Agita over optical drive

[Rob Mayercik]

Very frustrated right now:

Tried to burn a DL DVD on my T61p (see below) over the weekend, ended up with three coasters because my drive (the LG GSA-U10N) probably is too old in firmware terms (reports v1.05) to recognize 8x-capable media.

So, I start googling for new firmware. No joy.

I check LG - model number doesn't even show up there. Contact their support via online chat, they say "they only made it for Lenovo, firmware updates are Lenovo's problem".

So, I contact Lenovo - their online support chat says call the tech support number. They won't talk to me because I'm out of warranty (no kidding), and that if it's not in the downloads list, they don't offer it.

Boy, that's a lot of help.

Has ANYONE managed to find a firmware update for this drive?

Thanks.

[Harryc]

I don't think that drive supports 8X DL DVD media, regardless of the firmware. What is the FRU# on the drive?

[tporter]

This drive writes DL media at 4X. Any firmware will not fix it.
And i'm not sure, but there are no 9.5mm ATAPI laptop drive, that writes DL on 8X.

[emtee3511]

So my son has a T60 with a CDRW-DVD -- which means it won't burn DVD's, but will burn CD's? Is there a ThinkPad CDRW/DVDRW part which will fit in his T60? Part Number?

[Harryc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-T60-T61-Z60-DVD ... 35aef704fd

Reference - Multiburners - http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 62748.html

[Rob Mayercik]

I don't think that drive supports 8X DL DVD media, regardless of the firmware. What is the FRU# on the drive?

Don't know FRU offhand, will check it when I get home.

I was under the impression that part of the firmware was a collection of media ID codes that allow the drive to properly "recognize" media - I've done a firmware update on a Lite-On burner drive (desktop type) to do this sort of thing, and figured the same applied to laptop drives.

The problem I had was I would get about 450MB into the burn and the drive would have some sort of "targeting error" or somesuch. I can check on this as well later.

[emtee3511]

Thanks Harry! I picked that drive right up and will save it for my son -- all those drives confuse me and it would be very hard for me to try to pick the right one on my own -- really appreciate the help

[Harryc]

You're welcome...and Happy New Year. Ref. the drive, it has a 30 Day Non DOA Warranty, so you might want to figure out a way to test it before then. It should fit in an X6 Ultrabase for example.

[emtee3511]

Thanks Harry -- it seemed like a very nice price to me and a good feedback seller, so most likely will be no problem, but I will be sure to test in my new X61s --
Happy New Year to you too

[Rob Mayercik]

I don't think that drive supports 8X DL DVD media, regardless of the firmware. What is the FRU# on the drive?

Finally had a chance to pop the drive out and confirm the FRU # - 39T2829.

HL-DS Model GSA-U10N, Type C2, manufactured December 2007.

[Harryc]

Here are the drive specs -

24x CD-ROM Read
8x DVD-ROM Read
24x CD-R Write
16x CD-RW Write
8x DVD+-R DVD+-RW Write
5X DVD-RAM Write
4x DVD+-R(DL) Write

Firmware won't change that. I think you need to try different media.

[Rob Mayercik]

Will look for 4x-rated media, but you know how the box stores are - only like to carry the latest and greatest. Going to be picking up more RAM today (finally making the 1GB-4GB jump, even though I know 32-bit windows won't recognize the last GB).

Strange that firmware won't help this - as I've said, I've gotten this sort of upgrade out of firmware on other drives.

Thanks for the info.