Tosh XS32 DVD Burner

There was a guy on this board who put an NEC drive in his XS32. He didn't mention any problems with DVD-RW but I'm not sure if he tried burning one.

I have a question for you, one of the things I love about the Toshiba is that you can transfer content back and forth from DVD to the Hard Drive, can you still do that with the LiteOn you installed?

Also, did you use an IDE drive?

Do the DVDs mount faster with the replaced drive? I'm starting to have probs in mine as I've mentioned elsewhere. I am close to if not over my 1 year parts warranty.. So for $40, I'd consider trying this replacement myself..

Are you able to make the drive 'just work' in the normal way with the top of the case on? i.e. it's not sitting on top or something??

and DVD-RWs still work?

have you upgraded the firmware on the tosh?

Actually, I wasn't very clear. Mostly I was curious about DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM mounting speed.. But since you can't actually use all of them, I guess I'm less interested in replacing my drive. (Though I have said many times I'm definitely a FAN of DVD-RAM, I've actually been *using* DVD-RW more, since it's cheaper, and I've had DVD-RAMs corrupt on me, but haven't had DVD-RWs so far..)

After mattack's response to my HD swap question in another thread, I tried an older 40gig Maxtor drive I had laying around. I got three beeps, an ER7034 on the display and the machine locked up, so I pulled the plug and hooked the old Maxtor back up.

I just got an LG 4167B oem drive for another computer, so I figured while I had the XS32 open, I'd try the LG. It worked beautifully with both R and RW!!! An unfinalized DVD-R mounted quickly. I then put in a blank DVD-R, burnt a 96 minute vhs cap, and finalized it. It played perfectly (as well as the original, anyway...) on two other dvd players. I've been using 4X Taiyo Yudens from supermediastore.

I could never get my XS32 to format any 4X Ridata DVD-RWs. It would say disk could not be formatted about 40% through. But, it formatted, burnt, and finalized in the LG. I then hooked the original XS32 drive back up and it played fine in it. Then I tried to format a blank one, and still no luck. I don't have a spare DVD-RAM to play with, but I'll try to pick up a couple tomorrow at BB or CC, and try that, too.

If the DVD-RAM works, I'm thinking about getting another LG and installing it. It was really much faster mounting and responding overall.

rickc5,
Is this the same DVD as GSA-4167B? What firmware are you running and did you upgrade it? I've been looking for the SD-W3002 replacement drive without luck but would rather have a more robust newer drive.

xonid,
Where are you getting your firmware upgrades? I only find what are supposedly Canadian up to 1416 I think. Read was not compatible with U.S. machines.

I have a XS32 soft-ZL10 drv-1309 and D-R2SU (non-HD) soft-ZN10 drv-1314 both out of warranty. Both have DVD problems but the XS32 is much worse. D-R2 will run disks that the XS32 won't touch. I attribute part of that to the higher drive firmware. I've been nursing both units by periodically blowing them out with compressed air and then running a CD lens cleaner through (which Toshiba advises against). Obviously the drives are very sensitive to dust and I am tempted to disassemble it to clean the lens (which I'm sure Toshiba advises against).

Thanks

Tape - Yes, it's the GSA-4167B. Manuf. January 2006. Rom Version DL12. I didn't upgrade the firmware. I bought it from Newegg last week for a friend's pc, and I just couldn't resist trying it...

I bought my XS32 in 9/2004, after weeks of agonizing about the black level bug, and posted it's software version back then. It worked great, no BLB, for 10 months, burnt over 300 dvds, until someone tried to erase something off of an unfinalized DVD instead of the HDD. Well, that seems to have fried the laser or sensor or? I couldn't burn anything and could only read some disks. Input anyone? Sent it to Toshiba for repair ($60). They sent me back a refurb unit with the dang older ZL10/1314. So, I don't mind playing with this one. Had I known, I would have just switched burners...

I read in another thread about the firmware upgrade, but now I'm wondering if it's compatible with US machines.

Okay, I can positively confirm that you can burn R, RW and RAM (and copy back to the HDD) using the LG GSA-4167B. I don't know about other models or firmware versions, but the one I have works great! I copied multiple titles to the DVD-RAM, then copied a couple back to the HDD. No problems. I did notice that the RAM disc mounted slowly. I used the older, but brand new, still in the wrapper, Toshiba DVD-RAM that came with my XS32. I don't have any 5X RAMs or 16X Rs handy, so I can't try them yet. When I removed the LG and put the RAM in the original XS32 drive, all the content was there and could be played and copied.

Now, if we could only swap HDDs.

