Liteon LVW-5005 can’t prepare 16 X DVD-R before recording

[coody]

Before recording, Liteon LVW-5005 prepares 16 X DVD-R much time and then stops. It seems to be able to record 8X or slow speed DVD R (have not completely test it). It also can play the DVD without problems. Have you ever experienced in this kind of problems? Do you know how to fix it?

[DereX888]

If there is no newer firmware that would enable proper detection of newer blanks, there is nothing you can do about it, unfortunately.

[trhouse]

The 5005 was an early 2004 product. The media available four years ago was mostly X4. This limited media support is one of the reasons I do not recommend recorders from 2004 or earlier.

[bevills1]

In CDFreaks LiteOn Recorder forum I saw where a user fixed a 16x media problem by updating to latest firmware from LiteOn site. FYI this user also flashed back to hacked 098 firmware that removes macrovision copy protection resulting in fixed 16x firmware issue and regain hacked firmware features.

[coody]

In CDFreaks LiteOn Recorder forum I saw where a user fixed a 16x media problem by updating to latest firmware from LiteOn site. FYI this user also flashed back to hacked 098 firmware that removes macrovision copy protection resulting in fixed 16x firmware issue and regain hacked firmware features.

Thanks for the info. I contacted the Liteon technical support. They also suggested upgrading the firmware. I will try it. You can download it or get a CD from them, by the way. Bevills1, do you know the link you saw from the CDFreaks LiteOn Recorder forum about upgrade Liteon LVW-5005 firmware?

[bevills1]

FYI you may use CDRW instead of CDR to avoid wasting CDR for such a small downloaded file needed to create CD to update firmware if you like which is what I did. See CDFreaks posts #9 and #11 at http://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/lvw-5005xs-macrovision-hack-223646/. BTW the 16x media fix and regain hacked advantages also worked for me on 3 different 5005s.

[oldfart13]

What blanks are you using? I have 2 5001s that use the made in Taiwan Verbatim +R 16X discs without having to upgrade the drives and they have been working flawlessly for months. I prefer to use the Verbatims as they are the only blanks that will allow me to record at HQ speed. People complain about their price but they usually go on sale here at Staples or Futureshop at least once a month at $20 - $30 a 100 piece spool. I'm still living off the ones I bought on Boxing Day from The Source (Radio Shack) for $5 for a 25 piece spool. Maybe you should give the Verbatims a whirl....

[coody]

I am using DYNEX 16X DVD-R. I got 100 discs at less than $3 at the Bets Buy on black Friday last year. It was dirt cheap. Since a lot of people recommend the Verbatim, I will try it.

[DereX888]

My friend (owner of liteon 5005) confirms using cheap 8x and 16x RiData discs without any problems on his player with the hacked firmware.

I'm also surprised you haven't read any comments about the firmware in our players/recorders sections, you would have solved your problem long time ago.

[bevills1]

For what it's worth many have reported better results with +R than -R in the LiteOn recorders, and you may want to try +R as long as you're trying another brand.

[coody]

What is the difference between the hacked firmware and downloaded firmware from the Liteon web site? Do you all mean that I should use the hacked firmware instead of the Liteon provided firmware and why?

[bevills1]

The hacked firmware enables 3 hour record mode, makes recorder region free and removes macrovision copy protection that is useful for making DVD backups of VHS tapes that have macrovision copy protection which is useful if you have old VHS movies you'd like to copy to DVD. If you don't care about removing macrovision copy protection, 3 hour recording or being region free, then the LiteOn official firmware is all you need.

[LCSHG]

coody


To answer your original questions
Yes and Yes

Its not a firmware issue, [whatever the version, 098 or earler; hacked or not]. Age is not a problem, Two of my 5005 units were made July 2004, another January 2005. The older one is most wanted. [horz, RF connections]
I don’t know the units age, but most likely has a DDW-813s, DVD drive, If older, it Might have a DDW-451

[It’s the Drive that is failing].

I feel that if you experimented further with the 8x or a 4x disk you would find the same problems. I doubt it would even recognize, or properly burn a + RW.
I have not had problems with any disk 4x, 8x, 16x. Disk speed is governed by the unit to 1x play, 4x copy, regardless of the Drives rated speed

I have three liteon 5005, three 5045, three ilo RHD04, two ilo R04 units, These units all have replaced PC drives. [ilo is a liteon clone].

