How do I replace a failed DVD writer?

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DevilTwist

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Aug 9, 2015
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Hi

Started having issues burning DVDs on my Sony HDD/DVD recorder. Will format blank DVDs but when trying to burn them, constantly says 'Disc is dirty' - have run a lens cleaner DVD through the machine 3 times, DVDs from different suppliers (Verbatim, Polaroid, Memorex etc), new and already opened discs, cleaned the discs with warm water/toothpaste/commercial DVD cleaning products. Nothing seems to work!

Machine is out of warranty so how easy would be for me to buy and replace the writer?

Thanks
 
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The Original Ralph

The Original Ralph

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Sep 14, 2011
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i'd check the specs of your computer to see what make/model DVD burner you have and then check it's specs to see what DVDs it can handle. Burners or dvd writers don't handle all the different dvds, you need to check which your's is set to use

if your sony is like mine, the dvd burner was the cheapest pc of crap sony could source (Optiarc) and i had nothing but trouble with mine, and as you're describing, the problems would disappear then return. Depending on whether you've got a laptop burner (my desktop had a 12.7mm or laptop burner) or a full size dvd burner, a replacement burner isn't going to run that much - i just bought an LG laptop burner for $20, and a full size 5.25" LG blu-ray burner for $45 shipped.

they're not diffficult to change out but i would definitely NOT go with a sony replacement unit
 
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McHenryB

McHenryB

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Jan 31, 2015
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I think you'll find that the drives in HDD/DVD recorders are not standard units. You can't just pick a generic PC drive without a lot of modification. I had the same trouble when the CD drive in my Denon audio system stopped ejecting; a part that would cost a few dollars for a computer costs far more for an audio unit.

I look upon it as Nature's way of telling me it's time to spoil myself and buy some new equipment. (I'm glad I couldn't repair it - the sound from the Marantz units I bought as a replacement is orders of magnitude better than the Denon - which I always thought was pretty good.)
 
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The Original Ralph

The Original Ralph

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Sep 14, 2011
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MY BAD - i speed read and didn't notice the reference to HDD/dvd recorder - i was tunnel visioned on computers

to the OP - one suggestion that might help - when my sony blu-ray player started giving me trouble, i thought i'd pull the blu-ray/dvd tray out of the unit and clean the spinder and laser lens - got the chassis cover off, and found that to get to the laser lens would have been a nightmare so i gave up and put it back together - but oddly, the unit then worked fine afterward, and still working fine today, 1.5 yrs later

- the only thing i had disconnected was the ribben cable that ran from the blu-ray/dvd mechanism to the motherboard - the only assumption i could make was the ribbon cable, or one of the electrical leads on it had corroded over time, and de-tached and re-attaching had served to fully seat that corroded lead, kind of like un-plugging and then plugging back in a cable on the modem or wherever

it's worth a shot

fwiw
 
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