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My Toshiba DVD drive/writer won't write/burn to no-brand DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW media/discs

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CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive/writer problem: My DVD writer won't burn to no-brand DVD-R/DVD+R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW discs

My Compaq Presario R3250EA laptop/notebook PC runs Windows XP Home Edition fully updated to the SP3 service pack and subsequent updates. The computer has a Toshiba SD-R6252 1a11 DVD writer. I have discovered that when I try using no-brand DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs that I purchased from a supermarket (the packaging has the supermarket's name on it), the DVD writer refuses to burn to them using Nero Express. It ejects them with a message to use a writeable disc. However, it will burn to Verbatim, Imation, Memorex and Maxell discs. Can you please tell me if there is a way to fix this problem?

Answer

I have come across the reverse problem to yours in which a DVD writer refuses to burn to brand-name discs but will burn to no-brand discs. It is unusual but it can happen. DVD writers can be fussy about the brands they accept, but it's usually the cheaper discs that have no printed name on them that they don't like.

The problem could be caused by a faulty drive, but the cause is more likely to be outdated firmware installed in the drive.

During their manufacture DVD writers are programmed with a firmware database that contains the names of supported brands of disc. Firmware is software code that is permanently stored on a EEPROM flash-memory chip. CD/DVD drive/writer manufacturers often update the firmware in order to fix compatibility issues of this kind.

The Toshiba SD-R6252 DVD writer was only supplied to HP/Compaq, so Toshiba doesn't supply firmware for it. However, the support section of the HP site lists firmware updates for three different DVD/CD combo drives that were fitted to your notebook computer's model.

There is a firmware update for your model with a version number 1A14 called Softpaq 28709, which can be downloaded directly by clicking on:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp28501-29000/sp28709.exe

Remember that you should always scan a downloaded file with a virus scanner, which is usually done by right-clicking with the mouse pointer on the file and choosing the scan option - if you have a virus scanner installed, which,of course, you should have. The firmware update is fairly old, but it recognises more brands of disc that the drive's original firmware. All you have to do is install it by clicking on the downloaded file.

Note well that only firmware that is created for a specific make/model of drive should be installed, because if the wrong firmware is installed the drive can be destroyed.

If your have some other make/model of DVD writer, you should look at its manufacturer's or the PC's manufacturer's website for a firmware update.

The procedure is the same if you have any other make/model of DVD writer.

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