T23 DVD-RW on Windows XP

[kingyng]

I inherited a T23 notebook with DVD-RW but the harddrive is empty. I installed the latest version of windows xp and all the drivers downloaded at www-307.ibm.com/pc/support. Everything works well except for the DVD-RW drive which is "HL-DT-ST RW/DVGCC-4160N" I have tried many DVD viewers and writers like Roxio, WinDVD, Nero, PowerDVD, etc. It is very strange that if I put in a video DVDdisk borrowed from the library, these softwares could play back the video without any problem. However, when I put in a DVD I made consisting of only simple data and text files, the DVD drive appeared not been able to read anything; it did not even recognise the disk. Although this data disk was made from another computer, it could be read well from other computers too, except for this Thinkpad. Actually I found the DVD-RW drive of this Think pad T23 could not recognise even any blank disk I put in, either DVD-RW or DVD+RW. I think this is a software problem. I have also updated the firmware for this DVD-RW drive, but the same problem remains unsolved. I would be glad if any one can give me advice and help.

[mysbca]

I can't seem to find the official specs for gcc-4160n, but it seems to be a cdrw/dvd combo drive. It is an older drive, so it may only read DVD-R only. You can check which disc formats it actually reads with either Nero Infotool or dvdinfopro (www.dvdinfopro.com).

[kingyng]

When I put in a blank DVD-RW disk or a blank DVD+RW disk,
the drive cannot identify them. However, when I copy a published
video onto a blank DVD (using another computer), regardless of
whether I use DVD+ or DVD-, the drive can replay the video without
problem. So it appears that there is something at the beginning
of the disk that makes the drive recogize it. A blank disk does not
have that so the drive does not recognize it.

This DVD drive is not of the standard size and does not come with
the standard connection. For this reason, it is not possible to
replace it with the standard one in my other laptop to see whether it is the problem of the drive or the software that causes that problem.

[mysbca]

When I put in a blank DVD-RW disk or a blank DVD+RW disk, the drive cannot identify them.

I don't think this drive is a dvd burner, so it will not recognize blank discs. Use the utilities, Nero Infotool or DvdInfoPro, to identify exactly what it will read or write.

[_erazor_]

I also think it`s a CD-RW burner but for DVD`s it`s only ROM, so it can only read DVD`s.

that`s why it can`t work with empty DVD discs.

[kingyng]

Thank you for the answers. I checked and found out that
the GCC-4160N is really a read only DVD drive. This explains
why it cannot identify blank discs. However, I still do not understand
why it cannot read a DVD disc with data files and text files made
on another computer. I have tried to put in both a DVD+ and
a DVD-. On the other hand, it plays back DVD videos without
problem.

[mysbca]

How did you write the data? With packet writing software (like Roxio's DirectCD or Nero's InCD)? If so, you need similar software on your Thinkpad to read them.

Also, if you didn't use packet writing software, is your data disc finalized? Sometimes, the disc needs to be finalized to be readable on another system.

[kingyng]

I used Roxio to create the DVD- disc with another computer.
When I tried to play it back with Roxio Player on this T23,
I just got the message that "There is no media present in the
selected drive or the media format is not supported."
I really do not understand it.

[kingyng]

I suspect may be I should get the most recent driver for the
DVD drive. At the site www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss
there is a software to update the drivers automatically. It is
called "systemupdatelight-2006-07-11.exe" Unfortunately,
it does not work well after installtion. When scanning for
new drivers, this software always hangs when it is completing
about 3 percent of the scan. Do you guys have any experience
about this automatic-updating software?