I have the same problem. What specific DVD drive do you have? To find this go to… Accessories, System Tools, System Information, Components, CD-ROM, Name. My DVD drive is an HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GCA-4040N.
I have had similar issues with +R media and spent several hours with a Dell Tech. Here are the specifics of my problem:
I purchased a Dell 8600 Inspiron laptop with the DVD +R/RW drive only two weeks ago, and I'm having problems backing up DVD's using XCOPY XPRESS with +R media. The failure mode is that my drive freezes in the the 'finalization' stage with the drive LED blinking. I have to hard reset my machine to recover (hold down the power off button). I have used several different media vendors (Fuji, Memorex, and Hypermedia) without success. I have followed an indepth FAQ on how to get XCOPY running, but without luck (for url, go to http://dvdxcopy.afterdawn.com/search/ and search on the document authored by dkeystone). I have attempted to update my DVD driver (p/n HL-DT-ST DVD +RW GCA-4040N). This is a Hitachi drive according to Dell Support. However, they have no driver updates.
My final attempt will be with customer service to either replace my drive or my laptop. Not much in the way of a solution, but this may save you some legwork.
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-09-2004 03:21 PM
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-16-2004 08:06 PM
I had the same problem.....I burned 3 coasters and contacted Dell support. I got someone in India who said this was not a common problem with the GCA-4040N drive. I was told they would call back, but they never did. i contacted support again, (this time around 8:30am EST) and spoke to someone in the US. They shipped a NEC 5100A drive next day and now I am burning discs with no trouble. The funny thing about the Hitachi drive is it would burn Data DVD's with no problems.
PR.N: What dept. @ Dell did you speak with to get the replacement NEC drive??? When I spoke with the returns dept., she told me that she could only replace it with the Hitachi drive.
I spent an hour on the phone with the Dell technical service on Thursday night. He stood behind the Dell product, and said that it was probably an application issue. I was skeptical to say the least, but I performed a test using a Dell approved software app (Sonic). Using this program I was able to successfully burn a +R dvd, so it looks like it's an XPRESS issue.
However, I did find that SONIC enables DLA on the dvd drive (right mouse click on the drive from My Computer and go to the DLA tab). It is a simple exercise to disable it from this screen or you can simply uninstall SONIC. There are several postings on the 321 forum that claim XPRESS issues with DLA running in the background. I need to run out for more media (I have a boat load of coasters)...
Oh yeah, your right about the replacement drive. They will only replace the Insprion 8600 Hitachi drive with another one of the same make. The NEC replacement came from the thread given in a previous response.
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-13-2004 09:34 AM
I had no issues with the Hitachi drive using Roxio or Sonic to make Data DVD's....The drive will make data DVD's on +R media all day long.....Any DVD authoring software to create a movie ( Pinnacle, DVD Architect, and DVD X Express) would produce nothing but coasters......I have been pleased with the NEC replacement.
Thanks for the response. For clarity sake, do you own an Inpiron 8600? The tech rep claimed that they could only replace the Hitachi drive with another of the same make.
I believe Bob was the person I spoke to as well.....You have to call Dell Support early in the morning....8:00am or so eastern time to get somebody here in the U.S. that will send you a replacement
I finally convinced Dell support to replace my drive and await the shipment. I spoke with an Indian woman who was very helpful. My advice to other users experiencing problems: be prepared to call support several times, be patient and be persistent. My experience consisted of 5 phone calls, only one of which was unacceptable. If you get a rep who is defensive and does not listen, my suggestion is to politely end the call, and then immediately call support back for a new rep.
HAMPSTERDAM
12 Posts
0
March 6th, 2004 18:00
yasso
I have the same problem. What specific DVD drive do you have? To find this go to… Accessories, System Tools, System Information, Components, CD-ROM, Name. My DVD drive is an HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GCA-4040N.
hampsterdam
LummoX
13 Posts
0
March 9th, 2004 19:00
MajorPain
13 Posts
0
March 9th, 2004 19:00
I have had similar issues with +R media and spent several hours with a Dell Tech. Here are the specifics of my problem:
I purchased a Dell 8600 Inspiron laptop with the DVD +R/RW drive only two weeks ago, and I'm having problems backing up DVD's using XCOPY XPRESS with +R media. The failure mode is that my drive freezes in the the 'finalization' stage with the drive LED blinking. I have to hard reset my machine to recover (hold down the power off button). I have used several different media vendors (Fuji, Memorex, and Hypermedia) without success. I have followed an indepth FAQ on how to get XCOPY running, but without luck (for url, go to http://dvdxcopy.afterdawn.com/search/ and search on the document authored by dkeystone). I have attempted to update my DVD driver (p/n HL-DT-ST DVD +RW GCA-4040N). This is a Hitachi drive according to Dell Support. However, they have no driver updates.
My final attempt will be with customer service to either replace my drive or my laptop. Not much in the way of a solution, but this may save you some legwork.
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-09-2004 03:21 PM
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-16-2004 08:06 PM
MajorPain
13 Posts
0
March 9th, 2004 22:00
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 10th, 2004 22:00
CoachSteve
7 Posts
0
March 12th, 2004 03:00
PR.N: What dept. @ Dell did you speak with to get the replacement NEC drive??? When I spoke with the returns dept., she told me that she could only replace it with the Hitachi drive.
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 12th, 2004 10:00
MajorPain
13 Posts
0
March 13th, 2004 13:00
I spent an hour on the phone with the Dell technical service on Thursday night. He stood behind the Dell product, and said that it was probably an application issue. I was skeptical to say the least, but I performed a test using a Dell approved software app (Sonic). Using this program I was able to successfully burn a +R dvd, so it looks like it's an XPRESS issue.
However, I did find that SONIC enables DLA on the dvd drive (right mouse click on the drive from My Computer and go to the DLA tab). It is a simple exercise to disable it from this screen or you can simply uninstall SONIC. There are several postings on the 321 forum that claim XPRESS issues with DLA running in the background. I need to run out for more media (I have a boat load of coasters)...
Oh yeah, your right about the replacement drive. They will only replace the Insprion 8600 Hitachi drive with another one of the same make. The NEC replacement came from the thread given in a previous response.
Message Edited by MajorPain on 03-13-2004 09:34 AM
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 14th, 2004 14:00
MajorPain
13 Posts
0
March 14th, 2004 22:00
PR.N,
Thanks for the response. For clarity sake, do you own an Inpiron 8600? The tech rep claimed that they could only replace the Hitachi drive with another of the same make.
I have 8 days left on my returrn option...
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 14th, 2004 23:00
CoachSteve
7 Posts
0
March 20th, 2004 03:00
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 20th, 2004 11:00
I believe Bob was the person I spoke to as well.....You have to call Dell Support early in the morning....8:00am or so eastern time to get somebody here in the U.S. that will send you a replacement
PR.N
7 Posts
0
March 20th, 2004 13:00
Major,
You will be VERY pleased with the NEC Drive. Your software will work flawlessly.
PR.N
MajorPain
13 Posts
0
March 20th, 2004 13:00
Coach and PR,
I finally convinced Dell support to replace my drive and await the shipment. I spoke with an Indian woman who was very helpful. My advice to other users experiencing problems: be prepared to call support several times, be patient and be persistent. My experience consisted of 5 phone calls, only one of which was unacceptable. If you get a rep who is defensive and does not listen, my suggestion is to politely end the call, and then immediately call support back for a new rep.
I will post my results later this week.