Toshiba laptops plays DVDs but can't create them

[DelJo63]

[resolved] Toshiba laptops plays DVDs but can't create them

Bizarre; I can r/w CDs and play DVDs but can not create a DVD.

Toshiba Laptop with Win/XP Pro and a combo DVD/CD HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4243N

No upper or lower filters are on the device registry entry

XP_CD-DVD-Fix.zip was applied anyway.
aspi_471a2 was installed and provided
aspi32.sys & winaspi.dll

NTSC Pan & Scan.zip was loaded to provided sample *.VOB files for testing

Instacodecs.exe was loaded to get a flock of CODECs (just in case)​

Tools and symptoms:

Photo DVD Maker always complains: Device Not Found
Express Burn: wants to ONLY create *.iso & will not access the DVD
ImgBurn: Finds the Device
insert media
add a video (aka *.mp4)
Calc size = 1.24 mb, free= 684mb
and the lower window status reads
Device Not Ready (No Reference Position Found)​

 

[captaincranky]

Just for laughs you should beg or borrow a USB DVD burner and see what happens with that.

I think there are separate read / burn lasers for DVD, but I'm not certain.

In any event, swapping out the drive would vector your search for the problem.

By the way, (IMHO & experience), Toshiba drives suck, and do crazy s*** like this. At least the two I've had certainly did. (2 TSST 162's in Emachines desktop. 1st desktop went back, bad drive, 2nd drive replaced by a Pioneer DVR 111).

 

[DelJo63]

I hate it but afraid you are 100% spot on SURE stinks as a major concept of a
laptop is self-contained portability. grrrrrrrr.

thanks

 

[DelJo63]

resolved with purchase of LG GP08LU30 8x Slim CD/DVD Burner

some of these need two usb ports to get sufficient power, but while this one has the
two-tailed USB cable, at least on my Toshiba Lt, it runs from only one.