I have an xs32 for over a year now and have been having problems loading DVD-R's only lately. I had no issues for a year. I also at times get a failed burn where it just hangs at 0%. Well anyways, all of a sudden, I have an Error 14 on the screen on the actual box. It just flashes and never goes away even if I turn off the unit or even unplug it. I have switched to Sony -R's and things are going ok for 90% of the time, but I don't understand this Error 14. Also with the new DVD Drive is anyone able to burn faster or does the Toshiba firmare only allow upto 4X max? Also someone in an earlier post mentioned they did not have a BLB for 10 months. I don't understand how that is possible. Don't all the machines have the BLB (at least the xs32's anyways)?

:-)
Rob

Here is what someone said in another forum about Error 14:

"Pressing the "DISPLAY" button clears this.

It appears merely as the result of an R/RW writing error caused on bad media. Inspite of the error on my machine, the disc that errored still played back perfectly on this and other machines. Amazingly the UK Toshiba helpline did not know how to clear this and advised me to return it. I stumbled upon the answer myself after pressing all the buttons on the machine and remote in sequence. I passed the info on to Toshiba, so hopefully they will pass it on to other customers. Odd that this error should not be listed in the instruction manual as it is non-critical and easily cleared by the user."

Several others wrote about Error 14 on their units, and several reported that calling Toshiba got the response, "Huh?" (basically).

rgn2000 - My first XS-32 was made in June 2004, with software version ZL-11 and it did not have the BLB. When my burner died, Toshiba gave me a refurbished XS-32 made in March, 2004, and it most definitely has the BLB. I recorded a couple of the same programs on the refurb. unit, and when burned to DVD media and played on another player, they are definitely lighter than those recorded on my first XS-32. In my opinion it's not terrible, but it is very noticeable side by side.

I spoke to Toshiba today, and they said there is no firmware upgrade available or planned for the XS-32.

Also, I occaisionally got Error 14 on the display when my burner was dying and pushing "Display" did clear it.

Hi, are you able to burn both -R/RW and +R/RW and at maximum speeds that the 4167 handles ie 16 speed?

My burner has died and I am thinking of trying the LG GSA4167B solution.

Interestingly, my machine is under Extended Warranty and my repairer has advised that the cost to repair it is $A800 and that the machine will be scrapped and replaced by another. A 4167B is less tha $A100 and my time is free.

Bob, sorry I can't give you an answer on 16X or +R/RW. I tried TY 4X -R, Toshiba RAM, Ridata 4X -RW, Optodisc 2X -RW and Sony 1X-8X -R. All of them copied content, finalized and copied back to the HDD just fine. I don't have any 16X media, and I didn't try +R. I've since installed the LG-4167B in a pc, so no more experimenting for now.

After my XS32's burner died, Toshiba charged me around US$70 to send me a refurbished unit with the dreaded BLB. Had I known the LG worked with my minimal testing, and that I'd get a refurb unit, I would have switched drives and kept my own unit (known history, never abused, no BLB, etc.).

If the LG doesn't perform as you'd like in the XS32, you can always just use it in a pc. I've had one as my main pc burner for about a year, and it's been okay with every CD/DVD I've fed it. Also, it was very satisfying (and a good learning experience) to have a less than US$40 drive sitting on top of the XS32, and working better than the Toshiba drive!

I already have an LG 4163B and a Liteon 812@832 in my PC. The LG burner has been more than satisfactory to date. I am going to try it in the Toshiba and I expect it will work OK.

We do not have the BLB problem in Australia which uses the PAL system.

My machine is to be replaced under extended warranty but I am going to try to buy back the machine from the warranty company. Even if I can't get the burner to work, the Hard drive is very useful just as a Video Recorder.

But obviously you're going to take advantage of the extended warranty since you paid for it???

Yes but i'm hoping to buy the old machine for salvage value and repair it, so that way I will have two machines - one for each TV.

Rickc5,

Thanks for all of the great info. I have another question though.
Did the LG drive fit in to the XS32 OK or will some modding be needed?

I too have a XS32 with a crapped out DVD and I would really like to fix it myself.

Thanks for any info you can give.

Whilst I have not undertaken the change I have had the machine apart and the LG should slot straight in. I do not know if the front would need to be taken off the tray.

The position of the screws in the DVD indicate that the Hard drive may need to be removed first, then the DVD and replaced in opposite order. The Recorder uses proprietary cables which are mated to ordinary IDE female connectors.

Let us know how you go.

Thanks BobH2. I have ordered the LG and I'll post again after the surgery.

Slug -

Sorry, work's been busy.

I didn't completely remove the XS32's drive (it wasn't bad), I just set the LG on top. If I were you, I'd connect the LG to the power/IDE cables and set it securely on top to make sure it works, BEFORE physically switching drives.

