LG GSA-4040B media compatibility - post here -

I just bought some too from there (Princo). Just burnt the first one at 4x. Perfect burn, watched it on a ps2.

 

Please don't kick it until you read this to the end...

I use Hypermedia 4X using the A301 firmware, I also use DVDshrink and Nero 6.0.23.

I have burnt in excess of 300 movies at the 2X speed and have only had 5 coasters from this media... That's right it's not the best media... but it's $1 CDN per blank.

I've done extensive testing using upto 7 different DVD players (standalone, from family members)... and they all work without any flaws.

I know sosme people have had bad experiences with them .. but using the combo I've described.. they're the best bang for the buck.. and are definitely reliable.

When you burn 300+ DVD's that extra buck a blank makes a difference. If they were flaky.. I'd dump em... but hey... I do what works...

Regards,
CK

 

UT_CK,

What web site do you order these Hypermedia 4X media from? Are they DVD -R?

So far I have had no problems with Ritek 4X using Clone DVD and Any DVD running in the background.

Maxcell has been good too, it is on the recommended list in the manual.

Pine DVD -R have been crap, the only thing they are good for is frisbee practice.

LAter all

 

Hi Manik,

I buy my spindles from a local retailer (Canada)... the url is : http://www.pccyber.ca/scrItem.asp?product_subtypes_id=203&product_types_id=29&product_id=2042

The advertised price is $29 per spindle.. members ($20 one time fee)get them for $27... and I get them for $25 (since I am a frequent buyer).

This is in $CDN currency.

I'm sure with a little research .. someone could get them cheaper (online)... however... since I buy from the retailer.. I can bring back any coasters and receive a new blank at no charge.

With Nero.. I know if it's a bad blank as soon as it attempts to write to it.. so I don't waste precious time burning a coaster.

Regards,
CK

 

OKAY...I have a huge problem....it doesnt make ANY sense to me...
i bought the LG4040B from Futureshop January 3, 2004.
Problem: Burning CD-RW...this is what happened.
I popped in a already burnt Memorex CD-RW in so I can ERASE the disc...and it doesnt READ the disc...
so I tried a 2nd burnt Memorex CD-RW...still doesnt read..
So, next, I ripped open a BRAND NEW memorex CD-RW disc and popped it in my burner..TADA! it READS! and was able to burn..I burnt a regular VCD onto it, using NERO v6.0..
and after burning, disc pops out...and i put it back in...to try VIEWING my vcd...but AGAIN...it DOESNT READ! i mean...if it was able to BURN the disc...wouldnt it be able to READ the contents of it?!?!?!?!? so i took out the disc, and put it in my dvd-rom...and it reads fine...i watched the movie...no problems...
and when i put the memorex disc back into my LG4040B, IT JUST WONT READ!
HELLLLLLLP!!!! Firmware version is A302...

 

OK, here's an update to my last msg..
Is it possible for the LG4040B to be over heated so that it wont READ my CD-RW's?!?!
cuz this is very strange..
If i leave my computer shut off..for an hour or so...
turn it back on...and then try my Memorex CD-RWs again...IT READS!! no problem...ALL of my Memorex CD-RW's...

BUT....after 30mins or so of computer usage, i try again....it wont read again...
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH......
ANY BODY HELP!!!!????? =/

 

Is your burner located near one of your HD's or another cd/dvd rom. I notice that mine will heat up if not enough air passes around the burner.

 

well, ya....i have a dvdrom above it...
thats it...
but i dont use the dvdrom much....

has my situation ever happened to u before with the LG4040B?
or am i the only person who this has happened to...
it makes no sense to me at all....blah..
the thing is, i tried 2 LG4040B's..and both of them do this...

 

dunno, try using a dvd-rw

 

hi guys,

this is my first post here

I bought my LG 4040B writer in December for $149 CDN before tax (doh... should have waited for futureshop's boxing day sale).

anyways, my drive is manufacturered in November 2003 and the firmware was A301

I tried quite a few DVD-R media in futureshop and the result is as follows:

Pine DVD-R 10-pack (4x): burn at 2x
E2works DVD-R 10-pack (4x): burn at 2x
memorex DVD-R 5-pack (4x): burn at 2x
maxell DVD+R 5-pack (4x): burn at 4x
maxell DVD-R 5-pack (4x): burn at 4x


I noticed that my drive performed poorly when writing at 4x (the buffer kept running between 90 and 10) and the write time was only a bit faster than my 2x write time... something was definitely wrong.

well it turned out that since my DVD writer was attached to my Promise ATA100 controller card, it wasn't recognized properly ! (during computer boot-up, my promise controller didn't recognize the drive at all, although the drive IS recognized under Windows XP). Anyways, since I have no direct way of checking whether DMA is enabled or not (not accessible via the promise driver), I decided to move the drive to my motherboard IDE2 as primary. Voila, I was able to burn at 4x with buffer staying around 96 and burned full capacity in around 15 minutes

just yesterday, I updated the firmware to A302. I checked both the canadian and US LG service website and I noticed something weird: the new firmware on the Canadian website is intended for DOS mode only (I remember seeing someone in this thread, or others, mentioned something about seeing many files and was told to run "install"). On the US website, the firmware is provided as a windows program in a zip file (one EXE file). Well after extracting the zip file and running the EXE file, I see the GUI and, interestingly, the "update" button is red (which means not good...), even though it recognized my drive properly and showed the fact that I'm upgrading from A301 to A302 (my LG dvd writer is on IDE2 as master drive, and there's a Lite-on cd writer on IDE2 ad slave). I clicked "update" anyways and to my surprise, it started updating my dvd writer and after a few minutes (I believe it took over a minute), it said "update complete" and told me to reboot.

after rebooting my drive seems to perform as normal, so I guess the update was complete (it shows I'm A302 now).

