Can the Precision M4400 Optical drive write DVDs?

I've downloaded an utility that tells the optical drives capabilities and it seems that the drive can only read DVDs but can't write DVD-R or DVD-RW. This is the info about the device:

Vendor :HL-DT-ST

Product id: CDRWDVD MU10N

Vendor specs: ABLBA 08/07/25

On the other hand the DELL webpage says about Precision M4400:
8X DVD+/-RW Drive with Optical Media Included

I don't remember that when I bought the laptop there were several options, only this drive.

 

The DVD+/-RW isn't the standard option. If you didn't upgrade the device (which seems to be the case since you have a CDRWDVD drive - that means you can burn CDs, but not DVDs), you won't be able to burn DVDs. If they didn't give you the option to upgrade at the time of purchase, they were either out of drives or doing something fishy... either way, you can buy a DVD+/-RW drive separately, but it's going to be expensive.

 

!. I bought the laptop in December 2008 but now that I have to burn a DVD I realize that is not the drive I thought it was!. Do you think that I can swith the unit by this one?:
http://cgi.ebay.es/DELL-Precision-M...l?hash=item5d25620c2a&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

 

You need a 9.5mm thick optical drive with SATA connector, so the one that you linked to is OK.

The E6400 and E6500 use the same burner, which may increase your options. Models to look for include:

• PLDS-DU-8A2S
• TS-U633A
• UJ-862A (this is the one in the link)

There may be some more models - the above are listed under the E6400 firmware updates.

John

 

Thank you guys. You are really helpful.
I can't believe that DELL still sells laptops with drives that can't burn DVDs. These should come by default.

 

some companies that are more obsessed about security dont want their staff to be able to write dvd's or cd's, so the standard option is just an ordinary DVD drive.

 

lol....wouldn't a small USB drive be much easier for that
I think they should offer every possible option as that is one of the perks of ordering from Dell IMO

 

its the same kind of companies that lock/disable the USB ports.

besides, if you dont want employees to burn cd's, why waste the extra couple of bucks on the DVDRW drive which you'll have to lock down as well

 

Ah....very true
And you're right, i'm all for options and i've only used the writing function to test if it worked back when there were still issues with the burners.