dvd/cd burner won't recognize black disc or burn

I have a memorex dvd+rw dl burner. In windows and programs It is able to read and burn cds, but will not recognize or burn blank or other dvds. I don't use dual layer, just dvd+r & rws. it has worked many times in the past. I tried flashing it to a lite on I could not find any other drivers compatible. No change occurred after flashing. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

Re: dvd/cd burner won't recognize blank disc or burn DVDs

You used a Lite-on firmware upgrade to flash a Memorex drive? You're lucky it's still working. Firmware upgrades are specific to the make and model they are designed for, and should never be used on a make or model they were not specifically designed for.

Without more information, you're only going to get guesses as to what's going on. Some of those guesses may be bad guesses, which won't do your computer any good. So: what make and model of DVD burner are you referring to? What burning software are you using? What operating system are you running?

Oh, yes -- Welcome to MajorGeeks

 

Thanks for the welcome, I occasionally stop in to get accurately informed info from people who more often than not can give friendly advice.

What confuses me is that until recently, I have had no problems with the burner, but now that it's not working properly, I have searched for solutions and come up with a few sketchy suggestions including flashing the drive due to the flash apparently being compatible with my burner, however no changes in the burner's functions have been observed by me. I have found no other driver updates for this model. I simply got
desperate and tried a few possible solutions, including risking flashing the drive.

Make and model is: Memorex DVD+/-DLRWL1 F16 BSWE

Ive used various brands of DVD+R and DVD+RW blank media. cd-r and cd-rw are still recognized by burning software and windows, they still read and burn.
I have used nero 6(might soon upgrade to nero 8), vso convert X to DVD, alcohol, DVD Clone, and others. OS is XP home, Have a copy of XP Pro I haven't installed. I also have a read-only DVD and CD drive. It works properly as far as I have experienced lately therefor confirming the problem doesn't lie in the media, but the burner itself. So, computer doesn't recognize blank dvd+r, so no burning DVDs for me until.
and if i throw in a cd with data, the drive retains the size info of the cd even after taken out and there is no media in the drive or even if a blank dvd+r is put in after.

Current info for burner is lite-on dvdrw sohw-1633s, Firmware version bsoy
I helpful I can find the sight with the flash files and other firmware. The same sight that made me decide to do flash.

I have installed a few image drives from nero, virtual clone drive, and some other software. Perhaps this may be a cause of a problem?
They are located on an unknown adapter on ID 0
The burner and DVD ROM are on ID 2 and ID 3 respectively. The adapter is also unknown. Info was obtained by nero infotool. Any other info needed to help solve the problem, just ask and I will do my best to obtain it.

Any help would be very much appreciated and I thank you in advance. I hope this info might help give you an idea Rob M. Thank you

 

Re: dvd/cd burner won't recognize blank disc or burn DVDs

Well, it seems that there's always something to learn, eg:

A Google search led me to two discussion threads in other tech forums that mentioned cross-flashing the Memorex burner with firmware for the Lite-On 1653S -- with successful results. Those posts are here and here. Note the indication that the Lite-On firmware used for the cross-flash was for the 1653S, not the 1633S. Does that make a difference? I have no idea -- but you've already seen how nervous I am about using the wrong firmware. (But DL burners aren't expensive any more, and maybe you have little to lose by a firmware flash that goes south on you.)

A review of the Memorex DVD+/-DLRWL1 F16 here suggests that the Memorex burner and the Lite-On SOHW 1633S are nearly identical -- but also seems to suggest that each has its own firmware. But I have no idea how to reconcile that review's observation against the use of the firmware for another Lite-On model.

I did stumble across another discussion thread that suggested uninstalling the drivers for the drive and letting Windows re-install them might have some useful effect, but that post indicated that the problem returned. It was a slightly different problem anyway. That post is here if you want to have a look at the thread.

Do I have any bright ideas of my own? Not at the moment, but maybe another MajorGeek does. And googling "Memorex DVD+/-DLRWL1 F16" turns up lots more results than those I've mentioned here.

I'll be interested to see how you make out. I'm using a Lite-On SOHW 1633S myself.