I immediately put in the Pine DVD-R and hoped to see the magic 4x in Nero... but unfortunately it's still recognized as 2x

that's my experience for now

oh, by the way, I bought a spindle of 25 DVD-R for $33 CDN before tax at a local computer store in Richmond, BC, Canada. http://www.computraksystem.com

I asked the guy in the store if it's guaranteed to run at 4x, and the guy started giving me a lecture about "there's no such thing as GUARANTEE... I've tested it on my drives and it works. if you can't burn at 4x, it's YOUR problem" (what a f***ing guy ...)

well, as I thought, it burns at 2x on my drive... the media is reported as AN31 under Nero CD-DVD Speed. I read somewhere else that it is bad media, should be avoided at all cost. knowing that I probably can't refund this sh*t, I gave it a try anyways. I burned some anime on my HD (4,458MB) in Nero and chose to do verification after burning and things seemed ok. To be safe, I did a "tranfer rate" test in Nero CD-DVD speed and the curve seems ok (didn't drop off dramatically in the end like what other people reported). I'm not sure if the writing quality is improved by the new firmware, or I was just lucky.



hope my post is of some use, and sorry for posting such a lengthy "article" @_@

 

If you live in the GTA there is a computer store that sell the white top Princo DVD-r 4X at $1.35 a piece before tax, I bought 50 from them the other day and they didn't charge me tax. www.mingtechcomputers.com


BTW, anyone use the 4x Dynex or Sonic DVD-r with LG 4040? does they burn at 4x?

 

I use verbatim DVD-R/RW. Only have the drive about three weeks so haven't burnt alot of stuff but had no problems so far. I use the B's software that came with it.

 

I also have a 4040B and the Pine only work at 2x on firmware 302 but were unreadable after 1 week

Been shopping at www.blankmedia.ca for a few months and really happy with them. Princo 4x is $118 per 100 pcs.

 

I concur, same trouble with pine, I also have been using blankmedia.ca. The pine work beautifully, no problems as of yet.

 

I have about 6 burned pine dvd-r's and you guys are scaring me with how they are unreadable after a week. I gonna go downstairs and verify they all work. I must give major thanks to the first guy who mentioned blankmedia.ca in this forum. I ordered 25 princo dvd-r's and 85 dvd cases and it was 100% worth it. They all burn perfectly at 4x. I am soooo happy.

 

I've been using SW Technology (Optodisc) 1x media that burns at 2x with great results using Firmware A300. When I switched to A301 I got much worse result although the discs were still readable. Now I can't get hold of any SW Technology 1x discs anymore since they seem to sell only SW 4x discs. I tried a couple of these with the A302 firmware and it burned at 4x but the resulting curv in Nero DVD speed was bad. I tried it at 2x and it burned much better, but far from as good as the 1x-media. I also tried the 4x media with the A300 firmware and I could only burn it at 2x and I got read errors at the end of the disc.

Conclusion:

Optodisc 1x works great at 2x
Optodisc 4x does not work well

 

Using A302 firmware:

Verbatim DVD+RW (no manufacturer ID on DVD Identifier) rated at 2.4X burn at 2.4X but several have errors towards end of the disc.

Potex (Philips) DVD+RW rated at 4X, burn at 2.4X, no errors.

Maxell DVD+R, rated at 4X, burn at 4X, no errors.

Generic (VDSPMSAB 01) DVD-R inkjet printable rated at 4X, burn at 2X, no errors.

Ritek G04 DVD-R inkjet printable, rated at 4X, burn at 4X, MASSIVE errors.
I've tried these discs on this burner and on a different burner and not one of them can be played on the last 1/3 of the media. Stay away from Ritek inkjet printable!

 

For those who are new to this thread

Use Princo 4x DVD-R (A MUST)
Use DVD Shrink 3.16 and Nero 6.3x (RECOMMENDED)

use these and you will have perfect DVD's

for those in Canada
use www.blankmedia.ca for cheap princo media

 

Is the only way of checking if Princo Media is A-Grade to check if there is Princo printed in the middle of the disc? Could this be A-Grade media that burns great at 4x?

http://www.datorbutiken.com/se/default.php?artid=DVD-RPR4X47-10

Here is some other media labeled Princo 4x that i'm not sure of.

http://www.mycom.se/produkter/866519/

 

Who ever said that they couldn't read their pine dvd-r's after a week must have an over=powered laser cause its been about 3 weeks and my pine dvd-rs still play beautifully. Just thought i'd put in my 2 cents. STILL A GREAT BURNER