EggXpert

Hello everyone.

I bought the TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S202N from newegg, and it's great, except that it doesn't write DVDs.  I am trying to get MPEG files from my computer onto a DVD-RW disk so that I can watch them on my home dvd player.  I have tried multiple different softwares that have a free trial, but whenever I try to write to the DVD, it says "This location is read only.  Please choose a different location."  According to Samsung (the manufacturer of this drive), the device should be able to write DVDs.  I have tried all the basic things, like updating the drivers, making sure the movie files on my computer were not corrupt, buying new DVD-RWs to make sure the ones I was using weren't corrupt, but nothing seems to fix the problem.  I am open for any suggestions or ideas anyone might have, because I'm not really sure what to try next.

Thanks

Well first off, this is a section for people to post about shopping experience, not hardware problems, but I can try to help you.

Have you tried using any other kinds of files as a test?  Like making a backup of pictures, or documents or something, just to be sure it isn't anything to do with what you are burning?   I have checked the specs on this drive, it is an IDE (PATA) DVD -/+ RW burner with Lightscribe.

I see a few possibilities:

1:  Drive doesn't like the brand of disks used, but this is unusual, most burners will burn on nearly anything.  Some will just work better than others, but if you can try a different brand or make of disk, (such as a -R instead of a +R or a memorex instead of a maxell, etc.  Do no use re-writeables, you will only make more problems.)

2:  The drive is not being detected properly by Windows (if you are using Windows) etc.  This usually indicates an issue with the OS in most cases, not the hardware. (Software glitch in other words)  Make sure you are using a PATA connector on the motherboard, not an add-in card like a RAID controller.   Way to test for this, is to try the burner in a different computer and see if it works fine.

3:  Drive not fully connected, insufficient power, not set master/slave correctly with other devices or on the proper master/slave connections on the cable itself. (master drives are always last on the end of the cable, slaves are in the middle between the master and the controller/motherboard, and slaves should ONLY be used if you have more than one drive, otherwise with a single drive install, it should be master)

4:  Drive software (Nero, Creator. etc) is either not installing properly or not correctly accessing the drive.  Try burning something with the built-in Windows generic burn tool (XP, Vista, Win7), such as pictures or files to your burner.  Try a regular CD-R and see if they will work if the DVD's don't.

5:  Defective drive.  Return to NewEgg if under the 30 day period, otherwise return to the manufacturer.  I see that NewEgg has discontinued that item as well, but I don't know how long you have had it.

Good Luck!

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