G1 DVD-RAM (Matshita UJ-850s) Problem

I've looked around and apparently Matshita drives aren't thought very highly of. I can't seem to burn any CDs. I've tried Nero and the built in burning software that Windows uses. I just get an undetermined error. I've attached my Nero error.

The drive has firmware version 1.20 according the the Nero InfoTool. I can't find any firmware upgrades. It can read CD's and DVD's just fine. It just can't seem to burn... I'm using Memorex CD-R 52x discs.

Does that mean I have a dead drive?

 

I haven't been very happy with mine either. It works, but takes about 15 minutes to burn a CD. Luckily for me I do most of my burning with the a desktop drive attached via the dock. I'll probably get around to calling Lenovo one of these days.

 

Try another brand of CD, something maybe more highend, there used to be a thread regarding this particular optical drive giving a mass amount of people problems of not reading and unable to burn at higher speeds.

Some people were able to use higher end DVDs and CDs to burn at higher speeds, but others waited for firmware updates.

 

I don't know if that drive is the same model with my sister's SOny Vaio or not. She has a mashita in her laptop.

I found out that Verbatim DVD +R works fine (not -R) (15$ for 50 pack) . and some Cheap CDs of Ritek works like a champ. I often burn CDS @ 8 or 10X.. DVD at 8x. You might want to set the speed of burn DVDs lower than usual if there's any error on DVDs.

 

Ive had no problems at all with mine

I had problems with the bundled version of nero 6 though. It did not burn to dvd +r. It was the software.

Im using nero 7 and I have no problems. It always goes at maximum speed.


Actually this drive is thought very highly of. Not all asus notebooks use this one but its probably the most used drive in recent notebooks.


I have used dvd +r dvd-r and cd-r all going at the maximum speed.

 

I got the same DVD driver and I ve been experiencing the same problem. I tried different types of DVD+R's but none have worked. I do not know what to do. Actually it works perfectly on computer games. I wanna find a solution, i I can not, I have to buy another one...

 

Well basically you have Panasonic, Toshiba, Pioneer..... Panasonic is Matshita, Toshiba is technically now Toshiba/Samsung, and Pioneer's drives are just more expensive because they're not used in a lot of OEM stuff, so low volume keeps their prices up. In my experience, I prefer most of the Panasonic drives and I've been using Fuji DVD-R's and DL's for years without a problem. I'm certainly aware that there are plenty of people that don't like them, but outside of finding very few people ever to have issues or dislike an Asus notebook... just about everything else in the industry has their love/hate groups... With the notebook optical drives, some media simply doesn't like certain drives. It's uncommon to try a few things and find nothing it likes, but it's true that all notebook drives are bound to not work with your first choice of media (that's why we suggest checking it out before buying a full spindle).

Anyway... a lot of times it can also be the software... I've been using Nero since I think version 1-2 and I haven't found anything I like better. If all else fails, see if Asus thinks replacing it would take care of it... because it's certainly not normal, but the drive is a good drive and shouldn't have a problem.

 

I've had four or five Matshita drives, none of them were that great. Taiyo Yudens are widely considered to be the best blanks, both CDs and DVDs. Fujis marked Made In Japan are TYs which may explain the success. Nero is my favorite as well, but I have seen it not work with a few drives.

 

I was able to get it to burn if I lowered the speed to 16x (CD-R). Its probably just the disc media I'm using (memorex).

 

pioneer is also matshita.

matshita owns panasonic and pioneer.

pioneer or panasonic would be a retail drive, matshita would be a oem

The other brand asus uses is lg.

 

Since when did Pioneer became part of Matsushita (Panasonic)?

This is news to me.

Another great brand of Notebook/Laptops CD/DVD drives is NEC for which there are alot of different firmware available.

Already replaced a UJ810 Matsushita in my Mitec Voodoo after experiencing some issues. I replaced it with a Nec and never been happier.

frenchnew

 

Always as far as i know

panasonic pioneer aiwa JVC

 

Maybe for Optical Drive but

Aiwa is owned by Sony (reference http://www.aiwa.com/ look at the bootm)

JVC is independant (reference http://www.jvc.co.jp/english/company/profile/index.html)

Panasonic (Parent Company Matsushita name rebranded to Panasonic) also owns Quasar, Technics and National (Brand for Japanese markets)
reference: http://panasonic.net/brand/history/

Pioneer is also an independant company (reference: http://pioneer.jp/corp/profile/index-e.html )

I used to make a living of repairing electronics devices (TV, Video, Audio Components & Car Audio) and while I have moved to another field when consumer electronics devices became disposable, I found it quite bizarre that you state that all those companies are related.

Maybe they rebrand Optical drives from each other but they are not owned or part of.

best regards

frenchnew

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JVC


jvc is wholly owned by the matsushita group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aiwa

aiwa is owned by sony.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Corporation

pioneer is an independent brand. pioneer dvd drives are matsushita drives.

 

i have a matshita UJ-846 S and have had no problems with it. It doesnt like cheaper blank discs but i use Ridisc cd's and dvd's and have had no problems at all with these