Extra sensor on DVD-rom drive

Hey all,

On my HP DV-8000 there is some sort of sensor that is on the DVD tray. Does anyone know what it's purpose is? The sensor is directly opposite of the laser pick-up - and is in a 'fixed' position. I'm not sure if it's intended for the "lightscribe" feature, as the laptop was equipped with it - but I'm looking to know what purpose it serves.


--- The reason...

I just took my HP DV-8000 into Circuit City to pick-up a replacement (internal) DVD drive. This is the 2nd drive that has had to be replaced within less than a year.

THe new drive that was just installed does NOT have the sensor I mentioned above & I'm wondering why. The tech at Circuit City did not know what it was for (big surprise). He actually said "I can't know EVERY part on EVERY computer". I replied with "I don't expect you to know every computer - but it would be nice if you could know what's up with mine..."

Any help is appreciated.

 

id say that would be for hte light scribe, try using the lighscribe and if it fails then theres your answer.

 

It's a little unreasonable to expect even a seasoned computer person to know what every single component in a computer is (coils, wires, chips, "other stuff"), much less a Circuit City repair guy.

That sensor appears to line up with the most inner reflective ring on the disc. Maybe this is used for media type detection or something like that. It's possible that the laser assembly could do the same thing. But I'm just guessing now. Since it is fixed (does not move), I don't think it's for lightscribe.

 

i believe that sensor is actually used for lightscribe, more like its used to control the lightscribe laser, so that it can keep track of where it is on the disk... how i dont know, but when i compared my drive to my friends (mine = ts-l632 d, friends = ts-l632 m) his has it, mine doesnt, and the only difference is lightscribe
so randalmorris's guess would most likely be correct.