topic Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised in PCs & Accessories

Blank DVDs not being recognised

PeteCullen — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 10:48:49 GMT

Hi there, the drive on my VGN-A317S started to make a high pitched whistling noise when I installing some software from CD last night, and today it takes a long time to read DVD discs, and will not recognise DVD-R media to burn a disc at all.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

rich912 — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 12:29:30 GMT

Sad to say that I have lost count of the number of problems reported here for this optical drive (DW-D56A). Try a search of this forum and you will see what I mean!

There is a firmware update available for your model on Vaio Link, but I doubt that it will make any difference. If your A317S is still in warranty I suggest that you contact support.

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

wheresmybeaver — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 16:15:48 GMT

Hey hey, sounds like the problem I had! Eventually the DVD burner on my A217m (featuring the infamous D56A drive) could only successfully play brand-new completely-scratch-free DVDs, and would fail half ways through reading or burning to any other media (both CDs and DVDs). High-pitched whirring noise was a common occurence.

Luckily though I'm still in warranty, and so far I've been impressed by the support. These were the steps I took last week, in case anybody's interested to know how it works.

1. Created an eSupport case detailing the problem on www.vaio-link.com
2. After establishing that the problem was defintely hardware, Sony called me up immediately and set a time for delivery of a padded box in which to return my laptop. 24 hours later, box arrives from Belgium via DHL.
3. The next day, I rang up DHL to take the laptop away. One hour later, the laptop was being whisked away to France (well done DHL)
4. Repair Status on Vaio Link tells me its being "diagnosed" and will be repaired ASAP.

So far so good, should have it back in a week (Support said 5-10 working days). They were pretty friendly and accomodating about the whole thing (No "Are you sure you haven't been trying to burn to a beer mat" questions). Of course, will have to wait and see how long before it gets back.

By the by, they didn't ask me for proof of purchase (to ensure I was still within the 1 year warranty), I thought that was fairly trusting of them. Sound, Sony.

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

Twisted-Rizla — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 16:37:24 GMT

 "Are you sure you haven't been trying to burn to a beer mat"

Would that be ANY kind of beer mat?

Might explain why I haven't been able to burn anything since leaving the pub last Tuesday.

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

rich912 — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 16:51:22 GMT

Would that be ANY kind of beer mat?

Good one T-R!

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

rich912 — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 17:08:13 GMT

Thanks for the guide wheresmybeaver, it will no doubt be useful to many a user with that optical drive.

Btw how are things in Youghal? I knew the parish priest there, one father Tom, many years ago – probably long dead now. Thank god that I don’t have to wash his car on a Sunday afternoon anymore!!

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

PeteCullen — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 12:15:52 GMT

Thanks for the info guys, I'll check the firmware out and then get in touch with support if needs be!

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

wheresmybeaver — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 15:13:40 GMT

Well good news, the laptop has been repaired and is now being transported back. Its currrently in the UK, according to DHL, and I should have it in the next 2 days.

So, 1 week turn around for a warranty repair, and it didn't cost a thing! Not even the cost of a phone call, the Sony Support helpline insisted that they ring me instead of vice versa. I'm well impressed, Sony. I had an interesting experience with a Toshiba laptop warranty repair two years ago. It took 2 months, 5 weeks of which it was under a desk in an office in Dublin, completely forgotten about until I rang them up... And the problem resurfaced 2 weeks after I got it back...

@Rich912; all is well in Youghal, thanks for asking! Don't know about that priest but I suspect my father knows of him, I'll be sure to ask. Hopefully you don't have to wash anybody elses car on a Sunday anymore

@Twisted-Rizla; I think that optimum burning resullts are achieved with dry, round-type beer mats. Try the Murphys or Heineken brand of mat. Always check for ash or spillage. :smileygrin:

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

Twisted-Rizla — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 15:32:53 GMT

LOL

I got ripped off! I've ended up with cheap Carling Black Label ones! Can't do a bloody thing with them. eugh!:smileycry:

Good news with the laptop though:smileyhappy:

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

kee-lo_ — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 17:04:32 GMT

Yeah always good to hear success stories

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

wheresmybeaver — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 10:48:07 GMT

Just to let you guys know, laptop was returned by DHL yesterday morning (Monday). So, total repair time was only 1 week; sent it off on Monday, got it back the following Monday. Not tres bad!

Haven't had the chance to open up the laptop and check that everythings working 100% yet though... will let ye know if the drive was just repaired or replaced completely (as best I can tell).

Kudos to Sony anyhow.

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

kee-lo_ — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 14:57:37 GMT

That's pretty good

Shame this forum doesn't have a sticky feature so all people with this drive stops posting the same question

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

wheresmybeaver — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:05:42 GMT

Sticky would really help. But then, Sony would be confirming a fault... surely not their style! 😉

Anyway, checked out my repaired Vaio and everything is hunky dorey. They gave it a good clean, both externally and internally (dust etc; fans nice and quiet now), and completely replaced the drive and CD tray. Interestingly, the documentation that came back listed the replacement part as "D56A ver2", so this replacement must be part of a new batch that (hopefully) won't fail. Also noticed that the eject-action is a lot more "solid" on the replacement.

So all is well

Adios!

Re: Blank DVDs not being recognised

kee-lo_ — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 18:59:54 GMT

Sticky would really help. But then, Sony would be confirming a fault... surely not their style! 😉

Good point, still no excuse