Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14L Can read DVDs but not CDs

[Ukman]

Probably not very helpful, but I too have exactly the same problem and after havng a series of discussions with Viao tech support in Shannon inc system recovery etc, I am sending the unit back tomorrow for repair. Its about two months old.

If any of you have a similar problem with Viao in the UK&I don't be surprised if you have a delay in getting the unit into repair as the seem to have a packing box" production problem. they will only accept the unit back in a special box provided by DHL. - just in case you don't know.

[McGuinty]

Hi, I'm having the same problem with an LG combo Lightscribe drive (GSA H50L) and I've ruled out faulty IDE cable, updated the firmware and even reinstalled windows (which I was about to do anyway). My drive is reading DVD's okay although I've noticed the sound dropping off in volume and cutting out periodically during DVD video playback. It won't detect or autoplay CD's (data or audio), but what is really weird is that when I am playing a game that has SecurRom, SafeDisc or Starforce, the game starts fine with no errors, but when I try to play an older game without this sort of copy protection, I get the "please insert game disc and restart application" message. I guess I just have a dead drive, and since I bought a barebones unit without a box so my warranty is probably 30 days, which sucks the big one. (I hesitate to say OEM because apparently this means something else entirely concerning DVD drives; it says LG right on the tray but some models are Dell or HP or whatever even though they're the same drive made by LG.)

Anyways, I would just like to make 100% sure that the drive is dead before I plunk down for a replacement or go throught the hassle of RMA (if that is possible). I have an old DVD-RW that still works like the day I bought it that I can use for now, but I had a couple of Lightscribe projects I wanted to do right when the drive stopped working. Right, the Lightscribe function doesn't work and won't detect them, better mention that too.