Thinkpads Forum

My DVD rom doesn't read DVD-R, and I dont have +R to try. Does anyone know if it's the disc or is it just the hardware. I dont want to go out and buy me a +R and find out it's not working either.

I heard most older DVD drive will not read recordable.

Find out who made the drive and see if you can snag a firmware update for it. That would cure the problem *if* your lucky.

NautTboy wrote:I heard most older DVD drive will not read recordable.

You heard correctly. My 600X (around the same vintage) came with a DVD-ROM drive that will not read DVD+R discs, and I have not tried DVD-R, but those do work in most older drives. Since yours will not read -R, I would doubt it will read +R.

The technology to read recordable DVDs is called MultiRead, which IIRC will read +R, -R, +RW and -RW discs.

I didn't know the capability to read is in the firmware(software), i thought it was in the hardware itself(laser).

phool@round wrote:Find out who made the drive and see if you can snag a firmware update for it. That would cure the problem *if* your lucky.

NauT, here's a Lenovo link you should be aware of; 1460 DVD Firmware update page.

You have a TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-C2202 with 4X read capability. A simple google search turned up several sites with firmware updates or mentions to them.

whizkid wrote:My 600X (around the same vintage) came with a DVD-ROM drive that will not read DVD+R discs, and I have not tried DVD-R

Give a DVD -R disc a try, here's why.

Wikipedia wrote:The DVD-R format was developed by Pioneer in the autumn of 1997. It is supported by most DVD players, and is approved by the DVD Forum.

whizkid wrote:The technology to read recordable DVDs is called MultiRead, which IIRC will read +R, -R, +RW and -RW discs.

Wikipedia wrote:Also, CD-RWs cannot be read in some CD-ROM drives built prior to 1997. This is why CD-ROM drives of the age must bear a "MultiRead" certification to show compatibility.

It was adopted for DVD readers around 2002. DVD -R is nearly equal to commercially pressed DVD's the difference is in the media thickness and type of dye used.

DVD +R was developed in 2002 and came to market in 2003 - after both of your drives were manufactured. That IS a hardware limitation because "Since the DVD+R format is a competing format to the DVD-R format, which is developed by the DVD Forum, it had not been approved by the DVD Forum, which claimed that the DVD+R format was not an official DVD format until Jan 25, 2008." Most manufacturers went with only one format for some time because of the this battle. It's about the same as Blu-Ray versus HD DVD. Most drives read one or the other but not both.

Both of you should be able to use DVD -R's in your drives but not DVD +R.

Thanks again Phoo!

The one I tested that didn't work was DVD-R. I saw that firmware on IBM site, but very hestitant. Anyway, I was puting a laptop together for my bro-in-law who knows nothing at all. I was just gonna copy files i had saved in my DVD-R over, but I found alternative. I'd also already sent it to him, down in Tampa.

I will used this info toward another ibm i just bought from ebay. This is a 600x with dvd drive. Maybe this time I'll do the firmware update if it doesn't read DVD-R.

I have an I-series1300 and I can't find a DVD drive for it anywhere!!! I am always watching DVD's on my fathers laptop, a Dell ( EWWWWWWW!!!!! ) And me bieng a HUGE Thinkpad fan would much rather use MY laptop.

Drive or driver? Have you tried Fleebay?

dietpepsiaddict wrote:I have an I-series1300 and I can't find a DVD drive for it anywhere!!! I am always watching DVD's on my fathers laptop, a Dell ( EWWWWWWW!!!!! ) And me bieng a HUGE Thinkpad fan would much rather use MY laptop.

dietpepsiaddict wrote:I have an I-series1300 .....

That tells everyone nothing. What is the exact model of your laptop? It's stated in the Read Me First then Post FAQ - Welcome to the Forum; http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=16

If you haven't read the rules yet then I offer the strong suggestion that you do otherwise your questions will go unanswered. K? K!

One other thing, try caffeine free........