HP DVD 940e

I got an HP DVD 940e (external version) back in October, and it's worked well for me except for one thing:

After burning a Lightscribe label, for some reason it can no longer read CDs nor DVDs well, if at all. It can recognize a music CD (homemade or original) but when I try to play or rip it, it just gets stuck, spinning up, spinning down, etc. Likewise, when I try to play a DVD on it, it stutters.

One solution I've found that actually works every time (so far) is to uninstall the driver, unplug the USB cable, then plug it back in and let it reinstall itself. After that, it's happy and works as it should.

It's annoying, and I'll probably get around to calling their tech support sometime (I hate that -- it's like pulling teeth, or more like getting your teeth pulled). It has a 1 yr manufacturer warranty, but trying to convince "tech" support that you need it replaced or fixed is always a real pain.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience with the device.

Oh, I'm also a little disturbed by the fact that HP doesn't even provide the same level of online support for the 940 as it does the 840. Not only is there sparse info on the 940 at their web site, but they don't seem to offer e-mail support for the 940 like they do the 840. Looks like calling overseas is the only way to get support.

On the plus side, once I get past the driver reinstallation, it works great. It plays CDs and DVDs well, it rips nicely, it burns nicely, etc.

One last thing -- I use the burner almost exclusively with my laptop, but I'll try it on my desktop eventually and see if I get the same problem after burning Lightscribe labels. I'll post my results.

Mad Dog are a respected rebadger in the US. They will take the best all-round burners and may add a missing feature not found in the retail versions and then rebadge with their own model number and sell in places like CompUSA and Wal-Mart.

Usually thier warranty is 2 yrs, which is 1 year longer than most OEMs give you. The trick is figuring out which drive Mad Dog has used as the basis for each drive in their model line. They rebadge Samsung, Liteon, NEC, etc. so you have to check the specs and look closely at the images to see which drive likely came from which OEM. The 16x3x9 as an example is a NEC 3550A, and some of the fw links on the support page actually tell you which drive that version was based on. But some don't. In general all their drives are "great drives" and usually will offer things like bitsetting (booktype) when the OEM versions of the fw didn't. I flashed 3 different NEC 2510 drives to MD firmware due to the benefits offered (booktype and speed primarily). So nothing bad to say about Mad Dog at all. I do have a 16x3x9 currently and it's just as good as the NEC 3550A it was based on, quiet, competent, reliable.

Cheers,

Mike

Hey guys! First time posting and I'm not a computer wiz so bear with me! I was devastated this past week when my NEC-2500a finally died on me after 3 years of faithful service. So after doing a lot of research and reading tons of reviews, I finally bought the HP 940i drive, installed it (after having to fiddle with the whole master/slave/cable issue - my previous drive was installed as cable select and that's what the hp seems to work at in my computer at least) and found that it worked great with SOME dvds. It has no problems writing whatsoever (works great in fact) but for whatever reason it won't recognize/read half of the dvds I put in it (and they're not copies, they're original manufacturer discs). This seems to be more with newer dvds (no problem with discs that came out a year or so ago). And after reading the above posts, it seems like I'm not the only one having problems with this drive having horrible reading capability.

After doing some looking under my device manager, trying to figure out why it wasn't reading certain discs, I tried the "populate" option under the "volume" tab for the properties of my dvd drive and the discs it WAS able to read were called "Disc: CD-ROM 5, Type: dvd" but all of the ones that would NOT work (drive doesn't even register there's a disc in there) were called "Disc: CD-ROM 4, Type: DVD." Have they changed the type of media they're using and if so anyone have any idea how to get this stupid drive to read "Cd-rom 4's" (whatever that means!).

I'm about a day away from just taking the darn thing back, or updating my cd-rom drive to a dvd-rom/cd-rw and just having it do the reading. Any suggestions there?