I mainly use Verbatim disks but have used many others with no problems


The unit can be repaired but drives that work on the FF function are getting hard to get
I just replaced the clock timer batteries in two 5005's as they failed.


Edit
If you go for a firmware change, make sure that you select a version that is for your unit version
I would not use a hacked version as it would be better to hack a proper version of 098

[bevills1]

I agree with LCSHG's Edit recommendation to get the original 098 firmware, flash with it first and finally run the hack program on original 098 firmware and reflash with hacked firmware which is how I did all 3 of the units I did. LCSHG, what are symptoms of clock timer batteries failure, where are they available, and are they easily replaced?

[LCSHG]

Long Post.
I hope it helps and answers some questions
I don’t use the 5005 for recording but many do and an improper timer can be a real bummer

Battery failure usually results in the clock not maintaining the correct time if the unit is unplugged or there is a power failure. However some failures can result in an erratic operation. As a shift in time, that could result in a unit not recording a program that was scheduled, but recording another,

Availability
I have not found a replacement available but doubt I would use it if it were.
I have used a 2032 battery which is a 3v unit used in PC motherboards and the battery holder removed from old unused PC motherboards. I have not been successful in finding a holder as a separate item

The Battery
The battery is a small, about 3/8 dia x 3/16 high made up of two 1-1/2v batteries, they are spot welded together along with the + and – connections connected to the mainboard. It is wrapped with a black plastic and at first look it can be mistaken for a capacitor.

Ease
In the .01 rev. board [vert RF connections] the battery is in the open, right next to the middle main-board hold down screw, next to the case side. It can be removed using a sharp long nose wire cutter, leaving a piece sticking up that can be soldered to for the connections to the new battery. The holder can be attached to an open space with double side white tape

In the .02 rev. board [horz. RF connections] the battery is underneath the tuner and not an easy access. This board has a different connection system and I would avoid any attempts to solder on the underneath part of the board and the existing battery should be removed anyway. This can be done carefully. A light wire can be soldered to the + stub which is closest to the unit front and brought out to the new battery. As the minus connection is the same as the case ground it is not necessary to attach a wire to the existing battery – connection. I use the rear main-board hold down screw as a negative connection

Note
On the .02 board, right next to the battery, there is a unit that looks as a capacitor but is not. The case is metallic and if this is bent over during battery removal it may short out the clock chip, resulting in NO clock movement, also make sure that there is no solder shorting out any connections. This is not a problem, straighten it up and/or clear any excess solder. The clock should be ok.

If no suitable holder is avail, it is possible to flatten the wire ends and place them with proper polarity to the battery and place an electrical tape around the battery and wires, than a piece of tape over the end away from the wires.
At many hardware or automotive stores a small spring steel clip about 3/16 opening is available and should be placed over the battery, opposite the wires and over them. This will insure a proper wire connection to the battery [Make Sure There Is NO Electrical Connection On this Clip Between the Wires to the Battery]
Wrap the battery again and attach it to an open space with double side white tape

This process can also be used on the .01 board

I have also replaced the batteries on a good number of friends 5005 units
At this point I have not had a battery failure on any ilo or the liteon 5045.
Only the 5005. Why I don’t know they would appear the same.

The battery on the 5045 and RHD04 is in the open, half way between the HDD and the case rear

[coody]

coody


To answer your original questions
Yes and Yes

Its not a firmware issue, [whatever the version, 098 or earler; hacked or not]. Age is not a problem, Two of my 5005 units were made July 2004, another January 2005. The older one is most wanted. [horz, RF connections]
I don’t know the units age, but most likely has a DDW-813s, DVD drive, If older, it Might have a DDW-451

[It’s the Drive that is failing].

I feel that if you experimented further with the 8x or a 4x disk you would find the same problems. I doubt it would even recognize, or properly burn a + RW.
I have not had problems with any disk 4x, 8x, 16x. Disk speed is governed by the unit to 1x play, 4x copy, regardless of the Drives rated speed

I have three liteon 5005, three 5045, three ilo RHD04, two ilo R04 units, These units all have replaced PC drives. [ilo is a liteon clone].

