Dell DVD Problem

optiplexgx270

Hey all

I have a Dell 8400 with a Philips DVD+-RW 8631
It was working fine after i upgraded the firmware off the dell site (didnt read disks before this update). That was up until today ive wasted 10 disks on the damn thing diff brands and tried both sonic and nero to burn disks but now it spiting them out error reading/writing to disk.

What should i do any ideas?

On a side note a friend of mine got the same drive and had to get it replaced as first would not work at all.

Now the plan is to call Dell tomorrow and Eat them and demand a replacement drive of a different brand + a good will gesture on account i've wasted so many disks.

Any advice???

Occidental

optiplexgx270 wrote:

Any advice???

Don't buy anything made by Philips. They have a long tradition in sh!te CD drives and dodgy chips. They're also known for televisions that last just over a year.

optiplexgx270

Well rang dell and they're sending me out a new NEC drive tomorrow

optiplexgx270

Does any one know what drive the NEC drive will be from dell replacing a Philips 16x DVD+-RW drive?

Tony H

the only nec drives that burn at 16x are the NEC 3500 AND THE newer NEC 3520 both great burners with a lot of modded firmware available good info about firmware and media on this forum http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86

optiplexgx270

I'm guessing ill get the 8 speed 2510 which is a DVD+RW should i argue the point with Dell if i do get the 8 speed that i had a

16X DVD+-RW and thats what it should be replaced with?

Even if i am asking for a more reliable brand

Tony H

if you paid for a 16x burner it would be nice to get a 16x but if you press the point they might send you another philips and if you want a good burner you cant go wrong with an nec even if they send you the 2510 which is quite a good burner anyway , the only diff with the newer burners is the 16x discs are very expensive and all you reall save is 3 or 4 minutes on burn if you can get your hands on 16x media

sceptre

optiplexgx270 wrote:

I'm guessing ill get the 8 speed 2510 which is a DVD+RW should i argue the point with Dell if i do get the 8 speed that i had a...

Yeah, you should. I would presume that they'll send you something as good or better. Given that 16x is as fast as it gets, I would guess they'll send you "as good". Which would mean better than a 2510.

optiplexgx270

So far they have sent me:

16X NEC DVD+RW 3100A and
two: 16X PHILIPS DVD+-RW 8631/96

Called them today and the two 16X PHILIPS DVD+-RW 8631/96
sent out were requested as 16X NEC DVD+-RW drives so hes emailing dispatch to get to the bottom of it at the moment. I'm on first name basis with the Dell delivery driver at this stage for the last 3 days hes been out at the house.

optiplexgx270

Wow hoo justice prevails

Just got a new NEC 3530A off them today

whats that 3 weeks?

Tony H

iknow just the discs for that if your interested
http://www.mediawrite.ie/8xdvd%2Br.htm
try the fuji 8x r+ they will burn at 16x no prob with the stock firmware

optiplexgx270

i couldnt find all that much about it on the web (cos its an OEM?) its good yeah?

I use these from mediawrite.ie http://www.mediawrite.ie/4xdvd-r.htm

Datawrite Yellow V2 Ritek (4x) DVD-R in Tub of 25

For reasons stated on the site :P

Tony H

its just not good its great and you cant even buy them anymore , the newer nec 3520 is not as good , i know i have both and as for the datawrite their ok but the fuji are really good they are taiyo yuden discs made in japan and are a steal at the price
http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86
check out the above link

optiplexgx270

actually the 3530A is newer than the 3520A are you thinking of the 3500?

Tony H

yeah the 3530 is newer than the 3520 , as far as i know only available in japan and has a dirrerent chipset again , my point was anyway that the 3500 is still regarded as the best of the recent NEC drives , loads of hacked firmware to cope with different media

optiplexgx270

its the 3530A i got off dell working like a charm too i think it will be the 3540 for over here

Tony H

i think i need glasses or at the very least more sleep , i thought you got a 3500 off DELL
sorry forget all my earlier rants , thats cool only prob with NEC drives is that they are changing the models too fast and not updating the firmware to match the media to them
the next update is supposed to be on the first of may and it is supposted to enable pi po scanning on NEC drives for the first time