The 940i is just a LiteOn 18A1H as far as I know. I had exactly the same issues with the LiteOn and nothing helped. One month alter I also tried the newer 20A1P but it suffered from the same problems. In the end I returned both drives. Fortunately my online shop had a free collection at home service so at least the RMA was for free.
If reading is important to you I would buy another brand at the moment.

[QUOTE=attagirl]After doing some looking under my device manager, trying to figure out why it wasn't reading certain discs, I tried the "populate" option under the "volume" tab for the properties of my dvd drive and the discs it WAS able to read were called "Disc: CD-ROM 5, Type: dvd" but all of the ones that would NOT work (drive doesn't even register there's a disc in there) were called "Disc: CD-ROM 4, Type: DVD." Have they changed the type of media they're using and if so anyone have any idea how to get this stupid drive to read "Cd-rom 4's" (whatever that means!).QUOTE]

Attagirl, I have two drives in my primary system, both installed two weeks ago. One is the 940i (internal) and an Optiarc AD-7170A. I took a factory pressed DVD and first popped it in the 940i and did the "populate" volume and it came back as CD-ROM 0. Did the same thing with the disk in the other drive and it came back as CD-ROM 1. So what I am inferring here is that the 0 and 1 are just the drive sequences as XP sees them (Drive "D" and Drive "E" in my case). I don't think it has anything to do with the type of disk you have in the drive.

Try this. Open up Device Manager again to the Hardware tab and select the drives listed in the DVD/CD-ROM drives category and just uninstall them. Then do a "Scan for hardware changes" from the Action menu and let Windows reinstall them and try the disks again. If that doesn't work I would suggest shutting down and verifying you've got both drives properly configured 'jumperwise' on the IDE cable and that if you have another drive on the same cable as your 940i that it is 'rated' at the same transfer capability as the 940i (don't try to install a drive that works only in only PIO mode on the same cable as a drive that works in UDMA mode as an example). The controller will sometimes slow down to accomodate the slowest drive on the cable. I have a Dell and Dell likes Cable Select settings for drives. I have experienced where some drives want to be jumpered for either master or slave even when attached to a cable/controller with CS capabilities. But that is rare these days.

Also, try to confirm your drive is operating in UDMA (DMA2, etc.) Anything but PIO mode! Check the Dev Manager HW tab and check each channel's property tab in the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers (Primary and Secondary as appropriate -Advanced Settings tab) to see what mode the controller is operating in. If one of the drives is in PIO and you can't change it then chances are you've got something mis-jumpered or you need to move the 940i to a cable by itself.

Hope this gives you somewhere to start.

Mike

Attagirl;

I just had another thought regarding the "CD-ROM 4 and 5" aspects of this issue. I don't know how many drives you have installed in your case, but if you have only 2 (the 940i and one other) then you may want to take an additional step. If you do the "Uninstall" of the drives and still have the same problem, take it a step further and "Uninstall" the drive controller as well. It sounds scary but trust me, your harddrive won't puke if you do this. If after Windows reinstalls the controller and finds all the drives and it still does the same thing (assuming you've check all the cables and bios settings are good etc.) then go back to the Dev Man HW tab and select "View" and "Show hidden devices" and delete all the drive specific ones that appear "greyed out". Let us know how you come out with this.

I'm hoping it's not really the drive but a Windows or cable/controller issue. The next step would be to try the drive in somebody elses's computer (temporarily hook it up just to check functionality). That will really be the acid test..

Mike

A correction to my previous post regarding Mad Dog rebadges. The Mad Dog 16x3xDVD9 is a rebadged NEC 4550A, not a 3550A as I stated. (I have one and mis-remembered when I wrote the original post, must be CRS coming on...)

Thanks guys for all the suggestions, but I've already tried all those things numerous times. Nothing seems to change anything. Both of my drives are DMA enabled, the cables are set up correctly (no slave/master/cable nonsense). Uninstalling and reinstalling doesn't work. Neither does uninstalling the drive controller. There are no hidden devices. It writes great from my hard drive, it just won't read. It's strictly a read problem. Any suggestions on drives that don't have this read problem or on a dvd-rom drive to add on that would do the reading instead of the hp940i (which would be left to just writing)?

