DVD burner doesn't recognise blank DVDs

riley454 · 10-08-2009, 11:35 AM

I have a LiteOn DVD burner/player installed(DH20A4P). Previously I have successfully created DVDs but for some time now, the drive doesn't recognise blank DVDs like it used to.

In "my computer" the (D: ) is shown as DVD-RAM Drive but when I insert a blank DVD that is specifically listed by the manufacturer as compatible, "my computer" shows the image of a disc with DVD-R(etc) but listed as a 'CD Drive'.

This drive has previously recorded to blank various DVD(+R/-R/+RW/-RW etc) successfully and still reads both commercially produced DVDs equally as well as home made DVDs but does not recognise blank DVDs anymore.

I contacted the manufacturer when this problem started, unfortunately the drive was only a month out of warranty so their help was basically "get the latest firmware if that doesn't help, buy a new one!"

From searching allover the net and speaking to experienced people, I have 3 options, and want the most financially viable option...

Free- Pull the drive apart and clean the lens manually and hope fixes the problem
Around $20- buy a lens cleaner and hope for the best
Around $50- get a new drive and hope the same problems don't arise again outside warranty

What would YOU do???

kimsland · 10-08-2009, 11:38 AM

Get a new drive - please, stop stuffing around with this throw away device

tremmor · 10-08-2009, 11:47 AM

have to agree now it is a throw away. On the other hand you can try one thing. get a can of static free air from an office supply store or similar. open the tray and lightly spray across the lens. ive had to do this many times and has worked. do not turn the can upside down, it has an oil base in it and you don't want it on the lens.

**The_Other_One** · 10-08-2009, 03:44 PM

Have you tried using different software to burn the disks? Sometimes windows can be a bit quirky with blanks. DeepBurner is a nice free burning program you could try.

It is quite common for these things to die, though. I wouldn't be too surprised if it just gave out. New DVD burners can be had for $30 or less.

OvenMaster · 10-09-2009, 06:05 AM

Any time I had a drive that failed to recognize any specific type of disc, the only solution was to replace the drive. It's a lot less costly now than it was when a 24x CD-only burner cost $100!

tremmor · 10-09-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

Any time I had a drive that failed to recognize any specific type of disc, the only solution was to replace the drive. It's a lot less costly now than it was when a 24x CD-only burner cost $100!

Sorry.........they were a lot more than that. I bought a cd burner 4x writer for $600.00 (Plextor). it was in the 70's. days of commorde pet, trs80, Amiga, imsai and Sol terminal.

OvenMaster · 10-10-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tremmor

Sorry.........they were a lot more than that. I bought a cd burner 4x writer for $600.00 (Plextor). it was in the 70's. days of commorde pet, trs80, Amiga, imsai and Sol terminal.

Yow! My very first burner was a 24x10x40 AOpen that cost me a C-note, but this was 2001. I didn't pay much attention to prices before then, but jeez, $600!

tremmor · 10-10-2009, 11:52 AM

wish i still had it. It might of been in the early 80's, don't remember. my 1st burner. I had also built a Digital group 8080 PD11. Wish i had that too!
still like to look back.

**The_Other_One** · 10-09-2009, 06:19 AM

I remember when my old $40 8x4x32 burner was a good deal... Geeze, we don't use that naming standard much anymore do we?

8x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 32x read. No DVD. And back a bit farther, I forget exactly how much it cost, but I remember upgrading our first computer's 4x CD-ROM because it was failing. We picked up an 8x, but they had an off brand 12x available. It too was probably about $50 at the time

kimsland · 10-09-2009, 07:03 AM

I remember 4X CD R/W Burners
You use to burn at 2X max, otherwise your CD was toast
Oh the days of all us staring for up to an hour looking at the CD burn
At least it was better than floppy

And only half the users had Zip drives so we generally couldn't use them either

10-08-2009, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
riley454 New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	DVD burner doesn't recognise blank DVDs I have a LiteOn DVD burner/player installed(DH20A4P). Previously I have successfully created DVDs but for some time now, the drive doesn't recognise blank DVDs like it used to. In "my computer" the (D: ) is shown as DVD-RAM Drive but when I insert a blank DVD that is specifically listed by the manufacturer as compatible, "my computer" shows the image of a disc with DVD-R(etc) but listed as a 'CD Drive'. This drive has previously recorded to blank various DVD(+R/-R/+RW/-RW etc) successfully and still reads both commercially produced DVDs equally as well as home made DVDs but does not recognise blank DVDs anymore. I contacted the manufacturer when this problem started, unfortunately the drive was only a month out of warranty so their help was basically "get the latest firmware if that doesn't help, buy a new one!" From searching allover the net and speaking to experienced people, I have 3 options, and want the most financially viable option... Free- Pull the drive apart and clean the lens manually and hope fixes the problem Around $20- buy a lens cleaner and hope for the best Around $50- get a new drive and hope the same problems don't arise again outside warranty What would YOU do???

10-08-2009, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,418	Have you tried using different software to burn the disks? Sometimes windows can be a bit quirky with blanks. DeepBurner is a nice free burning program you could try. It is quite common for these things to die, though. I wouldn't be too surprised if it just gave out. New DVD burners can be had for $30 or less. __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

10-09-2009, 06:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Red Sox Nation Age: 50 Posts: 2,193	Any time I had a drive that failed to recognize any specific type of disc, the only solution was to replace the drive. It's a lot less costly now than it was when a 24x CD-only burner cost $100! __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: 2x WD 160GB, Seagate 320GB (640GB total) * OPT: 2x Pioneer DVR-115DBK DVD burners PSU: Antec Basiq 500W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: EvTek midtower * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * OS: XP Home SP3 * ROUTER: Linksys WRT54GS

10-09-2009, 06:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,418	I remember when my old $40 8x4x32 burner was a good deal... Geeze, we don't use that naming standard much anymore do we? 8x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 32x read. No DVD. And back a bit farther, I forget exactly how much it cost, but I remember upgrading our first computer's 4x CD-ROM because it was failing. We picked up an 8x, but they had an off brand 12x available. It too was probably about $50 at the time __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

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10-08-2009, 11:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
kimsland Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 882	Get a new drive - please, stop stuffing around with this throw away device

10-08-2009, 11:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
tremmor Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,819	have to agree now it is a throw away. On the other hand you can try one thing. get a can of static free air from an office supply store or similar. open the tray and lightly spray across the lens. ive had to do this many times and has worked. do not turn the can upside down, it has an oil base in it and you don't want it on the lens.

10-10-2009, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
tremmor Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,819	wish i still had it. It might of been in the early 80's, don't remember. my 1st burner. I had also built a Digital group 8080 PD11. Wish i had that too! still like to look back.

10-09-2009, 07:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
kimsland Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 882	I remember 4X CD R/W Burners You use to burn at 2X max, otherwise your CD was toast Oh the days of all us staring for up to an hour looking at the CD burn At least it was better than floppy And only half the users had Zip drives so we generally couldn't use them either

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