My DVD drive is set as a master, make sure your LG is jumpered the same way as your existing drive before connecting it.

A couple of ribbon cables are taped to the top of the drive; no problem pulling off the tape. The drive power cable goes from the board to the DVD drive to the HDD. Be careful when removing the DVD power connector, as a shielded flexible cable goes into the pc board right behind the power connector. The DVD drive IDE cable ends in a small pc board that plugs into the drive's connector. Gently remove it without bending or tweaking it side-to-side. I don't remember if it's keyed, so make note of the orientation. I'd suggest removing the cables before the drive. Be extra careful with the proprietary cables that can't easily be replaced!

The existing drive is a standard size drive, so the LG should fit perfectly. I'm just not sure how the drive fits into the front panel area, but after looking at it, I figured worst case I could remove the XS32's door. It may not be aesthetic, but it should work. The drive mounting bracket is secured to the chassis by four accessible screws, so it's probably easiest to remove the bracket and drive, then remove the bracket once they're out of the unit. That way you won't have to remove the HDD. My unit also has a clear plastic strip running from front to back on the right side of the drive, so you'll have to remove two drive to bracket screws on that side.

To test the LG without removing the other drive, you'll have to either disconnect the power cable from the HDD and DVD drive, or the flexible shielded cable to get the power cable around the shielded cable to the LG. You'll also have to untape the IDE cable from the existing drive. Don't forget to double check all connections before plugging the unit in.

I'd be curious to know the ROM version and date on the LG when you get it. And the existing HDD info, if you'd like to share.

I'll leave the cover off my XS32 for now, and if you give a heads up on when you are going to try it, I'll keep checking the forum, in case I can help.

Good Luck!

RickC5,

I just got the drive today. ROM Version is DL12 and Manufacture Date is November 2005.

I am hoping to get some time tonight to try the replacement. Thanks for all of the info. I'll post any questions or just to let you know how everything came out. If something comes up I'll probably try the replacement on Saturday.

I will definitely post for all the XS32 owners to let them know what happened and what to expect.

It is done. I ran a few preliminary tests before deciding to go with the full install. Dropped a new 4x Taiyo-Yuden DVD-R in and selected a few programs that have been on my HDD for as long as the burner has been giving me issues. Copied like a champ. Removed the finished DVD and dropped it into another DVD player and it loaded with no issues. I don't have any other media to check but since I use the TY -R for everything it is ok with me.

I did need to remove the cover off of the LG to get it in there but no worries since the burner in the XS32 didn't have a cover on it anyway.

The XS32 DVD was easy to remove. Carefully pulled out the cables and power cords, removed two screws from the plastic shield that guides the wires, removed the 4 screws for the bracket that were screwed into the bottom of the unit, removed the brackets and attached them to the LG, wiggled the LG into place and then replaced everything.

The LG without the faceplate opens the door on the front of the XS32 with no problems. Everything seems right with the new burner. All together the process took no more than an hour with testing. At this stage I would recommend that anyone that has a nonfunctioning burner should consider this procedure. Although I have not tested all media types I can confirm DVD-R and that is definitely better than not being able to burn to DVD at all.

Rickc5 - I did forget one important thing though. I forgot to find out which HDD I had in my XS32. Sorry. I was so damn excited that the thing works after 5 months of watching DVDs on my crappy old Apex and having to delete programs that I wanted to keep because I was out of HDD space that I rushed to get it back in the entertainment center, I remembered your post after I came to the computer to write this.

Sweet!!! Glad to hear it went smoothly. It's nice to know the front door works okay, too. Thanks for the update.

I've used 300+ TY 4Xs with only a couple of glitches that could have been due to a source problem. I ran Nero dvdspeed on the first batch I used, and stopped doing it since every one was 100%. I tested a few other media types in the LG with no problems, including a blank 4X RW that the original XS32 DVD drive still can't read. I'm curious what would happen if you tried DL media?

I can understand your relief and excitement, but if you ever have it open again, check the HDD model or serial. No rush. I'd like to eventually see if there is some common denominator in specs.

Again, congrads!

Thanks to everyone who posted info about replacing the DVD burner. Mine has been giving me ERR 14 for months when finalizing a DVD. I was using the recommended TY 4x DVDs and even called Toshiba for the DVD software update. After waiting 2 weeks for the update, the DVD they sent me didn't even load!
I finally took the SONY DW-Q30A DVD/RW 16x out of my computer and put it in the XS32. Fit like a charm and so far seems to work on the Ritek Arita G04 4x DVDs I bought hoping they would work with the original DVD burner that comes with the XS32. The only catch is that I have to make sure I select to run All Tests. Otherwise I still get the Can't finalize disc error. Not sure why that makes it work, but at least I can burn DVDs again.