topic DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A in PCs & Accessories

DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Wed, 11 May 2005 12:55:05 GMT

In short:

I bought a VAIO A317M with a SONY DVD+-DL BURNER type DW-56A. I made my backup copies after the first start, formatted the partitions (including the hidden one), installed Win XP Pro.

Now:
Win XP Pro SP2 with all Updates
Nero Burning Rom 6.6.0.12
The newest Firmware for the burner: PSF2 (according to Nero Info Tool) is already in place

Problem:
With most CD/DVD media it has problems reading. Most of the time it acts like there was NO CD at all in the drive. It tries to read the CDs several times - no result.
Tried all kinds of media - including expensive Fuji, TDK, Verbatim etc. Even original DVD movies dont initialize properly. The drive reads around 30secs before it can recognise them.

So what 2 do?? The laptop has been in use for only a couple of days now. Installing from my burned CDR and DVD-R worked well - but now suddenly it can hardy read ANY media. I dont want to go back to the original XP Home Edition.

Any ideaa please???? Thank u all

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

dabel — Wed, 11 May 2005 13:36:23 GMT

Hi, the problem described is DEFINITELY nothing to do with the configuration described. I use EXACTLY the same one (XP Pro SP2, latest Nero, latest FW) on my A317M and everything works fine. Seems more like a HW problem to me... if your notebook is only a couple of days old, go back to the shop where you bought it and get another one...

I'm just thinking... with my previous notebook, I got huge problems after installing and later deinstalling ASPI drivers. After deinstallation of ASPI, the CD writer has become really unpredictable.

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Wed, 11 May 2005 14:39:59 GMT

Hi, the problem described is DEFINITELY nothing to do with the configuration described. I use EXACTLY the same one (XP Pro SP2, latest Nero, latest FW) on my A317M and everything works fine. Seems more like a HW problem to me... if your notebook is only a couple of days old, go back to the shop where you bought it and get another one...

I'm just thinking... with my previous notebook, I got huge problems after installing and later deinstalling ASPI drivers. After deinstallation of ASPI, the CD writer has become really unpredictable.

Thats what thought - problem is that I bought it via Ebay from a shop in Slovakia - too far away to just go by and ask for help or another A317m. And (its just a guess but I think a good one) I believe the seller will just point to Sony's warranty if I ask him.

@ASPI: After I installed XP Pro I only had the ASPI driver from Nero on my system. After the problems with the drive began I installed the additional ASPI drivers for Windows XP (Adaptec Version 4.6) --> didn't change anything 😞

any1 else?!

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Wed, 11 May 2005 15:55:25 GMT

I really hope to find some experts in here - most of the time users know more than those so-called experts at support-callcenters. I dont want to answer stupid questions like

-- r u usinf antivirus-progs?
-- u know what spyware is?
-- you have checked for updates?

Somebody HAS 2 know it - just cant believe that after 4 days of usage a brand new SONY burner stops working... thought I went with QUALITY by bying a VAIO. 😞

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

kee-lo_ — Wed, 11 May 2005 16:21:11 GMT

Nice of you to say that :smileygrin:

I can't really think of anything else, as ASPI didn't seem to work, a lot of these cases end up with Sony fixing them.

Have you ran Windows Update lately, as a lot of people have had problems with certain updates?

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Wed, 11 May 2005 17:04:23 GMT

yes - I took all necessary updates except for the .NET 1.1 application - it just didn't want to install that one - the whole installation process froze around 50%... but as I don't need the .NET crap, I just leave that away.

As I wrote: it's all up to date - Firmware, proggies and WIN XP...

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

kee-lo_ — Wed, 11 May 2005 17:23:32 GMT

I didn't bother with that update

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

AMDFreakDE — Thu, 12 May 2005 11:12:11 GMT

Hi!

I have the same problem! After first start I've burned the recovery-dvd, deleted all partitions and installed WinXP Pro SP2.
After updating Firmware my DVD burns only CDs but no DVD! If I use the drive (copying some files, play music-cd, watch DVD) the system hangs like 100% CPU-Usage and I can't do anything.
I think the problem is the firmware, because after updating my DVD-burner uses only PIO-Mode, not DMA!
Is there any way to downgrade the firmware to the old? Or is there any other way I can make my DVD run properly?
I have the VAIO VGN-A317M...

Greets AMDFreakDE

PS: Sorry for my bad english, I hope you can understand my post...

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Thu, 12 May 2005 14:11:01 GMT

Hi AMDFREAK

Guess its a hardware problem - cant even boot from a CD, so right after start the drive doesnt work/read anymore.
I filed a report with Sony and just called them - they will probably replace the drive. Don't know how long that takes - hope it'll be done within a couple of working days...

Good luck!

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

jammold — Thu, 12 May 2005 14:25:59 GMT

Just for information, once you install a firmware update you cannot get rid of it or roll back to the old version!

@Avalancha
What I would do is remove each update one by one, reset the computer between each, and test CD/DVD functionality. If you find the problem disappears it is a software issue. It is worth a try to see if this cures any issues in WIndows. Also remember to test all types of media reading and writing to them between removing the updates.

If it still persists it is a hardware issue. If the system cannot boot from a CD as you suggested then it does suggest a hardware issue.

I wonder if IMAPI.EXE (the Image Mastering Application Programming Interface) along with the CDROM.SYS driver is causing problems in an SP2 interface.

It is not the first time a Microsoft update stopped hardware from working - I speak from experience!

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

Milo2201 — Fri, 13 May 2005 15:40:06 GMT

?delete all partions might be the answer.?.and also some disks are not liked by some sony..machines?..but sony discs branded are really cheap in pcw.. that might solved one problem
disc partion might be one?other
and extenal hard drives and dvd copy machines are so cheap and good..of the 45 vaio's in our group.. most must use external due to sony software..which is the best in the world:smileycry:
ps welcome to vaio hell..then it works..then all parts are well known to user..it could be a cunning plan boldrick..to get buyers selfhelping others thus save money?and then
one issue was firewall and the new sp2 protection..check details..and some xp had data protection..dvd cd only to be played by computer that burnt discs..restore then dif setup no play boldrick?..backups useless as that setup gone! well thats what i told the vat office...! but it was on some windows us..then gone?..the best setup is sony based as it will work one day over the rainbow...stay safe and never walk on the yellow brick road..:smileypig: :smileyflag: riggins

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

AMDFreakDE — Wed, 18 May 2005 14:40:57 GMT

I have re-installed my windows and now it works!

First I used the Recovery-DVD i had burned after first start. My DVD works fine and in DMA-Mode. I killed the partition and re-installed my win xp pro and now it works fine...

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

avalancha — Wed, 18 May 2005 15:41:45 GMT

I have re-installed my windows and now it works! 

First I used the Recovery-DVD i had burned after first start. My DVD works fine and in DMA-Mode. I killed the partition and re-installed my win xp pro and now it works fine...

good 4 u - in my case its impossible 'cause I can't reinstall if my drive doesn't work from start (boot sequence CD-ROM). Your problem was software-related, mine isn't....

Re: DVD/CD not working on Sony DW-D56A

kee-lo_ — Wed, 18 May 2005 15:49:52 GMT

Sounds like it needs to be sent in.