Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 04:31:46 pm

Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 04:31:46 pm
you're CD-RW drive will read all the media in the world except blank disks?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: redsniper on January 05, 2005, 04:35:11 pm
there's nothing on the disk to be read?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 04:44:10 pm
No, what I mean is that I've put blank media into my drive and the computer doesn't recognize that it's blank.  It tries to see it several times(about 10) and then gives up and assumes that there's nothing there.  I've cleaned it several times today and it reads previously burned media fine, it the blanks that are giving it fits.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 05, 2005, 04:59:17 pm
Have you tried burning anything?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 05:11:15 pm
That's what I'm saying, I load DeepBurner(which is good for making ISOs BTW) and when I get everything set and hit "Burn" it tells me the drive is not ready, when I know for a fact that I've put a blank into it.  Also, it a problem internal to the drive and not the media, I've tried a different brand of disks.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 05, 2005, 05:12:27 pm
What exactly did you clean and what with?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: mitac on January 05, 2005, 05:14:04 pm
Did you try another burning tool; Nero, for example? Maybe it's just a software issue.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 05:15:03 pm
I have a CD-rom cleaner disk from Alsop with a series of brushes on the laser side.  It's been acting up anyway and I'm trying to get by until I get so loose cash, but I've got 1200+ MB of Gundam SEED Destiny on my harddrive I need to archive.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Bobboau on January 05, 2005, 05:17:27 pm
what is your mobo?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 05, 2005, 05:18:00 pm
Alright, before I go writing an explanation out I'll ask this first: Is the warranty on the thing still good, and if not (or dont care), do you feel comfortable opening up the drive itself?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 05:21:50 pm
Thorn, I bought the drive in '99 so if it comes to that, I guess so.

Bob, it was work fine yesterday, I just sent 2 disks home with my brother with the first 6 episodes and I need to burn the the next 6.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 05, 2005, 05:29:28 pm
Now that I think of it, try switching the IDE channel its on. Probably wont work, but is worth a shot.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 05:38:57 pm
Okay, I'll report back...
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Bobboau on January 05, 2005, 05:39:58 pm
I was going to sugest updateing IDE drivers, that's what my problem was
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 05:44:19 pm
What could change in a days time though?

*update*
Thorn, when you said to try it on the other channel did you mean change the plug on the cable or to attach it to the C: drive chain?

The way my Mobo is arranged there is no way short of taking the whole thing apart that I'm going to get it attached to the C: chain.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Bobboau on January 05, 2005, 06:35:37 pm
he means change the plug
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 07:13:58 pm
did that...nothing.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: pyro-manic on January 05, 2005, 07:17:48 pm
You could try finding a firmware update for it from the manufacturer's website...
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: JC Denton on January 05, 2005, 07:25:34 pm
Wait a sec, before the drive began acting up, did you burn those discs off the same spindle you're now using?

I've had issues like this before, due to some format changes on the media, which are usually fixed by giving the drive a flashing of the latest ROM available.  Though, if you're already up to date, you might be better off with what Thorn suggested.

[EDIT]Blast you pyro, for beating me to it. :p [/EDIT]
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Kosh on January 05, 2005, 07:44:48 pm
Quote
Originally posted by mitac
Did you try another burning tool; Nero, for example? Maybe it's just a software issue.



If windows won't see that there is a disk, I can garentee that no other burning tools will.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 05, 2005, 07:53:25 pm
Quote
Originally posted by JC Denton
Wait a sec, before the drive began acting up, did you burn those discs off the same spindle you're now using?


Their all from the same 2 spools, I have burned successfully from both spools.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 06, 2005, 03:25:28 am
final update

don't know why the forum has been dead the last couple of hours but the drive just started working again.  Turns out that I hadn't cleaned it as much as I thought I had, the disk only cleans it once and then you have to take it out, put in an entirely different disk, then replace that one with the cleaner disk to clean it a second time.  I think I'm going to try and find my old audio based cleaner, instead of software it uses redbook audio tracks to tell you how to work the disk.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: demon442 on January 06, 2005, 01:48:28 pm
I should think that the answer is obvious, its hit the end of its life.   Take this oportunity to buy that brand new 52x you've had your eye on.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 06, 2005, 02:01:24 pm
I figured it was getting close.  What is the average lifespan of a CD-RW drive in terms of disks burned?  I've only done about ~200 since I got the thing.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Hippo on January 06, 2005, 05:02:11 pm
Usually more than that...
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 06, 2005, 05:20:20 pm
If you use it as a CD drive as well it significantly decreases the lifespan.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 06, 2005, 06:10:19 pm
I kind of had to after my DVD drive gave up the ghost out of nowhere
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: demon442 on January 06, 2005, 10:01:55 pm
Go ahead and invest in a brand new DVD-RW drive as well, then.

