external USB DVD-R disk drive: driver conflict? Matshida

[tokyo_x40]

Is there a better/preferred way to diagnose and reinstall drivers for an external USB DVD-RW drive?

If there was a USB equivalent to hdtune, I'd be in heaven.


Now I will spout random data & information, in case some of it is useful:


The drive worked fine the first couple times I used it: I've used it burn DVD-R data backup disks, with the IBM packaged Sonic RecordNow! software ==> Now WindowsXP Pro thinks a blank DVD-R is a CD-R

The drive is Panasonic LF-P867C Here's the google: http://www.google.com/search?q=panasonic+lf-p867c The drive is sold in Japan (I live in Japan), made by Matshida (Matsushida). The problem I experience is very similar to this post from another forum, however there is no resolution: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic68641.html


When the drive is plugged in, under My Computer it is listed as DVD-RAM (D:) Type: CD Drive When I insert any blank media(DVD-R or CD-R), it is listed as CD Drive (D:) type: CD Drive

It seems like a driver conflict. Upon plugging in, I _sometimes_ got a warning such as:
"RAMASST: You have Windows CD-R Recording switched on, which could conflict with DVD-RAM functionality. Click Yes to disable Windows CD-Recording"

Today after a fresh reboot, there was no warning. D: Properties > Recording lists Desktop CD Recording as OFF (not enabled)

Although my Japanese is terrible, yesterday I managed to install the DVD-RAM driver, but the only effect appears to be that the wording of the RAMASST warning was slightly different. Again, I only saw that warning one time.

Under Device Manager, USB > USB Mass STorage Device Properties > Location: Location 0 (DVD-RAM MLT04)

Device Manager > DVD/CD-Rom Drives > MATSHITA DVD-RAM LF-P867 USB Device > Properties = Driver > Driver Provider: Microsoft. Driver Date: 7/1/2001. Driver Version 5.1.2535.0. Other stuff there: Digital CD Playback = Enabled Volumes > Disk: CD-ROM 0 Type: DVD Status: Online


Thanks for reading!

Edit: to turn off smilies
Edit2: CHANGED SUBJECT => added DVD-R to make it more descriptive

[tokyo_x40]

UPDATE

The drive works in LINUX, Fedora Core 5 mounts & burns without issue. Yay Linux. At least I know the hardware isn't trash.

For Windows:

I've been trying new media. Now it recognizes blank DVD media. (... so maybe the previous disk was a CD-R )

However: Error window: ( from IBM (Sonic) RecordNow 6.7.0)

There was a problem writing to the disc. You can try again by clicking the Retry buttton. You will need another blank disc ready.

More information: More information is available on this error by clicking the Explain button.
==> Opens a IE Explorer (bleh) window saying to try a new disc/manufacturer/make sure it's clean/etc

Advanced:

Sense: 05 ASC: 24 ASCQ: 00 (Command 52)
-------------------------------------------------------
Px.dll: 1.6.14.507
pxdrv.dll: 1.0.47.0
PxMas.dll: 1.6.14.507
PxWave.dll: 1.6.14.507
PXWMA.dll: 1.0.0.3

The drive seems to burn a small ring into the blank DVD before posting this error, but as I type LINUX is burning to the same disk. Also, I've double checked my hard drive.. it is running UDMA (not the PIO problem I had previously)


==>==> If anyone can provide tips to diagnose my USB driver issues, I'd be most appreciative

[tokyo_x40]

For Posterity, in the rare case that someone else has problems with this drive too and Googles here.



UPDATE: strange behavior in LINUX

After one successful DVD-R write process, removing the drive, and testing it again, the same "this media is not valid" error occured. Trying to burn using GNOME's nautilus utility, the error message popped up. It could read DVD-R disks without problem. After a full reboot, the drive is able to write and read disks again.
==> Could it be some quirky bug with the device?

In the ongoing process of diagnosing the problem, I checked /var/log/messages but it all looks normal

Code: Select all

usb 5-8: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
usb 5-8: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
usb-storage: device found at 4
usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
USB Mass Storage support registered.
  Vendor: MATSHITA  Model: DVD-RAM LF-P867   Rev: 1.02
  Type:   CD-ROM                             ANSI SCSI revision: 00
 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 5
usb-storage: device scan complete
sr0: scsi3-mmc drive: 24x/24x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
sr 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
cdrom: This disc doesn't have any tracks I recognize!

The last line is after inserting blank media. The above code is intended to be the "when it works" evidence. When I have time I'll continue looking for the problem. (Might be the "Attached scsi generic sg1 type #" line, the # goes up each time the device is unplugged and reattached)

Other notes: The Linux machine is desktop, not my x40. I'm using the device with 1 standard USB cable and the optional AC adapter.