DVD Drive not working right...

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Frantic211 · #1 Post by **Frantic211** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:10 pm

Hello All,

I really have two questions:
1.) I just got my thinkpad given to me by a friend and am not sure what model it is. it has a 1.2GHz Pentium 3 processor and 256 MB of RAM and it says "type 2647" on the label on the bottom. Does any one know what kind this is or how to figure out what kind it is?

2.) The real questions is: The 8xDVD drive will only recognize real cds and dvds (i.e. not burned)...well, that not entirely true, it will read some burnt cds sometimes and others never, while burnt DVDs never work. Does this have something to do with the + or - DVDRs? Is it just a bad drive? Any fixes short of buying a new dvd drive?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

#2 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:20 pm

Try reading through the FAQ's to identify your model, the DVD issue sounds like a file type that was burned
from a program your software can't recognize, but
I could be wrong.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689

Here is a great place to get info on your model.
Check out number 7.

Website · #3 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:32 pm

I believe that that would be a T23, since it has the 1.2GHz processor and the 2647 model number. (See FAQ for more info on your model type number which is located near the long bar code on the bottom.

Some drives, depending on when they were made, will not read all burnt DVD discs. For example, my T23 has a DVD drive that was made for a T20 that I had. Its age reflects its ability, or lack thereof, to read burnt DVD discs (+ or -)

Or as Kyocera stated, this could also be a problem with the software that created the DVDs.

Eject the DVD drive and post the FRU number on it, or search google for that part number and you might be able to find out more about the limitations of the drive.

MadMikeSS · #4 Post by **MadMikeSS** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:23 am

quick and easy way to find out what you have:

Look at the top of the keyboard where the volume buttons are. Here's a picture of what you should see:

I'm guessing you have a T23 also.

MOD EDIT: No images, links plz.

ambientscape · #5 Post by **ambientscape** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:12 am

MadMikeSS wrote:quick and easy way to find out what you have:

Look at the top of the keyboard where the volume buttons are. Here's a picture of what you should see:

I'm guessing you have a T23 also.

Oooh! What a clean keypad u have there.....!! Impressed!

MOD EDIT: Same as above.

MadMikeSS · #6 Post by **MadMikeSS** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:36 am

haha, I hope you're being sarcastic.

ambientscape · #7 Post by **ambientscape** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:20 am

MadMikeSS wrote:haha, I hope you're being sarcastic.

I'm certaintly not being sacarstic....you should see my keypad!! LOL! Full of dust...and I've not idea how to clean those underneath those tiny lil' keys.

MadMikeSS · #8 Post by **MadMikeSS** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:40 am

ambientscape wrote:I'm certaintly not being sacarstic....you should see my keypad!! LOL! Full of dust...and I've not idea how to clean those underneath those tiny lil' keys.

Well, I haven't had this thinkpad for long enough to get it dirty. Although I'm impressed that it looks barely used as it is which is fine with me.

I'm sure in time with my usage that it'll get dirty enough. I'll send you a pic then.

Frantic211 · #9 Post by **Frantic211** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:59 am

wow, i never noticed that it said t23 right in front of me the whole time, lol. i looked all over the unit for that number, but never thought it would be so obvious. thanks

as for the dvd drive the fru p/n is 27L4213 i will search google to see what is said.
thanks again

dsvochak · #10 Post by **dsvochak** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:15 am

Compare the little logo on the bottom of the drive near the manufacturer's name to this chart to determine compatable media

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 0676#CDDVD

Frantic211 · #11 Post by **Frantic211** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:35 am

On my drive all it has is the DVD-ROM logo, does this mean that it cannot read DVD-Rs? If this is the case, what drive (product number) do you guys suggest I get...I dont need to burn DVDs or CDs, I just wanna watch movies that I have burnt.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions...
Matt

Website · #12 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:18 am

According to this, you can read the following:

DVD - DVD-ROM (DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18), DVD-R (read, single border), DVD-RAM (read)

CD - CD-DA, CD+G, CD-MIDI, CD-TEXT, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-I, CD-I Bridge (Photo-CD, Video CD), Multisession CD (Photo-CD, CD-Extra, CD-RW, CD-R), CD-R (read), CD-RW (read)

EDIT: Had to disable smilies so that the "DVD-18" would read properly.

Frantic211 · #13 Post by **Frantic211** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:35 am

Well, according to that it should be able to read burnt DVDs then...but it can't. is it simply a bad/broken drive?

Website · #14 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:48 am

Are you using DVD-R, versus DVD+R?

If you are, then I would make sure that the software that you are using is preparing it properly. I had a problem with CloneDVD or DVDShrink (I forget which), where it was a matter of changing the output setting. I think mine worked right after it was set to DVD-5 or something like that.

Having a 3 year old son, I tend to back up a lot of his movies, because he has a DVD player in his room, and plays his own DVDs. Nothing like a scratch to mess up a $20 DVD.

dsvochak · #15 Post by **dsvochak** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:04 pm

it will read some burnt cds sometimes and others never, while burnt DVDs never work

Other factors I've found that impact readibility are burning speed and player stubborness.

I've got an older CD player that won't read anything unless I burn at the slowest possible speed. Similar problems with a DVD player.

My Dodge Van CD player won't recognize any burned CD that has a dark (greenish, bluish) bottom side. The media has to be as close to the commercial silver color as possible.

raubar · #16 Post by **raubar** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:22 pm

I also got a prolem with my 8Xdvd-rom. I can read cd's, dvd-r but i can't read dvd-rw. Is this normal?

Frantic211 · #17 Post by **Frantic211** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:29 pm

So, from what I have read today and what you guys have graciously posted here, my drive will only read DVD-Rs and NOT DVD+Rs. Is this an accurate statement?

Website · #18 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:17 am

I would say that given the information posted above, that yes it is an accurate statement....HOWEVER, there is always the possibility that if you have tried DVD-R and it DOESN'T work, that there could be a problem with your drive.

Frantic211 · #19 Post by **Frantic211** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:11 pm

Thank you all so much for all the help... I will get some DVD-Rs Tomarrow and try them out. Thanks again
Matt

MadMikeSS · #20 Post by **MadMikeSS** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:01 pm

Download and install Nero, then run the Infotool, that will tell you what formats your drive supports. Doesn't matter if you don't have a burner, just install it for the infotool so that you can see.

Matter of fact, just going to their site you can download Infotool all by itself: Nero Infotool Page

And the answer to the original question can be found in this screenshot, at least as long as you have the same DVD drive that I have. Do be honest, I would have thought the drive would support reading of DVD+R media, but it turns out it does not:

http://www.thepengellys.com/stuff/neroinfotool.jpg

Website · #21 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:09 am

@ MadMikeSS

That is a great tool. I just tried it on my drive and it worked perfectly.

MadMikeSS · #22 Post by **MadMikeSS** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:55 am

No problemo.

dsvochak · #23 Post by **dsvochak** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:33 am

Thanks to MadMikeSS for reminding us of the Nero InfoTool. I get the same results he did on the same drive(s).

Given the number of manufacturer's IBM has used for CD & DVD drives, if anyone has different results on a different brand/model drive it would be appreciated if you posted to let us know.

DVD Drive not working right...

DVD Drive not working right...

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