Hello!

I was wondering if any of you could explain the strange noise coming from my HL-DT-ST drive when inserting any (re)writable DVD media. It happens with all types of discs (-R, -RW, +R, +RW) and with each brand I tried (Verbatim, TDK, TY, Imation...).

Here is a sample (tray loading, spin up, noise). The discs are read without a problem, it's only the noise which annoys me, as I never heard something like that before.

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=29302

Regards,
Sebastian

PS: The noise is not present when DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, CD-R or CD-RW media is inserted, only with DVD±RWs.

?????

WTF is that? It happens only when you insert this type of media?

Well, at least i know why it happens. The device looks at the disc info and when it's not an "original" DVD, it uses a lower read speed. This is programmed in the firmware.

I'm not sure what I hear in that file (sounds like a bunch of 32kbps ringing artifacts)... IIRC I have the same drive as you, and it makes no noises, no matter what media I use. I think I heard noises like that on my other drive when I inserted some incompatible disc (DVD-RAM for example). It sounds like the disc is slipping inside, head fumbling and re-focusing, or something like that right? Anyway, try to spin it up to full speed with Nero DriveSpeed, and do a transfer rate test with Nero CD-DVD Speed (set the test lenght to accuracy and enable high resolution read test graph). If there are any spikes showing sudden speed drops, or if overall speed is too low, then I'd think that the media or drive is damaged...

P.S.: Updating firmware to the newest version wouldn't hurt, I currently have A111.

I updated the audio sample.

Anyways, Nero DriveSpeed reports that 1x and 4x are available and that 6x is currently set (the drive should read DVD-ROMs at 8x).

CD-DVD Speed Results:

Do you know where to download firmwares for these devices? I was only able to find hacked, region-free versions which I don't want to use.

That sounds like something's not fitted correctly. I can't imagine a firmware fixing what sounds like a mechanical problem. Is it under warranty still? If so, I'd get it replaced.

Wouldn't that mean, that everytime the drive reads at a low speed there should be noise? Well, that isn't the case. I had some scratched DVDs which were read at low speeds and there wasn't any noise.



Well, it's weird that it happens only with recordable DVD media. All other types of discs don't produce this noise.

I thought you have HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4120B (that's the one I have). It looks like LG drive anyway, and firmwares for their drives can be found on their service site (I linked german one, click on "geratetreiber" there).

Nope, it's a DVD-ROM drive, the GDR8162B.