Just to clarify my previous about the cd-rom 4 and cd-rom 5 those were the designations it gave two separate factory pressed dvds in the SAME drive (both discs in the HP940i), one it could read (5) and one it couldn't(4). Didn't seem to have anything to do with the drive designation since it's the same drive!

@Mikg
All that stuff has nothing to do with the issue the 940i do not like some pressed DVDs. These drives are good writers and fast readers but they simply do not like some pressed DVDs.

A good reader costs as much as a burner, at least here in the UK, around 20 Pounds. I think the current LG drives are very good readers, for exanple the GSA-H2x or the H3x.

Hey all, I've also got a 940E usb2 unit (dvd940e-xh08, running firmware 3H23, build date of Oct 2006. Anyways, apparently these external burners in addition to having problems with pressed dvds, do not like verbatim 16x dvd-rs much at all (reading problems, not noticing the dvd is in the drive, etc)

very VERY annoying. And it sounds like flashing it with a lite-on firmware won't fix the reading problems, or am I misreading previous comments?


Off to buy some +rs and -rs of assorted types to figure out what it can read...

---

Last edited by saintsinner; 05-02-2007 at 14:07.

Oh, if you want error codes for the verbatim's from an attempt to write (After finally gettig the drive to realize there's a disc in it!)


Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: File 'Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=4.70, size=45056 bytes, created 12/11/2001 2:31:26 PM
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.68, size=160016 bytes, created 7/28/2004 11:51:12 PM
Nero API version: 6.6.0.1
Using interface version: 6.3.1.4
Installed in: C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\
Application: ahead\Nero - Burning Rom
Recorder: Version: 3H23 - HA 4 TA 0 - 6.6.0.1
Adapter driver: <> HA 4
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : via Inquiry data (1) -> ATAPI, detected: ?
Connected to MMC as unknown drive with class-nr : 1
Drive is autodetected - recorder class: Std. MMC recorder

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : FUJITSU MHV2040AH atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : SONY CDRW/DVD CRX830E atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 d347prt Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : AXV CD/DVD-ROM 2.2a sojuscsi Port 3 ID 0 DMA: Off

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
SONY CDRW/DVD CRX830E D: CDRom0
Generic DVD-ROM E: CDRom1
AXV CD/DVD-ROM G: CDRom2
HP DVD Writer 940d H: CDRom5
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 1518MB (1554864kB)
Free physical memory: 499MB (511356kB)
Memory in use : 67 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Static Write Speed Table: 0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

5.2.2007
NeroAPI
12:04:55 PM #1 Phase 112 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
DVD-Video files reallocation started

12:04:55 PM #2 Phase 114 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
DVD-Video files reallocation completed (no file modified)

12:04:55 PM #3 Phase 111 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
DVD-Video files sorted

12:04:56 PM #4 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 127
Reader running

12:04:56 PM #5 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 122
Writer HP DVD Writer 940d running

12:04:56 PM #6 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 842
DRM: StartDrmRecording(RealRec:1, ImageRec:0, Copies:1)
DRM: Beginning burn process.

12:04:56 PM #7 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3286
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

12:04:56 PM #8 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3286
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

12:04:56 PM #9 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3117
Turn on Disc-At-Once, using DVD media

12:04:56 PM #10 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 256
Last possible write address on media: 2298495 (510:46.45, 4489MB)
Last address to be written: 2286111 (508:01.36, 4465MB)

12:04:56 PM #11 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 268
Write in overburning mode: NO

12:04:56 PM #12 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2309
Recorder: HP DVD Writer 940d, Media type: DVD-R
Disc Manufacturer: MCC 03 - RG20
Disc Application Code: 64, Disc Physical Code: 193

12:04:56 PM #13 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 430
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================

