Hallelujah Guys!!!!

I can report that the LG 54L does indeed read unfinalized DVDs previously recorded on the OEM drive (I seem to have more than my share)...or any other drive for that matter. This thing is reading everything I can throw at it including (but not necessary to me) CD play.

The only weird behavior I have come across thus far is the "cannot perform this function with prerecorded material" when pressing content menu with some discs. Only happens every so often with previously finalized -Rs but the Disc still plays and sometimes goes right to content menu anyway after hitting play. Also going into Easy Navi and scrolling to Play contents will do the same thing...right to the Disc Menu. Sometimes having Content Menu already onscreen and then loading disc does the same thing...lots of workarounds for troublesome discs. :)

Back on page 13 last October, member Kaybee2 originally posted about having success with an LG H54LBRL or H54L here in the States. Success as in having it read everything including unfinalized discs from the OEM burner. I can now confirm that is my experience as well so a big shout out to Kaybee2. :):):)

Got my drive from Computer Geeks.com. Manufacturing sticker says May 2007and the bar code is faded all the way at the end but otherwise it looks brand new in every respect though sold as a refurb with standard 90 day warranty.

Running it for now in my D-KR2 for testing. That machine also has bad OEM drive (naturally:rolleyes:). I will do switchout to XS32 tomorrow and put the replacement LG 4167B drive from there into the D-KR2. Not anticipating any problems with operation in XS32...should be exactly the same as the D-KR2 results. Will notify of any issues.

Cannot believe it after all this time! Am posting this on a new thread so folks will see it as well as in the Burner thread.

The only weird behavior I have come across thus far is the "cannot perform this function with prerecorded material" when pressing content menu with some discs. Only happens every so often with previously finalized -Rs but the Disc still plays and sometimes goes right to content menu anyway after hitting play.

For those who are concerned about this issue, I'd just add that this is typical behavior of many Toshiba DVD players, especially the ones built-in to their TV/DVD combo units. For some odd reason Toshiba operating firmware will not recognize the menu structure of burned discs until they are actually playing. So to access the menu: insert the disc, press play, and when you see the video appear hit the menu button to bring up the menu screen. Apparently the LG H54L drive responds the same way when driven by the logic board of a Toshiba host chassis.

To repeat that infamous quote, "it's a feature, not a bug.":confused:

Thanks for the info Citibear.

Yes, 'features' are a real bonus :rolleyes:. I have one or two with my HK receivers. But still, I wouldn't trade the XS32 editing features for anything out there. Same for the HKs in terms of SQ.

Yep, long as you have a working burner nothing beats these older "real" Toshibas. Glad to hear this LG burner is a winner replacement!

Love my older HK audio gear. I'd put my humble 1978-vintage HK 330c receiver up against any modern megabuck luxo amplifier, and I bet the little HK would win in a blind test. Lots of other audio gear has come and gone from my rack, but the old HK stuff stays.

Do you mean "LG GSA-54L"? I think that's the full model number.

I sure thought that is what I have, but I'm honestly not sure of what exact one I have.

I want to search for that one possibly, if it's cheap enough... just so I can finalize my TONS of old DVDs.

Yep, that is the one.

Originally Kaybee 2 had mentioned an LG GSA H54LBRL. I assumed back then the specific nomenclature was important but could only find sources for that exact model in the UK. With S/H, I deemed it too expensive.

Now after trying simply the LG GSA H54L refurbed from ComputerGeeks, I realize finding the right solution was simpler than I made it out to be. Hanging on to those spindles of old unfinalized dvds finally paid off. :)

Everything plays in this drive including CDs. You still have to remove the plastic front from the case and drawer for proper fit. This drive is way smaller in length than the OEM drive...so you have to rearrange the tape some.

Tomorrow I will assess the writing operation after installing in the XS32 with all disc formats, as well as with discs old & new. Kaybee2 originally reported that finalized -Rs will not dub back to HDD and are seen as pre-recorded content. It's been so long since I did any of this stuff I'll have to check it all out methodically.

I believe only refurbs are now available at several sources but the price is very low. I'm thinking of getting a second one for backup anyway.

Good Luck.

Could you give examples of some of those sources? Admittedly my searching has not been exhaustive, but I wanted to make sure I did the full model #.

I tried amazon, newegg, froogle, for "LG GSA-54L" and found no hits. Just googling for it found some discussions, including this one.

Sorry. Computergeeks.com had it but now show out of stock. I may have gotten the last one from them. All of the other direct shopping links at the top of Google search I originally checked out are showing out of stock as well. These things come and go fast as I know there were none to be had in the U.S. last October when Kaybee2 posted his/her success. I did find some then on UK sites though.

On page 2 of Google on the side bar came across this one tonight:

http://www.esaitech.com/commerce/ccp50230-lg-gsa-h54l-18x-dvdb1rw-dual-layer-ide-drive-w-lig-gsa-h54l--1005513.htm?gclid=CLDHrKDo15UCFRJdxwodcDMJYA

Picture is exactly as mine looked. Kinda high price (Geeks was $33 shipped) but that happens with some vendors when stock is low and item is in demand. Worth a call and still worth their asking price to me as I would certainly have paid that for all that this burner does. May have to anyway if I still want a backup.

Believe me...one XS32 owner to another...this drive is amazing. Only bad---slow to load some discs...but they load!!! Much Good Luck.