around in cases, and gravity/physics will eventually cause the wires to change under pressure. This is one reason tightly-pulled, twisty cables are a horrible idea. Even moreso if it's a cheapo cable.

[uNderdog_101]

IDE-cable replaced, problem persists.
I've done everything short of re-formatting the computer (something I did a couple of weeks ago and have no desire to do again so soon), I think I can now say for sure that the problem lies with the drive.

[redwudz]

Well, it's not a loss trying a new IDE cable. That eliminates one very likely possibility as to the cause of your problems and the expense is minimal.

Next, assuming all else is good, and JMO, is the power supply and then the burner. It seems strange you would have two bad burners in a row. If your PS is marginal, it could cause problems. It could also be a motherboard problem or even RAM, but a lot less likely. You could try the burner in a different computer. That would tell you the problem is elsewhere.

I am assuming you didn't get a bad burner. It happens at times, but with your other problems, less likely the cause of it all.

Sorry. Troubleshooting computers is generally a process of elimination. You eliminate all the most common causes, then work down the list until whatever is left is the probable cause.

[uNderdog_101]

Well, it's not a loss trying a new IDE cable. That eliminates one very likely possibility as to the cause of your problems and the expense is minimal.

Next, assuming all else is good, and JMO, is the power supply and then the burner. It seems strange you would have two bad burners in a row. If your PS is marginal, it could cause problems. It could also be a motherboard problem or even RAM, but a lot less likely. You could try the burner in a different computer. That would tell you the problem is elsewhere.

I am assuming you didn't get a bad burner. It happens at times, but with your other problems, less likely the cause of it all.

Sorry. Troubleshooting computers is generally a process of elimination. You eliminate all the most common causes, then work down the list until whatever is left is the probable cause.

Read my last post, already tried a new IDE cable.
As for two bad burners in a row, I have only had this new one fail on me prematurely, my previous burner was several years old and had several hundred discs before failing.

[budz]

Is that ide cable a 80 wire ide cable? Did you buy that ide cable or did you just find one that was lying around? If you're not using a 80 wire ide cable the drive will not work correctly. Sounds like you just wanna RMA the drive then do so. Members here are trying to help you but if you're not using the suggestions made then buy a new dvd burner since they're so damn cheap these days. I have 3 SAMSUNG dvd burners, (2) S203B & (1) 183L all SATA dvd burners which all work fine!

[uNderdog_101]

Is that ide cable a 80 wire ide cable? Did you buy that ide cable or did you just find one that was lying around? If you're not using a 80 wire ide cable the drive will not work correctly. Sounds like you just wanna RMA the drive then do so. Members here are trying to help you but if you're not using the suggestions made then buy a new dvd burner since they're so damn cheap these days. I have 3 SAMSUNG dvd burners, (2) S203B & (1) 183L all SATA dvd burners which all work fine!

Do you like, hate me or something? Your last couple of posts have had an inordinate amount of smilies, all laughing at me.
As for not following suggestions, the only suggestion I haven't followed is going out and buying a brand new cable, I used the IDE cable that came with my previous drive, perfectly virgin, straight out of the baggy, I believe it was a 40-wire one.

[budz]

Is that ide cable a 80 wire ide cable? Did you buy that ide cable or did you just find one that was lying around? If you're not using a 80 wire ide cable the drive will not work correctly. Sounds like you just wanna RMA the drive then do so. Members here are trying to help you but if you're not using the suggestions made then buy a new dvd burner since they're so damn cheap these days. I have 3 SAMSUNG dvd burners, (2) S203B & (1) 183L all SATA dvd burners which all work fine!

Do you like, hate me or something? Your last couple of posts have had an inordinate amount of smilies, all laughing at me.
As for not following suggestions, the only suggestion I haven't followed is going out and buying a brand new cable, I used the IDE cable that came with my previous drive, perfectly virgin, straight out of the baggy, I believe it was a 40-wire one.

I'm laughing because you easily failed to go out and buy a brand new ide cable preferably one that is 80 wire not a 40 wire. I mentioned to you a 80 wire ide cable is needed. Newer DVD BURNERS require using a 80 wire ide cable. I'm not telling you this to tease you. You've asked for help with the problem and suggestions were made. If you want then go ahead and RMA the drive.

When a dvd burner fails to burn discs I go down a list of things to check before I decide to RMA it. I've had dvd burners fail on me then when using a brand new 80 wire ide cable I find out the drive wasn't working due to failed ide cable. This is why I stressed that you try using a brand new ide cable with 80 wire. Rest is up to you to decide. If the drive still doesn't work correctly even after you buy a new 80 wire ide cable only then will you truly find out the drive died a early death.

[uNderdog_101]

"Popping down to the computer store" isn't exactly an easy option for me, the nearest shop being 20 minutes away by car and having to rely on others for transport. Add to that my schedule of being sound asleep during open-hours due to my schedule.

Shouldn't a change from a possibly faulty 80-wire cable to a perfectly fine 40 wire cable at least produce different errors, assuming the drive is perfectly fine?

[budz]

80 wire ide cable is needed enuff said.

[uNderdog_101]

OK, then, a couple of questions about IDE cables:
Are all cables rated for UDMA133 80-wire? The site for the shop I'm getting the cable from doesn't say if it's 80-wire or not, only that it's made for UDMA133.
It looks like this: http://www.misco.se/Archive/Images/Products/elements/kablar_adaptrar/DEL-222/published...l-222_stor.gif

[[_chef_]]

80 wire ide cable is needed enuff said.

Fully agree.

DMA4 or UDMA133 is the one you want.

[uNderdog_101]

IDE cable replaced with a brand spankin' new one, problem persists, drive obviously broken, back to the store next week.
If only I could find the damn receipt...