Symptoms of a dying DVD-RW?

[de8212]

My ~1 yr old samsung dvd recorder has started displayed a strange problem. After burning a dvd the drive would not open. Then it was fine for the next few burns but over the past few days I've burned ~8 or so dvd/cd's and it fails to open about 50% of the time. I have to restart my pc then press the eject button before it will open. Really annoying issue.
So I upgraded the firmware last night but haven't had the chance to test it. Really don't want to have to buy a new one but will if I have to.

BTW I also shut down and disconnected/reconnected the power/ide cables just to make sure it wasn't a loose connection.

Anyone ever experience this?

 

[de8212]

Just burned my first cd after I flashed the firmware and the tray will not open.

Any other ideas on what could be happening or should I just get a new one????

 

[KAZANI]

If there is a warranty on the drive you could return it for replacement. But have you tried opening the tray by right clicking on the drive icon and choosing to eject?

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: KAZANI
If there is a warranty on the drive you could return it for replacement. But have you tried opening the tray by right clicking on the drive icon and choosing to eject?

I thought about that late yesterday afternoon. Looking at neweggs site, I am within a year so I can RMA it. But I guess i have to pay a 15% restocking fee??? and they no longer have that drive.
Never dealt wtih newegg on an RMA this long after the fact so do they always charge a 15% restock fee? Do they pick out a comparable replacement or do they let the customer pick something out and pay the differnce???


And if they do let me pick out a replacement what does AT suggest?
Needs to be :

black DVD-RW.
16x or higher.
Lightscribe.
sata if possible but not necessary.


thanks

 

[0roo0roo]

pretty much either start burning bad discs or rejecting discs to burn at all.
try it on another pc, if it doesn't work there its borked