LG HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B writes CDs but not DVDs

I do intend (finances permitting) eventually to upgrade my entire system (with its 2.0 Celeron processor, 64 MB Intel graphics chipset and two sub-40 GB hard drives).

The DVD Burner plays DVDs and wrote a CD yesterday - so (for the timebeing) this would seem more than adequate for my present (somewhat adverse) circumstances. I suppose that I was being a little "greedy" in my desire to see this gift (from a German-based friend) perform at its full capacity.

I thank you (as well as the other couple of posters to this thread) for spending a fair amount of time in assisting me with this problem. Perhaps (somewhat sadly) it is now time to admit defeat ....

As previously stated, I am relieved to still be able to back-up my working documents (although it would have been great to have been able to copy the entire content of "My Documents" and "Downloads" folders into a single DVD.

With kindest regards and best wishes

 

@SonofMoos

before you totally admit defeat, you can still try a few things:
Your burner has a firmware update available. You mention the latest "driver"-that's for your Windows. I am talkin about "firmware"-your burner's "operating system"

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1450

Also, the error you are getting :

It translates to "Data Protect/Write Protected" error. That could all be your DVD-RW discs. I would try a DVD-R. I don't know if you can find some X8 speed, since your burner is a bit old, and even though you will be doing a firmware update, that firmware is also old(but still newer than the one you have now).
Last, you can also flasdh it with a RPC1 modified firmware.

 

nice find cyprusrom yes a firmware update will help out...

 

Hi Cyprusrom:

Thank you so much for the link you provided.

I downloaded and installed the A109 file. However, the DVD Burner still rejects the disc. I will see whether I can find a suitable DVD-R disc somewhere.

I am not too sure whether I want to risk damaging the (somewhat functional) drive by flashing it - as it seems to be a risky procedure in the hands of a non-expert like me.

With kindest regards

 

I think the drive is too old (2003) to write to today's media?

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/lg4020/index.html

 

Mackdl:

Thank you so much for the most useful link to a review of this drive.

I am pretty sure that my friend was able to write DVDs with this drive until fairly recently.

 

try some MAXELL dvdrs then me thinks... they shipped some with the drive.

 

Is this a make of DVD - as I have NEVER seen them here in South Africa?

 

If you are reffering to Maxell, the answer is yes.
I don't know the media availability in South Africa, but here in US for example, if you want to find older media( because it is most likely to be compatible with your burner), here you would have a bigger chance with a small retailer rather than big stores. The small and not so popular shops with a low sales volume don't rotate the stock as often as the big stores.
Also, try using a different burning engine for your DVDs, like ImgBurn.
Did you say your friend sent the burner from Germany? I wonder if it is possible to be somehow region locked? Are you able to watch DVDs using your drive?

 

Cyprusrom:

Thank you so much for your latest reply.

I have noticed regional settings in one of the (numerous) menus that I have acessed (and thought that this might be the cause of the problem). The DVD Burner is currently set on the 02 setting (which seems a little strange wrt a list of country names) and when I attempted to change it to South Africa it remained at 02. Maybe this is (hopefully) the correct identifier for the (Southern) Africa region?

I will also check ImgBurn.

 

to make your drive region free follow link by cyprusrom and you will see a patched firmware for your drive to make region free!

link = http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1450

patcheed firmware = http://tdb.rpc1.org/#GMA4020B (these boys are top dogs in there field)

enjoy... and yes may help burning. well spotted cyprusrom.

 

Hi there

So far no change in status (despite trying all the latest suggestions).

Nero recognises the DVD disc (and accurately describes its properties) but "My Computer" (when accessing the properties of the F-drive which houses the DVD Burner) still does not recognize it. (The "capacity" of the content of the DVD Burner is recorded as 0 Kbytes).

 

hi

so you installed the patched firmware????

all my 4 dvd drives are patched region free!

mine says 0 BYTES when empty as there isnt anything on it! so 0 BYTES is correct status and working ok.

 

Yes - I installed the various recommended updates yesterday.

What I meant in my previous post (highlighting the property of the F-drive when the blank DVD-disc is already sitting inside of the DVD Burner) is that the following is recorded:

Free size = 0 Bytes and Total size = 0 Bytes

Total size should surely be around 4.7 GB?

Maybe it is just the disc - as the DVD drive (reported in the "My Computer" property tab) still does not seemingly recognize it (although the Nero software does)?

With kindest regards

 

Free size = 0 Bytes and Total size = 0 Bytes is correct!

and if nero sees it then all is good and working ok.

try a burn and post log now you have the hacked firmware loaded, did you get confirmation that the firmware installed ok?

------------

what is your project actually? dont think you said... as another software maybe better...

