Optical Drive Malfunctions & Replacement

Hi Guys;

I have issues with the drive in my system in respect to writing CD or DVD disks and recently reading CD disks. I have worked with HP online customer support but found them to be a complete waste of my time.

HP Pavilion Notebook
ZD8460ea
Serial #CNF6071N4D
Part #EL045EA
BIOS Rev F.34 (Phoenix First Pro)
O/S Windows HP Home
Drive TS-L532M 8X DVD/CD +/- RW dual layer light scribe
HP Part #383608-001

I purchase the system in Kuwait in Dec of 2004. I must admit that until late last year I had never tested the drive functionality. In fact I only set the DVD region zone in Dec of 2008. I had never had issues using the drive to read DVD of CD disks. I had been able to read and installed software on both types of media. My problem started when I tried to write DVD or CD disks. I used different writing software, Sonic Digital Plus Ver7 Installed on the system at time of purchase, Nero Ver6, Microsoft Media Player and others all with the same result. They would go thorough the writing process including verification saying it was successful however when I reclosed the drive door the disk would be empty. If I used the properties window it would tell me the disk was completely used. If I tried to reuse the disk the programs would ask me to insert another disk. If I removed the disk and put it into another system the disk would be accepted as good and blank. Recently the drive quite reading CD disk including disks it had read successfully before. These disks included software I had purchased or disks that came with hardware which for installation of drivers and software for the product including HP products.

In the process of working with HP customer support I had deleted the upper and lower filters in the registry, uninstalled the drive in device manager allowing the system to rediscover and install the drivers. This was of no help at all and seems to be their canned response to all drive issues. I don't think they have a clue as to what is really going on. Since that time I have formatted the drive, something I had never had to do before, reinstalling the operating system, all drivers and software originally on the system. This did not help or change the way the drive was working. Further after doing much research I now understand that this drive is the equilivant to the Toshiba CD/DVDW SDR6572M. So in an attempt to resolve the problem I downloaded the firmware for this drive. I first flashed to version TU05 so the operating system recognized the drive as the SDR6572M and retested drive functionality. Same results as all other steps. I then reflashed the firmware to version TU07 which had no effect in resolving my problems.

I am concerned about one issue which may be the root of at least some of the problems I am having. I had never bothered to visit HP Customer support to upgrade programs or drivers with files posted on their site until last year. One of the files they posted was a new BIOS flashing file which changed the BIOS to its current revision. I tried to get help from them to get the original BIOS so I could restore the system to the state it was at the time of purchase so I could test the drive. My request was completely ignored.

I assume my next step will be to remove the drive from this system and test it in another PC and am assuming I can do this using a desktop system. If it works then the problem is with the motherboard BIOS, if it doesn't the drive is toast which brings me to my next topic.

Regardless of the outcome I may decide to purchase and install a new drive. I would like very much to have a drive that will support dual layer, dual format and light scribe. Extensive research leads me to believe there are many options available however HP refuses to confirm what I believe to be true. I am sure this is sales protection as the drives I am interested in are listed for other HP products even though they are the exact same drive as the one in this unit only with more functionality. I can see from pictures that the rear of the drive is predrilled to accommodate the installation of various mounting brackets depending on which notebook it is to be installed in. I also understand that in some cases it might be necessary to move the face plate and or the slide rails however from what I have seen I do not think this will be necessary. Most of these drives are the same model as the one I currently have with only a change in the firmware if any difference. I do see that a few are made by other vendors but the sizing appears to be the same.

So for now I have the following questions:

1. Have I done everything you would advise and am I correct in planning the next step about testing this drive in another system?

2. Could you possibly help me locate a copy of the original motherboard BIOS so I could restore the system to its state at purchase and test the drive before I go through the removal process?

3. If I must or decide to replace the drive and can give you the HP Part number could you help me confirm that I can indeed use the drive in this notebook? I am assuming that as long as the drive meets the physical requirements for mounting in this case it will work on this motherboard.

I have extensive knowledge when it comes to desktop systems as I have built from the ground up many high performance work stations however I have never once opened a notebook and need to confirm that there are no limitations beyond size that I need to be concerned with.

I will stop at this point and look forward to your reply. If you need any additional information please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanking You in Advance
JCPrice
[Kuwait]

 

Hi,

I wouldnt bother dealing with HP on this. You can just buy a replacement drive for about $40 and it takes 2mins to replace.

From the looks of it, its a 12.7mm IDE/PATA slimline drive

The DVD drive is only held by 1 screw in the bottom. Watch this Video guide. Click on Optical drive in the sidebar

 

Thank you for the quick response. I had already been visiting Newegg for a possible location to order some Kingston memory modules I want to pick up. It would help a great deal if I could source everything I need in one location.

