MATSHITA BD-CMB UJ-220

I agree.  Firmware needs updated on this.  Mine plays some blu-ray movies but not all.  There's no excuse for that, because firmware updates will easily solve the problem.  Get with it Dell and provide the update!

Not compatible in what respect? All optical drives use the same generic drivers.

The problems I experience are even stranger.  I have a Panasonic UJ-220 and an M1730 machine; normal pre-recorded BR discs work fine, but ones I've recorded aren't even detected in the drive 95% of the time!

It seems to be a problem with both the fact that firmware is no longer produced by the company for my system, but also the overall flaw in the M1730 -- proper heat exchange, where the system's air flow is not powerful enough to maintain optimum temperature. If the disc is in the drive before it boots up and is cold enough, it will detect it without any trouble.  If it isn't, however, the media won't be detected for days at a time for no apparent reason.  I've experienced similarly odd issues with my graphics card and battery pack during my warranty because of the heating glitches...

Don't misunderstand me, this post is not so much a complaint as it is an expression of deepest disappointment.  I love what the machine has done for me during my earlier time at University when I needed something with good memory and GPU.  I am also a long-term customer and we have many of your systems.  I just think that your company's discontinuation of hardware support along with manufacture was a bad move.

At this point it is inappropriate for me to get it replaced as I suspect problem would resurface within six months, given that firmware makes sure compatability with the operating system.  I have since found a great USB external BR-Writer to make things run smoothly again and will probably be getting it sometime this month.

I have a XPS M1730 and have wasted my time with this drive after updating to WINDOWS 7 only to find out the MATSHITA (panasonic) UJ-220 IS NOT COMPATIBLE*****!!! and the UJ230A is being sold on Ebay is really a UJ120 in a housing then called a UJ230!! BEWARE!! These drives  9EXCEPT supposedly the uj-220) are NOT COMPATIBLE with windows 7 ( although I was told they might be in the next 3 months since Windows 7 is so new!!)

It is Feb 2011 and still not update

Is MATSHITA BD-RE UJ-220  firmware update  possible? how and from where? I have xps M1730 which can't write on disc.

I have the exact same laptop and problem.

I used Roxio to write data to a 4.7 DVD-R and it failed. I shut down the laptop and waited for about 30 minutes then booted again, and the same failed disk worked this time and I was able to write. I think it's a heating problem.

But I I had another earlier issue with writing to a dual-layered HP DVD disk. I didn't test the 30-minutes fix on it.

I contacted DELL and they sent me a replacement, another UJ-220. I am not sure if it will do any better, but will see.

Not to mimic, but I too have the exact same problem.  Nearly a year ago I called for support about this MATSHITA BD-RE UJ-220 optical drive.  Dell couldn't resolve softwarewise so they replaced the drive.  This did not correct the issue.

I conjured the strength to call again today hoping something had changed, perhaps an update of some sorts.  After 40 mins, the tech conceded that this drive is likely a first-generation drive and just isn't compatible with some newer media (although I'm unsure how "new" a DVD+R 4.7GB blank disc is).

Dell also offers no alternative drive (unless you go non-bluray).  No updates, firmware or otherwise, are planned for this drive to my knowledge.

I expressed concern to the tech in that having a useless optical drive on a system which cost me $6,000 will certainly weigh on future buying decisions.  I also exclaimed that it is unfortunate that Dell allows Panasonic, the drive's manufacturer to the best of my knowledge, to fail in providing some level of resolution.

That's my two cents!

Thanks for your reply.  I'm actually not even trying to burn... just trying to get the drive to READ a DVD or CD that I have burned previously on another computer.  

The two examples I tried on the phone with the tech today both contained data (not audio/video) and were:

DVD+R:  4.7GB  /  16x speed (Verbatim brand)

and

CD-R:  700mb / 80min (Memorex brand).

These discs both work fine on two other computers (one of which they were burned on) so I know it's not the media itself.

While on the phone however, the tech had me put the Utils disc which came with the computer (black disc, stamped, not burned) and it worked fine.  I think it's a DVD, but don't know any other of its details.

Hi Donluz,

No blu ray drive is so old that it shouldn't burn a DVD, so the tech's advice was incorrect. Did Dell replace that UJ-220 with the exact same model? Can you tell me the exact brand and speed DVD+R you are trying to burn?

also meant to say that the replacement drive was the exact same model to the best of my knowledge.

So the drive does not read the Dell utilities disc?

By the way, you can check the model number in drive properties or device manager.

Perhaps re-read the last paragraph in my post?

Firmware needs updated on this.  Mine plays some blu-ray movies but not all.  There's no excuse for that, because firmware updates will easily solve the problem