12:04:56 PM #14 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 844
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 ()
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 2286112 (2286112) = #2286112/508:1.37
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 2286112 blocks [HP DVD Writer 940d]
--------------------------------------------------------------

12:04:56 PM #15 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1047
Prepare recorder [HP DVD Writer 940d] for write in CUE-sheet-DAO
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: ""
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc fixated
Tracks 1 to 1:
1: TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048/0x00, FilePos 0 0 4681957376, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
__Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_RecDep_|_CtrlAdr_
0 | lead-in | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
0 | 1 | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41
2286112 | lead-out | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41

12:04:57 PM #16 Phase 24 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
Caching of files started

12:04:57 PM #17 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4003
Cache writing successful.

12:04:57 PM #18 Phase 25 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
Caching of files completed

12:04:57 PM #19 Phase 36 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
Burn process started at 8x (11,080 KB/s)

12:04:57 PM #20 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2497
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

12:04:57 PM #21 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2027
Recording mode: Sequential Recording Mode

12:04:57 PM #22 Text 0 File Mmc.cpp, Line 20673
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON , Adapt writespeed to disc : ON

12:04:57 PM #23 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2168
Start write address at LBA 0
DVD high compatibility mode: Yes

12:04:57 PM #24 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 8281
---- DVD Structure: Physical Format Information (00h) ----
Layer: 0, Address: 0 (0 h), AGID: 0; Length: 2050
Book Type: DVD-R (2), Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120 mm, Maximum Rate: (F h)
Number of Layers: 1, Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP), Layer Type: recordable
Linear Density: 0,267 um/bit, Track Density: 0,74 um/track
Starting Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 30000 h (DVD-ROM, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW)
End Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 26127F h
End Sector Number in Layer 0: 0 h
Data in Burst Cutting Area (BCA) does not exist
Start sector number of the current Border-Out: 0 h
Start sector number of the next Border-In: 0 h
Media Specific [16..63]:
00 60 00 10 20 30 40 50 - 00 00 00 21 00 00 00 00 .`...0@P...!....
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

12:05:06 PM #25 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1284
12:05:06.206 - HP DVD Writer 940d\H4 T0 : Queue again later

12:05:46 PM #26 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1284
12:05:46.313 - HP DVD Writer 940d\H4 T0 : Queue again later

12:06:37 PM #27 SCSI -1135 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1432
SCSI Exec, HA 4, TA 0, LUN 0, buffer 0x010D0000
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x0C
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0x2A 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x71 0x00 0x03 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0A
0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0C 0x00

12:06:37 PM #28 CDR -25 File Writer.cpp, Line 311
Queue again later
HP DVD Writer 940d\H4 T0

12:06:37 PM #29 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 229
all writers idle, stopping conversion

12:06:37 PM #30 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 223
conversion idle, stopping reader

12:06:37 PM #31 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2410
EndDAO: Last written address was 31

12:08:07 PM #32 Phase 38 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 276
Burn process failed at 8x (11,080 KB/s)

12:08:07 PM #33 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 867
DRM: DRM burn session terminated.

12:08:07 PM #34 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 896
DRM: Closing entire DRM handling. Bye.


Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\ADPU160M.SYS': Ver=v3.60a (Lab01_N(johnstra).010529-2218), size=101888 bytes, created 8/17/2001 7:07:32 PM
File 'Drivers\ASPI32.SYS': Ver=4.70 built by: WinDDK, size=15360 bytes, created 12/11/2001 2:30:22 PM
File 'WNASPINT.DLL': Ver=V1.18, size=57344 bytes, created 10/6/2004 8:00:00 AM
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=2.02.62a, size=20016 bytes, created 10/28/2003 10:02:00 AM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)

Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

Hello, all!

I have the luxury of owning 3 of the HP dvd940i drives. Two of them read commercially pressed DVD's flawlessy, while one is very fussy about reading commercially pressed DVD's. I had about decided that the one drive issue was caused by a hardware failure, until I happened across the many comments from others saying that they were having the same problem.

