DVD compatibility

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Rex · #1 Post by **Rex** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:25 am

Hi there,

I have a T22 and two DVD Ultrabay drives, that is now mainly used for watching films. It usually works just fine.

Have been burning some DVD+RW recently with my desktop computer, but they are not read by the T22. All I get is the insert media into drive message.

DVD films seem to have a mirror surface; my home burned DVDs have a darkened mirror surface.

Is there a compatibility issue with different makes of DVD and Utrabay drives? Do different makes of DVD+RW have different base colours? If so, how do I find out without buying a pack to experiment and find that it also does not work?

Grateful for you advice as I am somewhat of a DVD rookie.

Rex

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:09 am

Most likely your TP will only read DVD-R or DVD-RW.
Change the DVD-type in your PC burner from + to -, normally they can burn both.
Buy or borrow one DVD-RW or DVD-R to try.

mysbca · #3 Post by **mysbca** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:34 pm

Some of the older dvd drives do not read DVD+R/DVD+RW. Get Nero InfoTool or dvdinfopro to see what your drive actually supports:

http://www.nero.com/enu/support-nero8-t ... ities.html
http://www.dvdinfopro.com/

Depending on the dvd writer you have, you can try bitsetting the booktype of your DVD+RW to DVD-ROM for better compatibility:

http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Increas ... bitsetting

I have had success in getting drives that read only DVD-R/DVD-RW to read DVD+R/DVD+RW with booktype changed to DVD-ROM.

Rex · #4 Post by **Rex** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:24 pm

mysbca and others,

Wow, changing the burn settings to DVD-ROM sounds like a good idea. Have not tried it yet but it gives me some hope even if I don't understand what it exactly means.

Just run Nero InfoTool and my Ultrabay does not like +RW, so that may be part of the solution.

Will keep trying,

Rex

jamerslong · #5 Post by **jamerslong** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:48 pm

for me it was as simple as a firmware upgrade on the DVD-rom i cant remember where i found though

Rex · #6 Post by **Rex** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:26 am

Have updated the firmware but still no difference.

Can watch the DVDs by copying (using the office desktop) from DVD to the TP hardisk. If I only copy the individual program files, they are playing with Windows Media Player, but I don't have the subtitles!

Rex

#7 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:54 am

Are you copying rented/protected DVDs?
Unless you have the "proper" copying program, they won't work (and we will also not help you with that).
Try playing the original DVDs in your TP.

Rex · #8 Post by **Rex** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 5:18 pm

I bought a used set of a TV series at a boot sale. There is very little damage to the The DVDs themselves are in pretty good condition, the only damage is what one would expect from a previously owned set, but I now think that they were a dodgy original as most play on the ThinkPad (some refuse to,) but they all play on the office desktop.

Rex

jamerslong · #9 Post by **jamerslong** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:10 pm

my DVD player in my thinkpad is Model: sr-8176-m, FRU P/N 08k9648, ASM P/N 08k9647 and was recived with original firmware loaded.

If you put your model Number up i will look around and see if i can find a firmware upgrade.

i downloaded the firmware package that was supposed to update a slew of drive models. burned to a CD and ran on boot. then i had DVD+r(w) compatability. i think i may have downloaded the files form the manufacturers website.

Rex · #10 Post by **Rex** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 3:27 am

jamerslong,

That's a kind offer. I did try to upgrade the firm ware but received the message that it was not necessary (or something to that effect.)

The first drive is a Toshiba DVD-ROM, model SD-C2302; Fru p/n 05K9160; ASM p/n 05K9146.

the second drive is made by M a t s u s h i t a-Kotobuki Electronics. Model SR-8175-M; FRU p/n 27L3447; ASM p/n 27L3446.

Many thanks.

Rex

jamerslong · #11 Post by **jamerslong** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:29 am

ok i found on the IBM page the firmware updates and it supports your M a t s u s h i t a SR-8175-M

i will look around for information on your toshiba

DO NOT RUN THE SOFTWARE IN WINDOWS OR DOS, RUN ON BOOT ONLY AND ONLY EXECUTE FW.EXE

the files are for floppy and ISO
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... #DVDdrives

jamerslong · #12 Post by **jamerslong** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:28 pm

looks like your toshiba is out of luck, i cant find any firmware information for that model other then a single release.

Rex · #13 Post by **Rex** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:36 am

Jameslong,

Many thanks for the link. Will give it a try and post back, but don't expect anything for a week or so. Going on holiday; I know, the computer should take priority!

Rex

DVD compatibility

DVD compatibility

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