New laptop not writing DVDs

[knelmes]

My new Novatech laptop will not complete any DVD that I attempt to write. It'll just stop during writing and not let me do anything with my drive (even eject it) until I restart.
It's got a product code of NNB-368 and a model number of 259KI1 which I think makes it a Uniwill laptop, but cannot find it listed on their site. The drive is a Matshita uj-840d and I have had a look around on the net and it seems this drive does this a lot. I have tried 2 different brands of disc, both of which work fine in my desktop pc.

Is their any advice you can give? any firmware updates available for this drive? Or am I going to have to send it back to you guys?

Thanks

PS Is this drive dual layer? Nero detects it as one but it didn't say anything about it in the spec. Just wondering, anyway.

Kris

[Trouty]

Found this on the net and don't know if it will help:

the matshita/matsushita uj-840d must be configured just right before it can actually be used correctly w/ the likes of Nero.

I. disable the - IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service -

1. Click Start Menu
2. then run, type "services.msc"
3. Locate IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
4. Right click and click Properties
5. change from automatic/manual to DISABLED


II. disable - XP's built in cd recording -
1. Open My Computer, right-click the CD Drive icon, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Recording tab
3. Uncheck Enable CD Recording On This Device


you might need to reboot, hopefully this should do the job.
now to burn DVD's you might also need to get the drivers which can be found HERE

[knelmes]

No luck I'm afraid, got to 17% this time

[knelmes]

Just upgraded to Nero 7 and have written my first disc - I hope it stays like this! Thanks for the help, I'll be back if it was a one off :)

[Fozzee]

What speed did it write at though?? This is supposed to be a 8x dvd writer but it only recognises every brand i put in as 2 speed. I have researched this on the net and it seems a common problem. It seems the tech guys can't help on this issue.

[knelmes]

I'm reasonable sure it was 8x

[Fozzee]

I'm reasonable sure it was 8x


What brand disks are u using??

[knelmes]

Can't remember at the moment, will check when I get home

[Fozzee]

Thank you very much and can u check nero sees them as 8x? You dont need to burn one just go as far as the burn screen with a blank dvd in the drive and it will tell you what speed u can burn at
Cheers Fozz

[knelmes]

They are Rivision dvd-r discs and nero does recognise them as 8x.

Weird thing is, I've just checked and I actually ordered novatech branded ones but got these instead

[Chewie]

Novatech gets eqipment and such from smaller brand names to sell as their own, so its not a worry that the disks you recieved are not stamped with NOVATECH.

Don't be too concerned about the name, as long as they are what you ordered to begin with. ie. dvd-r 8x discs.

[Coops]

Please can you provide what Firmware Version Number your UJ-840D drive is currently using.

[Fozzee]

1.50

[Taxation]

have you tried rolling back the firmware to the original and doing it from there

[Fozzee]

it is the original one there are no updates available for this writer.

[Coops]

I have contacted Matsushita regarding problems with certain media not being able to burn at the correct speed.
Once i get some relevant information from them i will post back.

[Fozzee]

Great thank you

[paulg]

Yesterday my Nitro 760 laptop woke-up from standby mode and had forgotten it has a DVDR drive. I can see it in the Bios but windows won't detect it or find it? Any ideas? seem to remember it being a Matsui drive and it not being able to write to either dvd-r or +r (one of the two) and also not being very reliable - but this is extreme!

I've tried pushing it in a bit, incase it's loose or something? Tried installing new hardware but nothing works.

My machine's been back to base twice already since i received it in early Feb '06, both for totally separate reasons (bad chasis and then dodgy touchpad) and i'm starting to get a bit annoyed now.

Can anyone advise me of the best way to seek a refund and return my machine? I've had it working in my posession for far less than 28days so my warranty should be negotiable.

Thanks,
Paul

NNB-364P
WAR-NBCP2
SO/2399734
CN/44098450
sales contact - Graham Robinson

[pix8175]

Hi, just to flag up that I'm waiting for the firmware too. I received a replacement drive for my Crossfire II (the old one wrote at 4x but with CRC errors all over the place) - the replacement only writes at 2x no matter what brand of DVD-R I use.

Novatech: if you're not having any luck with getting firmware, couldn't you pressure Matshita into sending replacement units? It seems pretty obvious that the drives you are using are defective.

[paulg]

Sounds like a few people are waiting on a firmware upgrade, but i can't see how this will fix my reoccurring hardware issues...

[Fozzee]

Hi, just to flag up that I'm waiting for the firmware too. I received a replacement drive for my Crossfire II (the old one wrote at 4x but with CRC errors all over the place) - the replacement only writes at 2x no matter what brand of DVD-R I use.

Novatech: if you're not having any luck with getting firmware, couldn't you pressure Matshita into sending replacement units? It seems pretty obvious that the drives you are using are defective.


It seems from surfing the net matshita are ignoring everyone and there aren't any firmware updates.

[paulg]

Unfortunatley i've had to send it back for the 3rd and final time...

In Novatech's defence - It's really hard to find similar specs for the price, i just wish my nitro had been more reliable from day 1. Maybe i'll look into a replacement when dualcore cpu's start becoming available on their site (anyone got a date??), but for now i'll have to go outside and do sports.

[Fozzee]

I am not saying its Novatechs fault cos these drives are put in other manufacturers laptops too it just astounds me that they are using them if there is so little support. They must be really cheap.

[numnutz]

i am happy with my nitro relly like it
getting similar probs to all you so ----

I bought an external dvd writer LG with lightscribe from SVP (£54) and use that works great
I am also looking at getting a Sony internal DVD burner to repalce the matshitty one

also sometimes during dvd buring nitro reboots

try gettin a laptop cooler to sit underneath works much better

cheers