While I understand the comments that the LiteOn drives are great writers, but not good at reading, I found that statement to be a bit defeatist. Why should these drives write all these different formats, but fail to read a commercial DVD? That indicates a fault with the drive that should be fixed. So, given that, I went "investigatin'."

First, I used the Flash Utility from (codeguys.rpc1.org) and saved a copy of the EEPROM code, and the firmware from both the working and non-working drives. Then I downloaded Kprobe 2.5.2 and went looking at drive information.

I discovered that both of the working drives showed the following:
FlashROM Manufacturer ID: EF
FlashROM Device ID: 14
FlashROM Type: NEX(NX25P16)

The drive that was causing problems showed the following:
FlashROM Manufacturer ID: C2
FlashROM Device ID: 14
FlashROM Type: MXIC(MX25L1605)

All three drives listed the firmware revision as 3H23 (2006/09/02).

I also had identified one commercially pressed video DVD that would fail to read at all on the failing drive, but read perfectly on the other two. I used that my test source.

I obtained the latest firmware for the LiteOn LH-18A1H drive (version HL06). Using the Flash Utility, I flashed the failing drive with the HL06 firmware.

Next, I went to the Control Panel => System => Device Manager and uninstalled the failing drive. Then, I forced a rescan of hardware so that it would add the drive back in. This time (as expected) rather than seeing the drive as an HP dvd940i, it registered it as a LiteOn LH-18A1.

Last, I inserted the commercial DVD that was consistently failing, and voila!... the drive read the DVD perfectly.

I compared the drive information before and after the reflash using the Kprobe Drive Info function, as well as the DVD Info Pro information (from Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 suite), and other than for the firmware revisions, and the identification of the drive, I can find no other differences.

Before the flash update, Kprobe Drive Info reported the firmware revision as:
DVD Writer 940d

After the flash update, Kprope Drive Info reported the firmware revision as:
DVDRW LH-18A1H.

While I have not done extensive testing yet, the reflashed drive is now reading commercial DVD's without problems, and all other read and write functions appear to be working normally. I did reflash the drive with its original firmware, and tested again to see if the drive failed to read the commercial dvd (and it did fail.) I then reflashed the drive with the LiteOn firmware, and again tested it (and it read properly.) That confirms that the change in firmware corrected the issue.

For those of you encountering the "Commercial DVD Read Issue", you may want to download Kprobe and see if the FlashROM information reported is the same as that reported by the failing drive I have. If so, then I would tend to think that there is something in the FlashROM chip or EEPROM code used on these drives, or something in a specific batch of drives produced at a particular facility that may be at fault.

FYI... I did try flashing both the EEPROM code and firmware from the good drive to the failing drive. Once I did that, I got the blinking green light and the drive was toast. I reflashed the drive with the original EEPROM code and firmware, and it was back to the original symptoms. Then, I tried flashing the firmware (only) from the good drive to the failing drive. This made no change whatsoever. The drive still failed to read the commercial dvd I was using as a test source.

My best guess at this point is that there is some compatability issue between the MX25L1605 FlashROM used in the drive, the EEPROM code used on this drive, and the HP 3H23 firmware. Of course, I can't confirm this with just three drives to test. But I have my suspicions.

Hope you find this helpful. If you test this, and find that you have a drive with the same MX25L1605 FlashROM type, I'd be interested in hearing back if a flash to the LiteOn firmware resolves the read issues. If so, we can feed this info back to HP, and see if we can get an updated FW.

Other than this one issue, I love the dvd940i drives!