 

I have tried many solutions to get my burner to read/write blank dvd's. I understand that cd/dvd burners have different lasers depending on the media being burned. Is there a way to determine if my dvd lasers is done for? I have no trouble with cd's,and have even gotten a few dvd's to burn since the problem arose. However, that took a process of putting in dvd after dvd until finally the burner accepted one and i'm lucky I got a dvd accepted period. burner wont recognize dvd's either, and I badly need to get more mem on my comp.
I'm planning on backing up on dvd. I thought of also getting new harddrive, but not before I get my dvd burning situation figured out and I think ram more likely be the thing to take care of before a harddrive. Built my desktop a couple years ago and had to skimp on ram. It might be cheaper now, and I'm running 512 with an amd 64 3000+. 200 gig hd. Is it time for a overhaul? I can retain some parts but is dual core worth the speed difference id get from my 3000+, and are numerous sata? or raid hd's that much better than one big hd? So far thats a new mb, cpu, hd or hd's, ram, and a burner if mine is toast.
My comp's jam packed and honestly, getting my burner up would solve alot of my problems of the bat.
if my burners done, anyone in seattle area wanna part with one? trade or buy, or whatever thanks

 

My guess is the DVD laser is shot. That it reads and writes CDs points to this as the culprit. You could look to see if you have an old Nero log file on your PC and check it for a "calibration" error another proof of a bad burner.
A new Lite-on burner from Newegg runs about 30 dollars shipped. Worth the money to get your stuff backed up quickly rather than messing around with an unreliable burner.

 

Re: dvd/cd burner won't recognize blank disc or burn DVDs

I'll second sach2's opinion. The sour DVD drive is not worth spending a lot of time or energy on, especially when replacement is so easy as well as cheap.

Hard drive or RAM? That depends on your current storage needs. If you still have lots of space on the 200GB drive and you have to choose where you put your money, put the purchase of added hard drive capacity off till you need it. Hard drives will be cheaper by then. And maybe better. But installing more RAM in your system would pay immediate and permanent dividends in terms of improved system performance. And yes, RAM is cheaper now than it was two years ago. Depending on the type you need, you might be able to buy 2GB for less than $50.

You want to improve on an AMD 64 3000+? Sure, you could do that, but my guess is that the improvement won't be noticeable unless you're running an OS and application software that can take advantage of a multiple-core CPU. There are so many factors that limit overall system performance that an improved CPU isn't really noticeable unless the execution rate of the new CPU is more than twice the rate of the old one. Sure, you'll see the difference in the performance benchmarks if you're into that sort of thing, but you won't see a difference in the performance of the application software usually found on a home desktop machine. Gaming? I've no idea. Ask someone who does that sort of thing.

One drive or multiple hard drives? Always the latter. It's a given that all mechanical devices eventually come undone. Hard drives are tight-tolerance mechanical devices, so there are only two kinds: those that have failed, and those that will fail. It's only a question of time. But outside of some external cause, the odds that both of a pair will fail at the same time are extremely remote, so it's not a bad idea to put your OS on one and your data on another.

Or you could use one to back up the other. But if you're doing that, why not set up some sort of RAID array so that the failure of one drive doesn't cost you what's on it? Or use an external drive for backup, so that you don't have to worry about some external cause taking out all of your hard drives at once? (You want examples of external causes that will take out all of your drives together? How about a nearby lightning strike? Or a house fire? Or a burglar who decides your computer is good enough to make it worth his while to lug it out the door?)

Short answer: if gaming is not your top priority, put your money first into a replacement DVD burner, then added memory, then added hard drive capacity. Then save your pennies against the day that a CPU/mobo upgrade is worthwhile. If gaming is your thing, your computer use is so different from mine that I'd suggest you get another opinion because you'll be prepared to spend money on your computer that I would not.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice. My mind is pretty much made up on getiing a new burner and waiting on the other for now. I did a full wipe of malware and viruses on my comp thinking that might be the problem, but no such luck. Conclusion, the burner i shot. I guess that takes care of all my questions.