While the drive you have referred me to looks like a better option than the ones I have been looking at I want to be 100% sure that the one I buy give me dual layer, dual format and support light scribe. Is there another option you would suggest?

I also want the following:
KTH-ZD8000A/1G Kingston DDR2-533 PC4200 modules (2)
SDHC Class 6 or faster 8 tp 16GB
Micro SDHC Class 6 or faster 8 to 16GB
Replacement Battery for the ZD8460

If I could order all of this from one location it would be a BIG help.

Thanks,
John

 

The drive i recommended you does support x6 dual layer but doesnt have Lightscribe. I cannot find any IDE drives that support Lightscribe.

The RAM you noted will work fine, for best results max out the 2gb limit or close. XP runs perfectly on 2gb.

As for the SD cards, im not sure if your card reader supports SDHC. Apparently you can get a XP hotfix or drive update to unlock it but im not too sure with that.

Batterys can be bought anywhere.. make sure you get genuine HP as knock off brands can be dangerous.

Service manual can be found here

 

That laptop can use more then 2gb of ram i saw someone have 3gb in it before.

 

You have perked my curiosity. I was under the impression that in order to work memory modules had to be the same. If this is true how can you put a 1GB and a 2GB in the slots and get them to work?

Also if you can shed any light on this subject I would appreciate it. I never bothered thinking about upgrading the memory until recently. All the research I have done led me to believe I only had an option of using 512MB or 1GB modules either 400MHz or 533MHz. HP was not much help and I even had to argue with them about whether I could use the 533MHz as stated in their on information.

Now today I, for the first time dragged out the PC documentation and did a quick brief read and to give you real specifics I would have to read the material again however based on what I saw it made reference to being able to use 2GB modules. So my question is if I bought 2 2GB modules instead of the the 1GB modules would the system see the 4GB and would there be any advantage for me if I did this.

Also this PC has expansion slots and I read that if a memory expansion board was put into one of these slots, off hand I don't remember which one, that the system would use part of this memory as system memory. Can you shed any light on this subject?

Thanks,
John

 

You can mix the memory modules. See the dual channel RAM guide for how it may affect performance.

Some PATA Lightscribe burners are the TS-L632M and the LG GSA-E50L. All may be discontinued and the last one is an external unit which you have to pull apart to get the bare drive (which works fine - I've done it). It has been replaced by the GP08LU10, but I don't know if the drive interface is PATA or SATA.

2004 hardware may not support SDHC. It's the 2006 notebooks which may support SDHC if the software is updated.

John

 

Thank you John

Now I understand why there is no advantage to installing 533MHz modules in this system. The FSB is 800 hence the 2 modules put together exceed the FSB and will revert to 400MHz. Did I understand that right? A point I'll make is the 533 modules are cheaper than the 400 modules so this has to be an advantage.

After reading the accompanying documentation I now see that I have the option of installing 2GB memory modules. Although the speed limitation would still hold true I am wondering would there be any increase in performance with 4GB in lieu of 2GB. I ask because the 2GB modules are obviously more expensive than the 1GB's.

On drives I have found a site which carries many HP parts. Usually you get the functions and the part number only however it this one case it identifies the drive as being a TS-532M which is the original identity of the drive in my system. In this case the drive is listed as being for a Pavilion DV4000. I see no reason the drive will not work in this system. If I am incorrect please educate me.

www.lapzone.com/servlet/the-26385/HP-Pavilion-dv4000-DVDRW/Detail

If you look the drive is quite spendy at $179 but it would give me all functions I seek in one drive. That is provided the website has not made an error.

I was thinking of another option. I like the Panasonic UJ-875 because in addition to be dual layer, dual format it is a slot loader. I see that most drives are 128mm X 12.7mm X 127mm. In the case with the Panasonic it is 128mm X 12.7mm X 129mm. I am assuming, dangerous, that because the drive is a slot loader it could be installed as is without the need for putting a face plate on it and the additional 2mm with not have the drive protruding from the case where it will case a problem. What I like about this option is the drive is only $75, can be had for as low as $63. Unfortunately this drive doesn't support light-scribe but with the savings I purchase a mobile external USB drive that does and end up with 2 drives at less cost. Any thoughts on this approach?

As far as the HDSC goes I have about decided there is a much better option open to me. I have been look at the portable USB hard drives. There are quite a few available which would give me far more storage for the buck and still provide the mobility for moving files from PC to PC or storing movies, pic, files etc. In fact you can pick up a 1TB Iomega for around $135. This seems to be a much wiser approach.

I really appreciate the help John as I am a novice when it comes to laptop repairs and I want to do this job myself so I can start learning.

Thanks,
John