HP840i Not Recongising Discs

johndj1 2006-04-20 01:39:31 UTC #1

Just installed my new HP DVD Writer 840i and have hit a problem in that it will not recognise any pre-recorded, original dvds. It will recognise CDs, and both media and software DVDs that I have created though.

I see a couple of people across the forums have experienced this. Has anyone got a way around it?

Thanks

Dan

thoho 2006-08-20 06:25:40 UTC #2

is the problem solved?

NigelC 2006-12-06 08:55:31 UTC #3

I am also experiencing issues with the HP840i.
I purchased mine in Feb 06 and everything was fine until Sept. when all of a sudden I could not read or write ANY disks. I could not even read disks that were written by this drive.
I had a replacement under warranty and everything worked fine until, guess what, last weekend I started to get errors "no disk in drive" occassionally. This has got progressively worse over a couple of days and now I cannot hardly get any disks to read or write. Drive now sent for further warranty repair/exchange.
Is it me or is there an issue with the HP drives. I believe both were rebadged LG2166B's both with FF66 FW.
Environment is clean so I am sure this is not a dust issue.
I really like the lightscribe idea. Any thoughts on the problem appreciated or if anyone has any recommendations for a different Lightscribe drive that is reliable.
Thanks
Nigel

artinfos 2006-12-06 21:16:47 UTC #4

Here's a bit of new info. I will try to update when I get the link.

Called HP support, referred to HP Optical Support at 866-694-7633.
Fellow there recognized the "Mismatch" error when trying to apply firmware and says that Level 2 has a patch for this. Hopefully, it works. I'm under the wire on a project.

artinfos

I'll try to remember to repost with more info when I get it from HP.

thoho 2006-12-06 23:43:29 UTC #5

thanks for reply.
my second 840i is out for warranty since two weeks. Same problems..

chef 2006-12-07 01:47:36 UTC #6

Maybe the problem is your OS installation. Check it in another computer.

NigelC 2006-12-07 08:29:26 UTC #7

Not sure if chef is referring to my post..... I have tried the drive in another system and no change. The last time I had this issue in September, a replacement drive sorted the issue but this has now come back. Am I just unlucky or are there issues out there with the HP840's.

-Tried different media
-Problem is getting worse all the time (higher failure rate of recognising disks, now all disks fail to read/write)
-Tried a different PC
-Have upgraded FW
-Have removed device in Dev mgr
-Have removed all SW (Nero, PowerDVD, Roxio EMC)

I have now returned the drive under warranty and hopefully will get a refund as I don't want another HP drive. I also don't particularly want an LG drive as I believe this is rebadged as the HP840.
Are the Liteon drives reliable?? Any other vendors/drives to be recommended/to be avoided.
Am I asking too much of a lightscribe drive to be the only drive in the system or should this be a second drive.