I mainly use Verbatim disks but have used many others with no problems


The unit can be repaired but drives that work on the FF function are getting hard to get
I just replaced the clock timer batteries in two 5005's as they failed.


Edit
If you go for a firmware change, make sure that you select a version that is for your unit version
I would not use a hacked version as it would be better to hack a proper version of 098

I am still awaiting the firmware update CD that the Liteon sent to me.

LCSHG, you said, “[It’s the Drive that is failing].”

So, no way can fix the drive failing problems, right?

By the way, sometimes the erase always fails at 87% or 92% when erasing a DVD RW. I do not know why. Has anyone ever experienced in it?

[LCSHG]

Coody
Your Quote

I am still awaiting the firmware update CD that the Liteon sent to me.

LCSHG, you said, “[It’s the Drive that is failing].”

So, no way can fix the drive failing problems, right?

By the way, sometimes the erase always fails at 87% or 92% when erasing a DVD RW. I do not know why. Has anyone ever experienced in it?
-------------------------------------------



I would not Install any recent firmware that was supplied by liteon as I would not trust it.

ITS NOT THE FIRMWARE, ITS THE DVD DRIVE and operation

Yes, it can be fixed with a new Drive. I said so

Yes, On the erase issue I indicated that there is an issue with RW disks. That it is doing what you say with RW disks tells me that the drive could be a problem and the handling of these disks is not correct. The liteon and many other units do not address this issue correctly.


The RW disks are not being Handled Correctly This is not only a issue with the liteon but with many units. They do not use the proper procedure or terminology in dealing with an RW disk
DO NOT further Erase the RW disks in the unit. DO NOT do any Partial Erase of these disks, Only DO a full erase using Tools. [These disks may now be coasters].

Place the disks in a PC.
USING NERO do a FULL ERASE , They may be rejected Try Again. If it fails again its most likely a coaster.
If it completes the full erase DO NOT let NERO Format the disk, Put it Back In the recorder [only if you are sure the drive is functioning properly]
It should recognize the disk as a Blank Disk and prepare [format] it
DO Not partially erase these disks and than use the unused space
Do a complete Erase in tools, each time they are used and the unit erase should be OK

[bevills1]

If you decide to replace the drive, there's an excellent how to including photos at http://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/shw-160p6s-lvw-5005-success-165085/. There's also a list of replacement burners that are known to work at http://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/replacement-drives-liteon-5xxx-recorders-207698/ although this list is not all inclusive. In another thread I read where a user used a NEC 3520 successfully, another used a Pioneer DVR-105, and in another forum a user reported the BenQ 1620 to be a fully functional replacement. LiteOn 1693 and older are fully functional replacements while newer LiteOns and other newer drives have freeze on fast forward and lack VCD recording. The Sony DRU-120C is 1 of the few that don't have freeze on fast forward but does lack VCD recording, and LiteOn SHW-160P6S as well as SHM-165P6S may be cross flashed to Sony DRU-120C to enble correct function of fast forward. There is some info on and links to older firmware at http://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/liteon-recorder-system-update-firmware-files-150339/ if you decide not to use latest LiteOn firmware as LCSHG suggests not to use.

Many of these older replacement burners are a bit difficult to find, and your best bet might be 1 of the later LiteOns such as the LH 20A1P especially if fast forward is unimportant as it is to me because I use the 5005 for recording only and use DVD player for playing. BTW you should do any region setting or firmware updates for replacement in a PC first; also book type may be set to DVD-ROM for +R media while connected to a PC for LiteOn and Sony replacement burners.

[coody]

Coody
Your Quote

I am still awaiting the firmware update CD that the Liteon sent to me.

LCSHG, you said, “[It’s the Drive that is failing].”

So, no way can fix the drive failing problems, right?

By the way, sometimes the erase always fails at 87% or 92% when erasing a DVD RW. I do not know why. Has anyone ever experienced in it?
-------------------------------------------



I would not Install any recent firmware that was supplied by liteon as I would not trust it.

ITS NOT THE FIRMWARE, ITS THE DVD DRIVE and operation

Yes, it can be fixed with a new Drive. I said so

Yes, On the erase issue I indicated that there is an issue with RW disks. That it is doing what you say with RW disks tells me that the drive could be a problem and the handling of these disks is not correct. The liteon and many other units do not address this issue correctly.