 

Here is a copy of the latest error log:

Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: File 'Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=4.01 (978), size=22528 bytes, created 4/10/2007 9:37:40 AM
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Ahead\nero\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.68, size=160016 bytes, created 7/22/2004 5:33:44 PM
Nero version: 6.3.1.20
Recorder: <HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B>Version: A108 - HA 1 TA 1 - 6.3.1.20
Adapter driver: <atapi> HA 1
Drive buffer : 1312kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ATAPI
CD-ROM: <LG CD-ROM CRD-8522B>Version: 1.02 - HA 1 TA 0 - 6.3.1.20
Adapter driver: <atapi> HA 1

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD400JB-00ENA0 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral : QUANTUM FIREBALLlct08 26 atapi Port 0 ID 1 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : LG CD-ROM CRD-8522B atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: On

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
LG CD-ROM CRD-8522B E: CDRom0
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020 F: CDRom1
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 1015MB (1039856kB)
Free physical memory: 657MB (673284kB)
Memory in use : 35 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Static Write Speed Table: 0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

12.1.2008
ISO compilation
6:21:06 PM #1 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6065
Iso document burn settings
------------------------------------------
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : TRUE
Multisession : FALSE
Burning mode : DAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet : TRUE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : TRUE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : TRUE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE

6:21:06 PM #2 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 126
Reader running

6:21:06 PM #3 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3899
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

6:21:06 PM #4 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3173
Turn on Disc-at-once, using DVD media

6:21:07 PM #5 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 247
Last possible write address on media: 2298495 (510:46.45, 4489MB)
Last address to be written: 1757343 (390:31.18, 3432MB)

6:21:07 PM #6 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 259
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)

6:21:07 PM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2162
Recorder: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B, Media type: DVD-RW
Disc Manufacturer: OPTODI - SCW004
Disc Application Code: 2, Disc Physical Code: 214

6:21:07 PM #8 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 420
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================

6:21:07 PM #9 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 813
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 (CTransferItem)
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 1757344 (1757344) = #1757344/390:31.19
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 1757344 blocks [HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B]
--------------------------------------------------------------

6:21:07 PM #10 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 984
Prepare recorder [HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B] 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 3599040512, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
__Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_RecDep_|_CtrlAdr_
0 | lead-in | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
0 | 1 | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41
1757344 | lead-out | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41

6:21:07 PM #11 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1855
Caching of files started

6:21:08 PM #12 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4183
Cache writing successful.

6:21:08 PM #13 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1855
Caching of files completed

6:21:08 PM #14 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1855
Burn process started at 1x (1,385 KB/s)

6:21:08 PM #15 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2344
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

6:21:08 PM #16 Text 0 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1713
Set remaining time: 43:47,530 (2627530ms) -> OK

6:21:08 PM #17 Text 0 File DVDMinusRW.cpp, Line 271
Perform 'Quick Format' (type 15h) to set disc in 'Restricted Overwrite Mode'.

6:21:08 PM #18 Phase 136 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1855
Quick Format DVD-RW

6:21:08 PM #19 SCSI -400 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1188
SCSI Exec, HA 1, TA 1, LUN 0, buffer 0x036A5000
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x07 (Unknown)
Sense Code: 0x27
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0x04 0x11 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x70 0x00 0x07 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x10
0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0D 0x27 0x00

6:21:08 PM #20 CDR -400 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1614
Unspecified target error

6:21:08 PM #21 TRANSFER -27 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1614
Could not perform start of Disc-at-once

6:21:08 PM #22 Text 0 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1713
Set remaining time: 0:00,000 (0ms) -> OK

6:21:08 PM #23 Phase 38 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1855
Burn process failed at 1x (1,385 KB/s)


Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=3.00.56a, size=43528 bytes, created 12/12/2007 12:34:50 AM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)
File 'Drivers\atapi.sys': Ver=5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), size=95360 bytes, created 8/4/2004 7:59:42 AM (Adapter driver for rec)

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

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I have installed the recommended software - although I do not remember receiving confirmation that it was indeed successfully installed. This did not overly worry me as this sometimes happens.

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My "project" is to make back-up copies of my "Downloads" (circa 3.3 GB) and "My Documents" (circa 1.2 GB) folders - in case my ancient machine has a terminal crash (which is a distinct possibility). I do have several earlier CD back-ups (made with the CD-writer that was previously installed in the F-drive). The small "project" was merely an attempt at a "test" burn (featuring a couple of MS Word documents selected from the "My Documents" folder).

Incidently, ImgBurn (as the name suggests) only seems to burn images - whereas (you can now see) I am primarily interested in backing-up two large folders.

 

Well my friend, your firmware shows as version A108. There is A109 available( and a region free based on 109, http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_file.php?site=tdb1&file=GMA4020B.ZIP). And you are still using the same DVD-RW, so we didn't really eliminate any factors that might be the cause of the failure.

 

I did try installing the A109 version - I wonder why it did not install properly. I have not yet had an opportunity to try to either exchange the DVD-RWs in my possession or to buy a single DVD-R disc. Maybe tomorrow - but it is highly dependent upon factors beyond my control ....

 

To where (target) does one install this software?

 

not sure what it asks you when installing but most likely to locate the drive in question that needs firmware,

hi cyp buddy...