Hiya everyone.

I've just had my laptop in for repaid cos of the power connection.

They put a new main board in - except it was later found that the problem was the cable.

Since having it back I've tried to burn several DVD's and they all come out as blank disks. I am using software that wrote perfectly before it went in.

My question is - I only have 1 disk cake left and would it be possible for a whole batch of disks to burn and end up like this? Is this a bad batch - or is it likelly to be the burner?

i'm using nti cd/dvd maker and nero and getting the same results with both

The same media has worked spot on from previous packs.

Cheer peeps

What brand/model laptop are you using? Have you tried upgrading the firmware? You may need to after the repair.

As for defective disks, I've had as many as 10 disks in a 50 pack be bad. What brand media are you using? Have you ever tried analyzing your blank DVDs with:

http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/

"Dvd identifier' offers a reliable method of accurately identifying the disc's REAL manufacturer. This information will also help you in determining which discs are most suitable for your Dvd recorder."

Download this, put one of your blank DVDs in the drive, choose the drive the DVD is in, and let DVD Indentifier analyze your DVD. Copy and paste the info into another post under this topic in the forum. Sometimes batches of DVDs from the same brand can use different dyes, and actually be different versions/models. Ritek, for example has G02, G03, G04, G05, etc. Some are better/worse than others.

Maddhatter62

hiya

cheers for the reply

its an acer travelmate 4501lmi


2speed dvd burner (QSI DVDRW SDW-042)
or also same drive is called AXV CD/DVD-rom SCSI CDRom DEVICE.


how do i upgrade the firmware?


Media is that new titanium bulletproof media from DATAWRITE - done about 75v perfectly - also - just foundand tried a couple of datasafe white tops that have always been good and the same happened with them.

cheers bud.
Lex

I found this on www.club.cdfreaks.com forum regarding the QSI DVDRW SDW-042:

Managed to burn succesfully with 8x DVD-R RITEKG05 disks (RiDATA), burnt data and also backed up a british comedy series dvd. Both played on my main computer and also the dvd video on standalone DVD players.

So if your looking for disks these are good ones to go for. I believe these disks to be easily available worldwide, certainly fine in the UK.

Before I found these disks, nothing seemed to burn, DVD wise. Memorex CDR's are the best CD's I have found, burnt several with absolutely no problems.

Hopefully someone will come to our aid regarding firmware/certified list.

The latest firmware is here:
http://www.nu-global.com/admin/download/file/EDW-042-D361.zip

Basically, to update firmware, you download the firmware file, and it usually has a program which walks you through the upgrade. You need to be very careful downloading and using firmware. Acer/QSI doesn't cover damage caused by firmware upgrades.

Maddhatter62

Hiya fella.

chers for the reply

myself - just got to having a lok at that as well - but that is for the edw-042 not the sdw-042. With me having to be so carefull about it - are we sure thats the same model?

cheers again

I thought, from the forum on the CDInfo.com site, that these two models are the same drive...BUT I'm not sure, so don't upgrade the firmware just yet.

According to other sources, firmware upgrades for the SDW-042 are tough to find, and QSI doesn't list any at all.

I'm still looking...

Maddhatter62

Thanks.

Basically it runs through the motions as if it is burning the disk - I just checked the drive out on Nero info tool and it comes out with the right name - i.e that its a QSI dvd burner, but when it talks about speeds it only mentions read 32X and there is no boxes checked on the write section.

I may take it back into the repair place to get sorted out,gotta be a firmware/driver issue that they didn't install correctly when the mainboard got changed.

Ta again - dont sweat it m8, i've gotta hit the hay now anyway - up at bloody evil o'clock tomorrow. I'll let ya know how it goes with it anyway - and thanks for your help buddy.

might see if i can just roll back the drivers though - might that do it???

This looks like the exact firmware:
http://www.nu-global.com/admin/download/file/SDW-042-D360.zip

I've read more posts which make it sound like upgrading the firmware is very easy.

Maddhatter62

It certainly couldn't hurt to try and roll back the drivers.

Maddhatter62

Ola again,

well - there was no previous driver backup so i couldnt roll-back.

2ndly - the firmware program comes up with the message that 'FW does not match the Device' and then closes.

Might be;

my model is

sdw-042 dx70

and the file is for

sdw-042-d360

I dont really have a clue now though. I'll just take it in tomorrow unless you've got any other ideas m8. They did it - they can undo it!!

Thanks

Well, thanks for all your help fella.

The shop got it sorted - they admitted they screwed it and gave me 2 new burners - one the same and one thats a pioneer that burns at 8 speed.

Not a bad result in the end then.


cheers