The RW disks are not being Handled Correctly This is not only a issue with the liteon but with many units. They do not use the proper procedure or terminology in dealing with an RW disk
DO NOT further Erase the RW disks in the unit. DO NOT do any Partial Erase of these disks, Only DO a full erase using Tools. [These disks may now be coasters].

Place the disks in a PC.
USING NERO do a FULL ERASE , They may be rejected Try Again. If it fails again its most likely a coaster.
If it completes the full erase DO NOT let NERO Format the disk, Put it Back In the recorder [only if you are sure the drive is functioning properly]
It should recognize the disk as a Blank Disk and prepare [format] it
DO Not partially erase these disks and than use the unused space
Do a complete Erase in tools, each time they are used and the unit erase should be OK

LCSHG, you looks like a technical support. Your post is helpful. You said, “I would not Install any recent firmware that was supplied by liteon as I would not trust it. ITS NOT THE FIRMWARE, ITS THE DVD DRIVE and operation Yes, it can be fixed with a new Drive. I said so.” I reviewed your early posts but did not see how you fixed the problem drive with a new one that can eventually solve all the problems. Have you ever fixed or replaced the LVW-5005 drive with a new one?

[LCSHG]

coody

Your question
"Have you ever fixed or replaced the LVW-5005 drive with a new one?



My reply

YES

My quote, from my first post, this thread
" I have three liteon 5005, three 5045, three ilo RHD04, two ilo R04 units, These units all have replaced PC drives. [ilo is a liteon clone]."

Also have replaced drives and repaired some 30 units for friends

I am not a technical advisor. Prior to retirement I operated my own business in electronics sales and service and have had almost 3 years of working with the litteon and its clones.I have learned much from the sites listed below


The post by myself and bevills1 Indicates drives that should work and those that will not have a FF function
Drives tha do have FF are becomming difficult to get

If you do deceide to attempt a drive replacement, these sites have stickys with pictures that cover the issue. Also there is much information that is relitive to your unit

While these sites indicate the ilo ----- ilo is a liteon clone and the infomation does pertain to the liteon.

http://www.techolio.com/

http://www.normediasolutions.com/portfolio/

http://www.ncc2315.com/ilo/

Good Luck

[oldandinthe way]

The drive firmware can be updated to support additional media without updating the recorder firmware. You'll need to carefully examine the firmware you are loading.

My 2005 vintage LVW-5005 burns just about any media. It is showing its age with mechanical problems like draw opening and also has DVD-RW erasing problems. My Zenith player hates Ridata media burned on the liteon but tolerates 16x CMC media (like dynex) as well as verbatim 16x.

I will probably avoid drive replacement until it solid down.

[LCSHG]

The drive firmware can be updated to support additional media without updating the recorder firmware. You'll need to carefully examine the firmware you are loading.

If unit still has the original DDW-XXX drive,.
The firmware for the 5005 etc. is for both the system and drive. Which may or may not include either. If you go above firmware 0098, the unit will not sucessfully Hack.

I have gone to the latest firmware and do not see any difference in a unit operation with 4x, 8x, or 16x using a working original DDW drine. Including poor info and use with a +RW disk

I know of now one that has found an individual firmware for the DDW drive.

If the unit has a replacement PC drive.
The only way the firmware can be flashed, is to remove it, place it in a PC and Flash it

[coody]

It has been confused by recorder firmware update and drive firmware update. I wonder what is the difference in effect on between the recorder firmware and drive firmware update. Are they the same or different? The Liteon web site downloading is the recorder firmware update or drive firmware update. Does anyone know it?

[bevills1]

Recorder firmware is for the main board while drive firmware is for the burner. The firmware link in my 1/30 post is for recorder firmware. Also note drive or burner firmware for replacement burners may only be updated in a PC before installing in the recorder.

[afecu]

I want to give an update to LCSHG's battery information.

On my 5005XS, the battery at location BAT1 is actually a pair of "supercaps", each 5.5V 0.22F. They should keep a charge as long as the machine has been plugged in recently. You can see them in the center of the photo below.

The 5005XS is essentially a 5005 in the slim 5007-style case, but I think it may have a revised system board. My only other LiteOn is the 5007, and I can't easily look inside it at the moment.