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Clarpet

28 Posts

270055

November 20th, 2005 16:00

TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD problems? Post here!!!

If you have had problems (even if they have been resolved) with a TSSTcorp CDROM/CDRW/DVD/DVDRW drive, post here.

I am currently dealing with a faulty TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD combo drive model #462C on a 3 month old Inspiron 600m. It has only worked properly about 5 times. Its hardly been used and will not read most discs on the first try, most not at all. Reinstallation does nothing, no update drivers or firmware is available that I can find.

I've been all over these boards and I have repeatedly seen issues with these drives. I believe they are faulty due to manufacturing defects or possibly firmware issues (as no firmware has been made available for them) probably a mass amount of them (as I have also seen other boards with comments on non-Dell laptops about TSST drives) and it is likely the manufacturer is aware of this.

I am curious as to how many people have experienced this on their Dell. Just browsing here, it looks like a ridiculous amount.

I in no way intend to point this finger at Dell, but if say, 30% or more of these drives are faulty, its not fair to the consumer to deal with it.

Thanks for your time and happy posting!!

cmoya

76 Posts

January 17th, 2006 21:00

From limited past experience, I think Sonic does all sorts of wierd things and installs specific "hooks" into the CD drivers that cause all sorts of problems. I like Nero way better. Glad to hear you got the Hitachi drive though..... let's hope Dell gives TSSTCorp the boot lest their reputation sink any lower. Apparently the lessons of Packard Bell and Gateway were never learned by Dell.

I regret (a little bit) getting the Inspiron 6000 instead of spending a few more bucks and getting one of the sleeker (thinner) and more equipped (way more equipped!) recent crop Gateways.

mzea

10 Posts

January 18th, 2006 13:00

If you call them and they decide to send you another drive, do you have the option of asking which kind of drive you drive (i.e. hitachi-lg)?  Also, do you get a new drive or refurbished one?

Thanks in advanced!

cmoya

76 Posts

January 18th, 2006 14:00

If you stress to the tech that you know all about the problems with the TSSTCorp drive, he'll endouver to order a different drive for you. You probably don't get to decide whether its refurbished or not (I saw no indication one way or another on my order). I wouldn't worry about that... refurbished stuff is usually pretty good.
 
After the tech sets up your order/return it shows up on your account online as it if it were a regular ol' purchase. It specifically said "Hitachi...." on mine so you'll know instantly what you're getting. They ship it out next-day-air with a return airbill. You simply put your old drive in the same box, stick on the return airbill and have it picked up (this is U.S. not sure about Int'l).

mzea

10 Posts

January 18th, 2006 23:00

Thank you for the information!

bsalt1313

20 Posts

January 31st, 2006 03:00

I have the TSST Corp TSL462C combo drive, and my problem is with playing back DVD's. It skips half-way through the disc, and it is not a codec, software, or driver issue (because the problem persists with a different codec, and after a reformat of my system.

dougkosty

4 Posts

January 31st, 2006 12:00

Have it replaced. That is EXACTLY the problem I had and was cured with a new player of a different brand ;-)

bsalt1313

20 Posts

January 31st, 2006 17:00

Thank you dougkosty, I will.

Linliv46

20 Posts

January 31st, 2006 18:00

The same with my 6000. The new replacement works perfect. They send you a pre-paid label to send the old one back also. This is the only solution! Good luck!

    Linda

cmoya

76 Posts

February 1st, 2006 02:00

Initiate a Chat session with one of the the reps.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/chat/en/hardware_chat?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Tell them that you are an IT professional. That scares them. Tell them you're having all sorts of problems... That it won't read stuff other computers read just fine and that you've done all the troubleshooting steps.

I'm dismayed that Dell is even giving people a hard time with returning this drive. It is OBVIOUS that there is a BIG defect with this whole class of drives.

P.S. Hey Dell! Remember how Gateway 2000 was THE company to get a quality machine from in 1994-1996? Remember how they eventually got a "bad rep." The SAME THING is slowly happening TO YOU. Wise up!

Four years ago every software developer I met wouldn't settle for anything less than Dell. Now when Dell is mentioned they they smirk and laugh.

 

bsalt1313

20 Posts

February 1st, 2006 02:00

I just emailed the Dell people and they told me to run a PSA test and a Dell Diagnostics test. I recieved errors during the Diag but not the PSA... he said he couldn't help me... even though I have the same symptoms as all you guys with the same drive as me (TSST Corp TSL462 C).
 
How did you convince Dell yours was broken?

speedster1fast1

1 Message

February 7th, 2006 19:00

i also am having problems with my drive.

i went to the trouble shooting steps, it told me to uninstall the driver.....

now i cant find a driver to reinstall.........

so i started a chat session, they sent me a new tsst drive, when i put it in it did absolutely nothing.

can anyone help me?

do i need to restore or should i call dell and tell them to send me a differant make of drive... or what should i do?

Linliv46

20 Posts

February 7th, 2006 20:00

Go back for another chat session and tell them again. You have to keep telling them. Is this your second TSS? Thats what I had in my Inspiron when I got it but after 4 sessions they sent me a different brand and it works perfect. They should know by now the drive is no good! Good luck!

     Linda

cmoya

76 Posts

February 7th, 2006 21:00

Looks like its time to start writing to the publications about this issue. PC Mag and PC World will be on top of this in no time... as just another ANOTHER indication of Dell's extreme decline. It's been happening for a couple of years now.

bsalt1313

20 Posts

February 8th, 2006 03:00

just remember though, Dell is an expanding company... they have become ever popular... more popular than the days when people recommended Dell for their great service... laptops have become less expensive, and just about everyone is owning a laptop (which is what I think about when I hear Dell)... and with a larger audience, comes a greater variety of the kinds of people... Dell can never be perfect (just like ourselves)... granted, this is something Dell should look at and notice... just don't get angry at the technicians with whom you talked to (as did myself)... they are not Dell, they are employees of Dell. we must understand that they themselves do not know everything there is, just as we don't... and they deal with all kinds of weird people with varying levels of intelligence (sometimes a lack thereof), the last thing they need is someone barking at them, specifically... and if Dell was a good company, they wouldn't fire those technicians who might have not known everything there is to know about our specific issue - because that is Dell's fault they don't know about it - they should better train the technicians and help them become more aware of the new and upcoming problems.
 
i'm sorry i was a little long winded... i was having a moment of passion - i am passionate about other people...

cmoya

76 Posts

February 8th, 2006 03:00

I personally had a great experience with Dell in terms of getting this drive replaced. I only meant that there has been a general decline in many aspects of the quality of some of Dell's systems (or at least "cutting corners".... like an Alps Touchpad vs Synaptic, cheaper Broadcom ethernet or Intel vs 3com... etc etc) and thus a greater decline in their support as they struggle to support these cheaper-to-produce systems.

Dell laptops are no longer *vastly* superior to their competitors. Dell was never known for sleek laptops... but, they were known for quality laptops. Nowadays their known for NEITHER... as their laptops continue to be bulky relative to other laptops in the same category AND the quality of the components grows cheaper every year.

Ironically... nowadays Gateway (which developed a similar bad rep that Dell is starting to go through now) is making fantastic laptops eons better than Dell. I don't know if anyone is buying them though.... probably not... I wouldn't.... but soon not too many people will be buying Dell's either unless they reclaim their "Nothing but the best" TOP SPOT.

 

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