LG ( Hitachi?) GSA-4040B DVD Writer

[icvideo]

Could someone who has the LG 4040B writer verify it can write DVD-R at 4x speed using Memorex, verbatim, Maxell or tdk? I know the writer works with DVD=R at 4x using Memorex discs but wondering if this player is having problems writing to DVD-R 4x?

[icvideo]

Could someone who has the LG 4040B writer verify it can write DVD-R at 4x speed using Memorex, verbatim, Maxell or tdk? I know the writer works with DVD+R at 4x using Memorex discs but wondering if this player is having problems writing to DVD-R 4x?

[Eldoodarino]

Another thing to consider in regards to cheap vs quality media is the longivity of it. 90% of my Princo CDR's from three years ago are unreadable, yet my Sony's from then are working 100% with no increase in errors.

I am not sure about how quickly the dye fades on DVD's, but it's worth the extra investment if you're burning archives or important files/movies/porn

I myself just bought the LG GSA-4040B today after messing around with my IDE cables for a bit to get it to work (gotta love having 6 devices on a RAID...not!) it has so far burned two movies flawlessly. I am using Maxell 2x media & CloneDVD. I have heard that this drive has problems with Memorex media but if you have a different story I would like to hear it. I dont want to waste $13 (5pack) to find out it is as I've heard. So far for $200CDN I am quite pleased...though I'm sure this drive will be $100 in a year from now.

[icvideo]

I bought sime Fuji DVD-R 4X and the drive works great.

[Eldoodarino]

I just bought some Verbatims that were unmarked (no designated speed) & they're burning at about 2x or so (25-30 mins), not bad for $2 each.

I'm leary to try Princo's but they seem to be the cheapest around (Vancouver BC, $1.60 for 4x).

[jisbister]

I'm hopeful somebody here can help me! I bought the LG GSA-4040b. Haven't tried burning any DVDs yet, because the unit won't even play DVDs properly. I uninstalled the PowerDVD and Roxio that came pre-installed on my machine from Dell, installed ALL software that came with the 4040b, installed the internal drive, XP computer recognized the driver. Problem is, any DVD I try to play skips and there is a crackle underlying all sound. (I am not using a special sound card so I don't expect fabulous sound, but the DVD player that came with my computer plays all same DVDs with no crackle). Anybody have any suggestions? I'm ready to return the burner and forget DVD burning....

[Eldoodarino]

How about returning it for a second unit? Might just be a defect.

Mine has a habit of making a loud click when I shut the drawer without a disc in the tray. It sounds silent if there's a disc in it though. Anyone else have this? Is it normal?

On a side note, I just got my first coaster. Was with a Pine 2x using CloneDVD. The second Pine worked fine. I am in the middle of the third one right now, here's to hoping it works.

[styles]

Originally posted by Eldoodarino

Mine has a habit of making a loud click when I shut the drawer without a disc in the tray. It sounds silent if there's a disc in it though. Anyone else have this? Is it normal?

that's normal. i have it too

[Eldoodarino]

Sweet, the first few times i thought it as a misalignment in the drive...but as ong as it's normal, I can deal with a click now and again (I'll just have to try to keep her perpetually working i guess)

[jisbister]

Sorry, I should have added that this IS a second drive! Went back to Future Shop yesterday for a replacement and the replacement has all the same problems.

[Eldoodarino]

I would be rethinking it too. Actually I am quite choked right now, Out of my last 5 burns, I've had two coasters (Pine Media), two succesful burns & one that is totally garbled at the end (Memorex). This could get quite expensive if things keep going this way.

[cameronf]

GSA-4040B Problems As Well

I purchased the LG GSA-4040B burner 2 weeks ago. I have had several problems including incompatability with my other DVD Rom and the inability to burn to DVD+R Disks. I have tried noth Memorex and Maxell disks.
I even went back to Future Shop and got another drive because I thought it was defective - same results!!

I have emaile dLG to see if they know the issue or if If I need some "firmware" update etc.. To be quite honest, I dont know what firmware is and I don't want to ruin my drive until I find out what it is and does.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[chuckster]

How do you check your firmware version?

I have the GSA-4040B that came installed in my new Gateway. It's my first DVD writer. I'd like to know how to check my version of firmware and how to safely update it if need be.
Thanks,
Chuckster

[Storka]

i hate this drive, i bought it about a week ago and would like to burn something on it, but it is extremely picky. the media i have tried so far doesnt work, even good old trusty imation which always produce top notch media that has worked in every burning device i have purchased in the past. the latest media i have tried is the imation dvd-rw and once it is in the drive lag reads for like 10 minutes and eventually get no where with it. the suggested brands are so expensive, anyone found some good cheap media for this drive?

[Eldoodarino]

I have found that all media I've tried from blankmedia.ca has worked without a hitch. I bought a sample pack of DVD-R Ritek, Princo & unbranded Maxells...all burned flawlessly. I have also been using Maxell & Verbatim DVD-R without a hitch.

All in all the only media that I've had problems with is Pine & Memorex.