Pacific Digital died?

[Rails393]

So I'm trying to use my Pacific Digital USB DVD-RW external drive to burn a DVD, and I face the following error:

Windows cannot read from this disk. The disk may be corrupted, or it could be using a format that is not compatible with Windows.

So I then try to find drivers for my device...

but apparently PacificDigital.com doesn't exist anymore....

So what can I do to remedy my inability to burn a DVD?

I've downloaded several DVD bruning programs, and they all state that there is no media in the drive to burn to...

The weirdest thing is that windows thinks this drive is made by Toshiba...as far as watching DVDs, it works fine, very weird.

[mciahel]

Hi and Welcome!

what drive name is exactly reported by Windows? You might run Nero Info Tool and post your finding (Drive name and firmware version) here.

Michael

[Rails393]

Drive Information

Drive : TOSHIBA CD/DVDW SD-R5372
Type : DVD±R/RW DL Recorder
Firmware Version : TU55
Buffer Size : 2 MB
Date : 03-14-05
Serial Number : 52N4058501
Vendor Specific : 03/14/05
Drive Letter : I:
Location : 7:0
Mechanism : Tray
Read Speed : 48 , 32 , 24 , 8 X
Write Speed : 48 , 40 , 38 , 32 , 24 , 16 , 8 , 4 X

Read CD Text : Yes
Return C2 Pointers : Yes
Read CD-R : Yes
Read CD-RW : Yes
Read DVD-ROM : Yes
Read DVD-RAM : Yes
Read DVD-R : Yes
Read DVD-RW : Yes
Read DVD-R DL : No
Read DVD+R : Yes
Read DVD+RW : Yes
Read DVD+R DL : Yes
Read BD-ROM : No
Read BD-R : No
Read BD-RE : No
Read HD DVD-ROM : No
Read HD DVD-R : No
Read HD DVD-R DL : No
Read HD DVD-RAM : No
Read HD DVD-RW : No
Read HD DVD-RW DL : No
Read HD-BURN : No
Read Digital Audio : Yes
Read CD+G : Yes
Read VideoCD : Yes

Write CD-R : Yes
Write CD-RW : Yes
Write DVD-R : Yes
Write DVD-RW : Yes
Write DVD-R DL : No
Write DVD+R : Yes
Write DVD+RW : Yes
Write DVD+R DL : Yes
Write DVD-RAM : No
Write DVD-RAM : No
Write BD-R : No
Write BD-RE : No
Write HD DVD-R : No
Write HD DVD-R DL : No
Write HD DVD-RAM : No
Write HD DVD-RW : No
Write HD DVD-RW DL : No
Write HD-BURN-R : No
Write HD-BURN-RW : No
Buffer Underrun Protection : Yes
Mount Rainier : No
SolidBurn : No
Labelflash : No
LightScribe : No
Modes : Packet, TAO, DAO, SAO, RAW SAO, RAW SAO 16, RAW SAO 96, RAW DAO 96

Region Protection Control : RPC II
Region : 1
Changes User : 4
Changes Vendor : 4

CSS : Yes
CPRM : Yes
AACS : No
VCPS : No

[Rails393]

Thanks! Any help is very appreciated.

The weird thing about that data is that it’s an external drive, and clearly belongs to the Pacific Digital brand…Yet it’s still saying that it’s a Toshiba.

[KTL]

Pacific Digital is just a rebadging company like I/O Magic, Hi-Val, etc. They’ve always just taken drives from different companies, like Samsung, LiteOn, and put them in their packaging.

Your drive is old, spec here.

[bevills1]

KTL is right on, and your drive is a Toshiba SD-R5372 according to posted info. Check Toshiba site for firmware updates. Another possible problem could be the unreliability of packet writing if you’re using InCD or other programs that use packet writing. I find packet writing so unreliable that I no longer use it.

To check whether it’s a packet writing issue right click the drive and select properties. It will show all space used and no free space available if packet writing is the culprit.

[Rails393]

Hmmm. I went to Toshiba’s site and downloaded the latest firmware for the device(there were no drivers). Installed the firmware, restarted, and it still shows the drive as having

0 used space
0 free space

when I right click properties…

very wierd. could it be that I’m not using usb 2.0? i’m not getting any errors about that though…another weird thing is that my computer shows a scsi dvd drive (not writable), yet I don’t have a scsi dvd drive in the computer.

[Rails393]

any suggestions?

[mciahel]

Hi,[quote=Rails393;2129398]
very wierd. could it be that I’m not using usb 2.0?[/quote]USB 2.0 (Hi Speed) controller is mandatory for external DVD burners with USB connection.

i’m not getting any errors about that though…another weird thing is that my computer shows a scsi dvd drive (not writable), yet I don’t have a scsi dvd drive in the computer.
Do you have software like Alcohol or Daemon Tools installed? These install virtual drives that are shown as Scsi drives in device manager. It is not impossible that these might interfere with your packet-writing software.

Michael

[Rails393]

and now I feel like an idiot =P

thanks for helping out my noobie ass though.

anyone know anything about testing circuitry with a multimeter or solid experience with Toshiba m35x motherboard problems? =)