Is my CD-RW dying? if yes, what should I replace it with? Check this out!

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi,

My faithful HP 7200 CD-RW - which i bought in May 1999 - has started to "act up". I can still record on it, and all the audio discs I make seem to have no problem playing on various machines.

However, I have tried repeatedly to burn data, lately, without any success. I tried first with a large video file, then some programs. Bur although I get a message that the burn was successful, those discs can't be seen in any other drive. The recorder will see them fine and dandy, but I can't access the CD-R's anywhere else.

I'm thinking it could be a drive failure. Possibly laser calibration, or some microscopic mechanic distorsion. I read somewhere on the net that the 7200 series is based on the infamous Philips CDD 3610 - and we all know how "good" that drive was...

Do you think that there is anything I could do to fix it? I tried recording on various media, and different burning software, but the result is the same - I can't use the Cds anymore. I'm tired of producing coasters, and losing time and energy.

If the drive can't be fixed, my only chance is to buy something else. So what are the best three things I can get out there? I live in Ottawa, mind you, so my chance of buying something off the web is very reduced.

I know many people currently like Yamaha and Plextor. What else is available out there? Frankly, I don't care for 'fast' drives, since I always record my music at 1x, to avoid any possible errors. So I won't go for a 24x recorder if there's a 4x or 8x available at much lower prices.

Therefore, please make some recommendations as to what I could buy: brand and model (if you know of anything in particular). Of course, if you know of any possibility of fixing the drive (short of sending it back to HP, which will probably charge me more than the damn thing's worth!), do not hesitate to tell me

Cheers and thanks much!

 

[AnitaPeterson]

OK, so I figure that there are three names that are worth looking into:

Plextor
Yamaha
Liteon (people rave about it)

Anything else?

 

[JonnyDuke]

YOU'RE KIDDING!!! YOU ACTUALLY BURN YOUR MUSIC AT 1X!!!!

Okay, I could understand doing so after having problems with the first run, but EVERY time, FIRST time???!!!???
You obviously have plenty of time to spare

I personally own a Lite-on 12x10x32 and have had no problems whatsoever. I have one coaster because I was still learning how to use the
Adaptec software that came with the drive, but that was my own fault, not the drive. I paid $98 US for it almost a year ago and the only complaint
I have is that the tray is very loud when it opens and closes.

Also look for TDK VeloCD

I found mine on Pricewatch.com, but as you said that may present a problem for you. I say give it a shot anyhow.

 

[Daemon_UK]

<< I have one coaster because I was still learning how to use the
Adaptec software that came with the drive, but that was my own fault, not the drive >>



Heh, well Adaptec is suck. Burn with Nero, its the best.



<< and the only complaint I have is that the tray is very loud when it opens and closes. >>



Yeah, thats right, don't go for the best performing CD-RW because the tray opens and shuts loud.

AnitaPeterson, the lite-on 16x burn CD-RW is the best drive out there, I must have burn't over 100 cd-r's in the last
3 months since purchasing it.

This drive does them all, MP3, VCD, SVCD, and Data, with no problems. I haven't made 1 coaster yet!

Using CD-RW's are a pleasure! Before I had this drive, I had a normal OEM CD-R, and was oblivious to the benefits
of CD-RW's. Now with my Lite-on, well I can just say... please don't take it away!!

If the lite-on ever broke down, I'd only get another one!

 

[Antisocial Virge]

<< YOU'RE KIDDING!!! YOU ACTUALLY BURN YOUR MUSIC AT 1X!!!! >>



Well the drive is only 2X to begin with That was my first CDRW actually. I burned must have been 500 disks on that before selling it to my brother who is still using it today.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

You'll laugh, but according to audio engineers, burning music at higher speed deteriorates the quality... they keep repeating that in Audio Media and other magazines I've been reading. Granted, the difference might be small, but I'm a purist (heh!)

Is there a site that reviews in detail and rates the best available CD-RW drives on the market?

 

[veryape]

If a new drive is in order then I think most people here agree that Lite-On is the clear price/performance winner in terms of the ratio between p/p.

 

[millsy]

LiteOn 24/10/40x is a good one and it is cheap.

Check out cdrinfo for reviews.

I think one company has just brought out a 32x CD-RW. Might be LiteOn.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Thank you very much, everyone... it seems, alas, that everyone quietly agrees that my burner is dying, I had this foolish hope it'll be otherwise. Oh well, Lite-On, here I come!

 

[CQuinn]

Tom's Hardware guide put out a pretty good review of some new drives at:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/storage/01q4/011213/index.html

Particularly the Yamaha drive (which claims to have features that support
audio quality at higher speed burns (higher than 1x anyway)):

And a good quick explanation of what those audio engineers seem to complain
about, as why it may (or may not) be an issue.

http://www6.tomshardware.com/storage/01q4/011213/cdrw-19.html