Samsung Optical.

Just written a DVD+RW and my Samsung 203P wont read it. It's bootable and an identical drive on another machine boots from it so it's writing ok. Reads CDs ok but says this disk is empty when it will read the DVD+RW. Going to try it on the other machine but dont hold out much hope.

If it is broke (its over a year old) anyone know any good retailers with silver drives or multiple bezels preferably not Samsung.

Right it's definately the drive gone. Hardly used drive reads disks ok, looking at a Sony AD-7241S now as a replacement. Any thoughts?

In reply to a post by Banger:

Right it's definately the drive gone. Hardly used drive reads disks ok, looking at a Sony AD-7241S now as a replacement. Any thoughts?

Not sure if sony has sorted this out but my 7191s was oem and had no firmware updates for it ...And my older nec drive could write to some dvd-Rs i had and the brand new sony couldn't ...

So be carefull of oem drives .. That said I may look into any firmware updates for my drive!

I've already got the firmware for the Drive from the Sony Optiaric website maybe you should look there. There is one caveat with this drive and it is if it doesn't recognise the media as part of approved media it will slow down and may not write at advertised speed. I've got a media list so will have to try and get some approved media although some real world tests on another site seem to disprove this. Trouble is finding a silver drive.

Have a look here for your drive.

Edited by Banger (Sun 17-Jan-10 01:47:17)

In reply to a post by Banger:

I've already got the firmware for the Drive from the Sony Optiaric website maybe you should look there. There is one caveat with this drive and it is if it doesn't recognise the media as part of approved media it will slow down and may not write at advertised speed. I've got a media list so will have to try and get some approved media although some real world tests on another site seem to disprove this. Trouble is finding a silver drive.

Have a look here for your drive.

have firmware 1.01 and tried the update to 1.03 - doesn't reconise the drive

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+D...

Found a silver sammy on scan as well ..

Thanks for that. Apparently the 7240 is the same as the Retail DRU-870S according to a chinese website. Although I was looking for Lightscribe silver sata which is the 7241. Amazon has one but steering clear of sammys as I have seen a couple go on the Novatech forum like mine with not being able to read.

I may not have to buy a new drive after all, according to this page Samsung UK gives 36 months warranty on optical drives. Will call on Monday. Now do I get the Sony and keep the repaired drive as a spare ?

Ok ordered the Sony drive from Amazon Marketplace and sent back the duff drive to the Netherlands for a swap, only cost £6 airmail so I will have a spare refurb if my other 203p goes kaput.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Ok ordered the Sony drive from Amazon Marketplace and sent back the duff drive to the Netherlands for a swap, only cost £6 airmail so I will have a spare refurb if my other 203p goes kaput.

Good luck .. I may cross flash mine

Cross flash what to what, just interested. After a few emails between me and the Netherlands they concluded hardware failure, possibly DVD laser.

I found this page for the 7191s says firmware is 1.02 if thats any help.

In reply to a post by Banger:

I found this page for the 7191s says firmware is 1.02 if thats any help.

its an oem drive thus won't flash

Got the Sony today and the flash program works ok. Hope you get sorted with your OEM drive Taras. Now just gotta wait for the refurb drive to be processed.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Got the Sony today and the flash program works ok. Hope you get sorted with your OEM drive Taras. Now just gotta wait for the refurb drive to be processed.

Not yet done it . Waiting for my 1TB drive to arrive ...

Just to close the thread off, got the refurb drive today and it works fine, so I now have a Sony and a Samsung. They sent a black bezel but case is silver so are going to forward a correct bezel from Holland.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Just to close the thread off, got the refurb drive today and it works fine, so I now have a Sony and a Samsung. They sent a black bezel but case is silver so are going to forward a correct bezel from Holland.

cool cool .. glad your happy .

Sony is slightly faster at reading/writing and other people have said it gives a solid burn so I'm happy.

Samsung replacement broke.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Samsung replacement broke.

opps !

RMA number 2, they are sending me a different model this time. Giving up after this.

In reply to a post by Banger:

RMA number 2, they are sending me a different model this time. Giving up after this.

I don't blame you.. Good luck!

New (RMA) drive, arrived today. Initially testing drive would only read/write DVDs at 3x despite write rated at 4x and usually reads up to 12x.

Booted from DOS/Win 7 DVD no problem. Went back to XP checked DMA mode and controller had reverted to PIO only mode (slaps forehead). Changed back to DMA and reboot, drive back up to speed.

Wonder how long this one will last.

In reply to a post by Banger:

New (RMA) drive, arrived today....

...Wonder how long this one will last.

Are you taking bets?