VGN-A397XP DVD Drive Data Transfer Problem

[SenorFett]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a VGN-A397XP which I am VERY pleased with. About 3 days after having it, the DVD drive stopped working properly. Data discs would take a very long time to copy files, dvd playback would be jittery and even music CDs would play SLOWLY! I booted in safe mode to check it wasn't a driver issue and had the same poor transfer speeds.

I reinstalled XP and hey presto the problem was solved. The system has been fine for around 2 months now but a few days ago the behavior returned.

I have installed all the updates for the laptop from Sony, updated the drive firmware but still no joy.

I really don't want to (and shouldn't have to) reinstall Windows - has anyone else seen this problem?
Thanks

Bob

[tonybeard]

You have spyware. Install Spybot which is free and Ad Aware. Tuneup utilities is a brilliant program http://www.tune-up.com

[rich912]

I am afraid that we have all too many problems reported here of various errors with optical drives but I have yet to see a cure-all solution.
You are quite right that you shouldn¿t have to constantly re-install the operating system to get the drive working. As an alternative, have you tried deleting the drive in Device Manager and then restarting and letting windows discover the device? I am not guaranteeing that this will cure your problem but it is worth a try.

[kee-lo_]

If you can't get it to work with Rich's solutions I would speak to your retailer, you'll get a new one quicker than Sony can spend to have it fixed.

This really needs to be addressed by Sony, it's getting old now!

[SenorFett]

You have spyware. Install Spybot which is free and Ad Aware. Tuneup utilities is a brilliant program http://www.tune-up.com  

Hi Tony,

Thanks for your comments - I was wondering - what makes you think I have spyware?

Thanks

Bob

[SenorFett]

Hi Rich,

Tried that but with no joy I'm afraid - thanks anyway!

Your absolutely right about optical drives being a problem at the moment at the problem isn't just limited to Sony laptops. I've experienced no end of problems with optical drives since the onslaught of DVD - its just as bad (if not worse) than period of unreliability in the early days of CD writing drives.

In some cases I've found a firmware update has solved the problem but not many.

Bob

[SenorFett]

Hi Kee-Lo,

Thanks for your reponse. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drive before but no joy. I have also previously taken it back to PC World but before they would eve consider the problem, they insisted on returning it to its 'factory state' at which point it starts working again.

Regarding getting Sony to replace the drive, the problems are that:

a) It doesn't seem to be a hardware problem if resetting the OS fixes it.
b) I'm on holiday for the next few months in the Caribbean!

Thanks

Bob

[rich912]

Hi Bob,

Sorry to hear that my suggestion didn¿t solve the problem; I really didn¿t hold a lot of hope that it would.
I am afraid that the only alternative, which I can think of, is another restore. As you are past the period that you can return it to the retailer you will have to speak to Sony and a restore is the first thing that they will ask you to do before they accept it for repair. And as you say, if this cures the problem then Sony will wash their hands of it.
I don¿t envy you the time and bother but good luck & enjoy your holiday.

[kee-lo_]

Yeah this is the problem with these optical drives Sony are using, when they go to VL, they format, then fine for 2 or 3 days when you get it home.

I really think Sony and Microsoft should sit down and discuss this issue. If only I knew Bill Gates' email address then I would address the problem to him, see if any of his boffins can see the problem.

[SenorFett]

Hi all,

Well I found solution. I'd tried updating the firmware via Sony but the version they have is the same as the one I have. I have googled and goolged and discovered that the DW-D56A is a rebranded LiteOn SOSW-852S (yes - a Lite 'we make shite drives that you wouldn't purchase for your grans computer' On drive).

Anyway, it turns out that the firmware is interchangable between all the rebrands so I downloaded and installed the PFS3 - stock firmware, rebooted and hey presto - all is well and I am very happy.

All the various types of firmware are available here:

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html#DW-D56A

Kee-Lo & Rich - thanks for your input.

Senor Fett