LG GSA-4160B Nightmare

[berry_lthird]

Hello, all!

I have searched and Googled several forums to see if there is any way I can get my LG GSA-4160B to work (again). So far, no luck.

Here is the scenario:

--I traded my old LG GSA-4081B for the newer drive, so I don't have a warranty

--The drive worked fine for about four (4) DVD burns, but then, I tried using the writing tools built-in to Windows XP to burn on a multisession CD. The burn process failed, probably due to the poor quality of the disc (scratched-up). Ever since then, however, the drive will not read ANY DVD formatted disc!

--It still reads and burns CD's just fine

--The latest Nero Tool for version 6.6x shows all the read/write capabilities for my drive, but XP refuses to mount DVD media!

Here are things I have tried that have not worked so far:

--Flashing the Firmware to version A302, following the instructions to-the-letter (i.e., drive is on Secondary IDE channel and set to master, no disc in drive, reboot immediately, etc.). NOTE: I flashed the firmware AFTER I started having issues

--Re-Installing Windows XP

--Disabling Autostart and IMAPI

--"Hacking" the registry key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\CD Burning\Drives\[volume number]\Drive Type. I have used values ranging from 1 thru 5

--Tried both 40-element and 80-element IDE cables

--Setting jumper to Cable Select

My system specs are:
--Asus P4P800 Deluxe MB
--Intel P4 2.4 Ghz CPU
--512 MB Corsair DDR 333 RAM
--Western Digital Raptor SATA HD
--3DLabs ATI Radeon 9200 8x AGP Video Card
--Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 TV Tuner Card
--Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with SP2 pre-installed

Are there any utilities for calibrating the optical pickup?

Otherwise, my LG GSA-4160B might as well be a doorstop.......

Thanks in advance for any insight into this problem.

[Waldgeist]

Unfortunately, i can't help you with this problem other than suggesting that the drive might be beyond repair. I once owned an LG GSA-4082B, which showed similar malfunctions. I could insert a DVD, view it halfway through and all of a sudden the film would freeze. After that no recognition of the DVD. Flashing with older FW worked once, but then the same problem occured some days later with no solution. I sent it back to Amazon.

[Wesociety]

Hmmm Try it in another PC just for fun.

If that fails, then contact LG USA, who might be able to provide an RMA based on the manufacturer date/serial number.