Finalizing Issue with 5006

Hi,

I've been using a 5006 for several months now, burning DVDs off of my cable TV digital video recorder. After burning the disc, I finalize it and play it on a Sony player. I've successfully used both Verbatim and Sony discs.

Everything was working fine until recently. For recently burned discs, I can still play the finalized disc on the Lite-on machine or on my computer, but the Sony player can't read it. It can still read Lite-on discs I burned a short time ago, but something happened within the past few days so that now new discs that are burned won't work on that machine.

I haven't upgraded the firmware, following the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I know Lite-on units have a bad rep for reliability. I've used my unit a lot (for burning but not playing discs). Is it just that they wear out pretty quickly and I should be thankful it worked as long as it did?

Any suggestions?

Bill

Get ready to replace your drive?
Toxie, a new member did a great job:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=150516

I think these LiteOn drives lasts about 300 hours of recording before the laser or calibration goes.

The firmware updates never did anything for me in restoring proper write ability.

Thanks, thrunner. Three hundred hours, huh? I don't think I've used that many, but I assume that it's 300 plus or minus 150, maybe. I went to Toxie's site. Hmm, guess I need to run the text through a translator. I'm not about to try to replace the drive; the 5006 is cheap enough that I might as well buy a new one. But I might try cleaning the lens. Will need to see what's on this site about that.

Regards, Bill

Bill, just consider that you can get a brand new Lite-on SOHW-1693S drive from newegg (see http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106990 ) for $38 (today's price). It sounds like that drive would last much longer than a replacement 5006... and for much less...

afecu,

But isn't that unit intended for a computer rather than a stand-alone recorder? Are you suggesting that I would be able to install it in my 5006? I already have a DVD burner for my computer but want something that I can use directly with my TIVO-like DVR in my entertainment center.

Could you please claify?

Thanks,
Bill

Yes, the 5006 (and the other Lite-On recorders) actually use PC DVD drives. There are other threads talking about how to do the replacement (I'll let someone else give the correct pointers to the threads).