CD/DVD Burners

[deate]

Having read Zivley's post else where, I have this question: How can you tell if you have a hardware issue with a DVD burner? I'm using 1.8 on 1 box, and the burner reads OK., but I don't remember if I've ever burned anything with this box...but just tried the other day with no results...I assumed it was just a hardware issue, but after reading Ziv's posts, now I don't know???I hate to rip out and replace the burner, if that's not what the problem is...???

[LeadFingers]

Sad to say, the best way to test an optical drive, is to swap it out with a known good one.
Usually my first step is to put a Lens cleaner disc in, and clean the reader,
then see if the problem went away. some times Yes, sometimes No.

I have discovered some of the Dual layer DVD burners are particular about which system you put them in.

[deate]

Sad to say, the best way to test an optical drive, is to swap it out with a known good one.
Usually my first step is to put a Lens cleaner disc in, and clean the reader,
then see if the problem went away. some times Yes, sometimes No.

I have discovered some of the Dual layer DVD burners are particular about which system you put them in.

I really didn't want to hear that, but that's what I expected...I was hoping someone had an easier solution

[pch.shot]

In all honesty, Deate, I think the dvd burner as we know it is going the way of the Dodo bird!! I purchased an 8 gig usb flash drive recently, and am using that for portable storage now. My next computer build will be ssd only and no optical drives at all. The only moving part will be the cpu fan.

[LeadFingers]

Unless your talking about a Laptop, swapping DVD drives is pretty easy and only takes a few minutes.
Testing a new DVD drive is even easier since you don't need to mount it in the box, just hook it up and read/burn on it. if the problem is still there, either it's software or user error, if it magically works, then you have your answer.

can you read on it ok, but just not correctly burn ?
or does it do nothing at all.

If IDE:
do you have a 80 conductor cable on it. Yes this makes a big difference.
Some drives work best in the Cable Select pin setting.

[deate]

Unless your talking about a Laptop, swapping DVD drives is pretty easy and only takes a few minutes.
Testing a new DVD drive is even easier since you don't need to mount it in the box, just hook it up and read/burn on it. if the problem is still there, either it's software or user error, if it magically works, then you have your answer.

can you read on it ok, but just not correctly burn ?
or does it do nothing at all.

If IDE:
do you have a 80 conductor cable on it. Yes this makes a big difference.
Some drives work best in the Cable Select pin setting.

It reads ok. I was just going to burn a copy of Remastersys to a DVD, but I guess I can burn to a flashdrive, correct?

[pch.shot]

As long as your bios can boot from usb you can do everything just the same as a burner. Install operating systems, store data, music, whatever you want. My newer box can boot from usb, my older one can't.

[LeadFingers]

It reads ok. I was just going to burn a copy of Remastersys to a DVD, but I guess I can burn to a flashdrive, correct?

Before you tell yourself "This drive is junk!" you might try burning something else. might just be a problem with remastersys

Right click on an .iso
Select Write to disc
make sure your burner is identifyied
choose a slow speed, 4x or slower
see if it burns,