XPS Gen 2 DVD+RW Replacement

Question

Hi.   My DVD+RW drive Hitachi/LG Model HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GRA-4120B has failed a second time and is under warranty.  Dell has agreed to replace it.   I requested that they replace it this time, with something different since I have gone thru two fo these already.  It is a 12x burner.   The only other option they offerd was a DVD burner by NEC and it's onyl an 8x burner speed.   They did not give me a part number or model number.   But does anyone have any idea how these NEC DVD burners are ?  Good or Bad ?   I dont' understand why some of the newest drives being installed in the new XPS machines would not work, unless it's a physical space configuration problem.  But it's a standard 5 1/4' slot for the burner.   If this does not work well, I will just buy my own replacment.   What is the best burner around now that I could use ? ( Internal ).   Thanks,  Tim

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,The Dell NEC drives of late have faired well on the forum, so not a bad choice.If you are asking about a Retail, our Regulars tend to recommend Plextor, Pioneer, Lite-on, NEC, Benq, and Sony to name a few.For on-line shopping, take a peek at New EggBest Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I doand the eyesight to tell the difference. CD/RW Link

pratzert · Answer

Predator ( Jeff ),   Thanks for the info......    Hopefully the one Dell sends me will be OK.   But if not,  I know what to look for.   Tim

pratzert · Answer

Hey Predator ( Jeff ),   Dell just sent me an email informing me that I am NOT getting an NEC DVD/RW.   They said it is a Phillips 16x drive instead.   They did not say whiat model it is.   I should get it today via DHL.   I will let you know what the model is when I get it.   But no explanations why they told me it was an NEC at first, and now it is something different.   Tim

pratzert · Answer

Predator,   I just got home and opened the box.   It is a Phillips 8801 DVD drive.     So !    Is it any good ?   Thanks,  Tim

pratzert · Answer

Predator,   I was afraid of that.   Out of the frying pan and into the fire......   I appreciate the fact that Dell sent me another drive.... BUT....   Why send me another piece of garbage instead of the newest drives they have available ?   I'll get it into my computer ASAP and see what happens.   It seems like it's pot luck with what Dell sends you.   The tech had a hard time trying to figure out what was even available to send... and then it ended up being different than he said he sent.   Thanks,  Tim

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,We have seen some issues with the 8801 but no where near as many with the 4164B drive.Run her through the paces my friend, good weekend project !!Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,I hope it is not the GWA-4164B drive. If it is, please test it as soon as possible.Some of these drives have not faired well.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,The Philips 8801 drive is not bad; it actually is a re-bagged Benq drive. There are 'hacked' firmwares that convert the drive to the Benq 1650 but since you are still under warranty; I would not recommend it for now. Just for review, click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 5-1.Best Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I doand the eyesight to tell the difference. CD/RW Link

pratzert · Answer

Predator ( Jeff ),

Thanks for that info.

It's good to know that the drive is a decent drive..... do you think it's better than the old Hitachi/LG I had before ? ( HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GRA-4120B )

I've got 8-9 months of warranty on my system yet. So I'll wait until that's done.... but....

What advantages are there to cross flashing the Phillips 8801 into the BenQ drive ?

More speed, better reliability.... ?

And BTW... what DVD/RW optical drive do YOU have or use ?

What's the best one in your judgement and experience.

Thanks, Tim

Message Edited by pratzert on 11-01-2007 07:42 AM

Message Edited by pratzert on 11-01-2007 07:43 AM

Message Edited by pratzert on 11-01-2007 01:04 PM

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,I purchased a Plextor 708A, she is dated compared to the drives today, but has been a gem. If she stopped today, I would purchase another Plextor.Dave Johnson, one of Regulars gave me the information on cross flashing some of these Philips drives. He crossed flashed his drive, sorry not sure if it was the 8701 or 8631 drive, leaning toward the 8701.Anyway, here is what Dave listed:However, the biggest advantage to this cross-flash is that you now have access to Benq's Qsuite tools and Qscan. Qsuite gives you access to some interesting and useful options that are unavailable with the Philips firmware. Probably because Dell didn't want to have to provide tech support for them. They are:WOPC - (Walking Optimal Power Control) By using these features, the DW1640 is able to maintain perfect control over the laser beam angle and the power rate being projected onto the disc, ensuring your data is written at the best possible quality.SolidBurn - This is a learning feature that allows the drive to test and learn new media to determine optimal writing strategy. Most drive just use a generic strategy for unknown media.Overspeed - Enabling overspeed will basically allow any DVD+/-R media to be written at 16x - but that is only the theory. Solidburn will limit the speed if the media can't handle it. Basically this feature allows you to burn media at a higher than rated speed without using 'hacked' firmware, assuming the media can handle it.Qsuite allows you to turn these features on or off.DaveBest Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I doand the eyesight to tell the difference. CD/RW Link

pratzert · Answer

Predator,

Well... I installed my replacement drive.

Two problems:.... I had to take the brackets off the old drive for the new one. I thought it would have

come with the quick brackets. But no big deal. Only took a few minutes to remove and put on the new one.

And the new cable Dell sent me is the wrong cable. It has the A & B connectors in the wrong spot, Plus it is too short anyway.

Thank God my old cable seems to be OK.

I installed the drive and was able to play a DVD with no problem. I have not tried to burn anything yet.

How can I check to see what firmware version the drive has on it ? I want to see if I need to flash it with the latest Firmware from Dell. When I go to "My Computer" or the Devive Manager and check the drive properties, it doe snot say what Firmware it has.

I also tried BELARC advisor and it doesn't show the version either.

Thanks, Tim

Tim

Message Edited by pratzert on 11-01-2007 06:15 PM

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,Go here and see if either one of those suggestion will help.Also run the drive some and see if will burn/play/etc OK.Dell does have a firmware update for this drive but you may not need it.It is listed here:Philips 8801Best Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I doand the eyesight to tell the difference. CD/RW Link

pratzert · Answer

Predator,   As far as I can see, the drive currently has firmware version 4D28 installed on it.   The Dell firmware version on their web site show AD21.   How can one tell which is 'newer'.   I think the drive said it was mfg in August 2007, and the firmware on the Dell site was from April, so I would suspect that the drive has even newer firmware than Dell shows.   But how does one confirm that ?   Geez....  it's like trying to decipher the date codes on canned goods in the grocery store.   Thanks,  Tim

Predator · Answer

Hi Tim,Normally the updates follow a pattern, example for the GWA-4164B, A03 E112, then A04 E133; another drive was B110, then CD30, but on this one, frankly I am not sure and cannot find much on the web other recommending flashing it to the BenQ 1650.Let me see if I can get Dell-ChrisM to see what he can find, Chris is very good at this.Best Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I doand the eyesight to tell the difference. CD/RW Link

Storage, Drives & Media

XPS Gen 2 DVD+RW Replacement

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