Best Regards,

Cap'n Sculley

---

Last edited by Cap'n Sculley; 09-02-2007 at 18:03.

hey guys hows it going. i have recently been having problems with copying some of the movies i have already copied. some advice i have already gotten was that it was the media i was using but i am using verbitim, and tdk. some of the movies copied to those disks will work and other wont wut could be the cause there. i used clonedvd2 and anydvd to make the orginal copy then just clonedvd2 without anydvd to make the copys of the copys. one disk i tried 3 times to copy and the first two it would then the third time i did it so why is that. one other bit advice i have been given is to update the firmware to the drive and crossflash it. is that something i should try and if so how do i go about doing that the type of drive i have is a HP DVD Writer 940d 3H23 (ATA) any advice would be great thanks again

I have the HP DVD 940e. I bought it primarily for using Lightscribe. When I first got it, it wouldn't recognize the Lightscribe DVDs as Lightscribe DVDs (or any DVD for that matter) So after doing a lot of research I called tech support. No one knew anything about the product because it is so new. I was finally given the number for someone who knew a little about it and was instructed to download the newest firmware. Finally, I was able to burn beautiful Lightscribe DVDs...
But then...
My computer hated the new firmware and started acting a fool...It would restart and shut down and finally uninstalled the firmware (I'm guessing). Because now I'm back to where I started. The drive will not recognize Lightscribe DVDs as Lightscribe DVDs...
I am at a loss...

@Cap'n Sculley

I've a dvd940e-xh07, running firmware 3H23, build date of Oct 2006. Until now i've no problems to read, write and lightscribe dvd's. I'm using only verbatim and traxdata to burn.

I've checked the drive with Kprobe and got the result

FlashROM Manufacturer ID: C2
FlashROM Device ID: 14
FlashROM Type: MXIC(MX25L1605)

Thats is the same as the drive that was causing your problems reading some commercial dvds.
I have read anywhere, that "The Gladiator" should cause read problems ... but my drive can read it without problems.
So it would be nice if you or anybody tell me the titles of dvds, wich cause problems. I'll verify that my drive does or doesnot have the "Commercial DVD Read Issue".
And if I follow your ideas, it should be a failing drive ?

Would you think that there is no difference between the internal and external dvd940 and that it's possible to flash the 940e ( LiteOn LH-???? ) with the firmware for the 940i (LiteOn LH-18A1 ) ?

regards
arnie

"The Gladiator" means nothing! Which region, NTSC or PAL and what release?

@ageha

Collector's Edition, PAL, Region 2
release ????

I cannot remenber all discs because I send all three drives back last year (LH-18A1H, LH-20A1P and LH-20A1H). Three discs all drives were unable to recognize and I can remeber:
4th and 7th Disc of 24 Season 5 (UK)
Titanic SE (German, first release)

I just bought one of these for my new PC, it appears in BIOS, in DEVICE MANAGER, in MY COMPUTER. The door opens and shuts..

It just doesn't work. Put a CD/DVD in and nothing, it's a nightmare scenario especially when you've just built a new PC and you're trying to install VISTA and having to pull apart your PC wondering what is wrong.

Put my Phillips drive in and everything is fine, no messing around.

All the flashing firmware help on here has got me confused, I downloaded Lite-on firmware but the flash utility didn't read it. Think I'm going to bin this piece of crap, I already cancelled the SATA version of this one I had on order, HP's website is awful - they can't even find their own drive with their detection tool.

Be Warned People.

I always wondered why people buy OEM drives when they can get the original ones? Of course HP has a worse support than LiteOn itself.

You tried the drive with another computer?

I have to confirm the same symptoms after burning a lightscribe label ( spinning up and down, stuttering, etc. ). But I found that it's only necessary to unplug / plug back the USB cable. Then works the drive as it should. There is no need to uninstall / reinstall a driver ... I think not even if you have Windows 98 ... after plug in the drive will be initialised and it should work ok.

arnie

Just found that there is an HL07 on the LiteOn site. http://www.liteonit.com/global/index...per&Itemid=154

I used the the Flash Utility, added HL06 and then executed HL07.exe to my HP940i with no problem. Seems to be good.

Thanks for the utility!

Dang! I think I must have lost my CD-ROM with the driver for my HP dvd940e. I'm rebuilding my system after a major crash , and HP doesn't have a driver for the dvd940e on their web site.

Where can I get a driver for this thing?