But a word of caution with the new 52x burners, if you decide to burn at the full 52x, DO NOT[/i] bump your tower, you will end up with a shattered disk flying out of the front of the drive if not worse.  I suggest keeping it at about 48x, its the best speed for stability.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 06, 2005, 11:14:08 pm
Actually, this one is burns at 12x.  You're telling me that there are CD-R drives that can burn a disk at 52x? :eek2:  I kinda had my eye on a nice Lite-On CD-R/DVD combo drive at Wal-Mart, it's only $50.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: mitac on January 07, 2005, 05:15:20 am
Get a DVD writer. Spending 50$ on a combo drive is nonsense, when you can get a DVD writer for little more than 60$.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Thorn on January 07, 2005, 10:36:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
Actually, this one is burns at 12x.  You're telling me that there are CD-R drives that can burn a disk at 52x? :eek2:  I kinda had my eye on a nice Lite-On CD-R/DVD combo drive at Wal-Mart, it's only $50.

Mine is a 48x
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 07, 2005, 11:58:22 am
Quote
Originally posted by mitac
Get a DVD writer. Spending 50$ on a combo drive is nonsense, when you can get a DVD writer for little more than 60$.


Where?  I haven't seen one(from a reputable company like Lite-On) for less than $100 anywhere.  

I'm not sure I want a drive that spins that fast anyway.  I put a 52x on my brothers system and it sounded like a jet spinning up.  I'd be happy with a nice new 32/40x as my current drive reads at 32x.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: mitac on January 07, 2005, 02:58:50 pm
Well, I could tell you a few shops around here, but that won't help. The flight would cost a lot more. ;)

Personally, I would not go for Lite-On. The only DVD-drive I've ever seen to break down was a Lite-On. Newegg.com got a decent NEC DVD writer for 65$. Though I have no idea on Newegg's quality, you better ask some of the other forumites. It's just the only US based online shop I know. ;)
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 07, 2005, 03:38:01 pm
When I get some money(and a job:sigh: ), this is second on my list of necessary hardware upgrades.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Nix on January 07, 2005, 09:54:31 pm
I got a new Sony DRU-710 from Newegg (LiteOn OEM) that's a +R 16x, -R 8x 48-52X CDR and all the like for 80.  Spend the extra cash and get the DVD burning capability.  If you ever do backups on your system you will benefit from it greatly.

Good luck if you can get the drive and keep it working with just a cleaner disc.  I had to tear mine completely apart and adjust a calibration screw on the base of the laser eye.  After I messed with it, I ressurected it but it's starting to go out after about a year of use after adjustment.  I got fed up with my old burner and was quite sad cause it was a Yamaha F1, the one that did the Disc Tatooing.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 07, 2005, 09:57:49 pm
There's another Sony retailing for about $64 at Newegg, OEM w/ software.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 07, 2005, 11:52:08 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Nix
...cause it was a Yamaha F1, the one that did the Disc Tatooing.


Slick!  Any pics?
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: demon442 on January 08, 2005, 11:11:25 pm
Newegg is a very reputable source for hardware, while I have not used them, I have more than one friend that swears by them.

I've never heard of LiteOn, so I can't comment on their quality.  Keep your eyes open for Sony, LG, and the like.  Spending a little extra for a quality drive is well worth the time and effort.

On another note, I reccomend keeping your DVD and CD bruners as seperate drives.  It may cost more, but when you do a lot of disk copying it comes in handy.  That and any DVD drive will spin/read faster than most burners, so things spool off of the CD more quickly.
Title: What does it mean when...
Post by: Liberator on January 09, 2005, 01:08:05 am
I've always read good reports about Lite-On, they have a reasonably large reputation in the budget hardware community.  LG is a relative newcomer to me however, I don't know anything about them.