Share your experience!
Hi,
I’m a newbie VAIO user having bought a VGN-FW51JF/H, which has a Blu-ray combo drive.
Only in the last few days have I decided to try out a simple CD-R burning and was quite shocked to notice the drive can only write at 4x, when the specs claim it goes up to 16x for CD-R!
The built-in drive is a Pioneer BD-ROM BDC-TD01 (firmware 1.01) and I tried three different software burners to no avail,(including Nero )all listing 4x as the top speed. Also tried 3 or 4 brands of CD-R…Sony, Memorex, Verbatim and nothing! Not only is the drive picky on the speed (taking 20 mins), but even pickier with the media…some burn well, others don’t (Memorex failed right at beginning, but Sony media pulled through).
I installed all the available updates from the support page, but apparently there is no firmware update, for the drive, to correct these serious issues. I still haven’t tried the normal DVD burning, but inserted one and at least the speed was displayed as expected, 8X, so I assume it’s only behaving like this for CD-R media.
In a store, also made a small test on another PC, exactly the same model, and once again the reported speed was 4x, so this is not exclusive to the one I bought.
Does anybody else have this issue ?
Is there a firmware for this drive ? I tried everything and couldn’t find anything…
I have one day to decide if I should keep the PC or not, as there are no guarentees Sony will acknowledge this bug and release a firmware to correct it L
Thanks in advance
Just had a reply from sony support
Dear Mr. Everson,
Thank you for your email with regards to your Vaio.
To resolve this issue please download the following update.
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/info/info.aspx?l=en_GB&url=VAIO/Updates/EP00002...
Should you have any further questions or queries, please feel free to
reply to this email or contact us on these numbers below:
VAIO in warranty: 0870 240 2408
VAIO out of warranty: 09050 310 006
Our lines are open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday
Regards,
John
Sony VAIO-Link Team
I already tried that. this update does not apply to my laptop with the PIONEER BD-ROM BDC-TD01drive.
The update is not for this model of drive. The executable refuses to update, error says that it is incorrect for the drive in question.
This probably means there is another drive for this VGN-FW51JF/H.
can you please confirm this issue remains open
Hi kaepten-koma, are you sure it was DVD-R and not +R? Because mine doesn’t even recognize DVD-R media, only DVD+R. I didn’t try burning, only reading (it was a TDK) and nada!
I agree and can live with the DVD+R speed not being the best…but support for CD and DVD-R media is basic stuff for today’s standards…and we’re talking about expensive machines…
Dear Mr. Everson, Thank you for your email with regards to your Vaio. To resolve this issue please download the following update. http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/info/info.aspx?l=en_GB&url=VAIO/Updates/EP00002... Should you have any further questions or queries, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us on these numbers below: VAIO in warranty: 0870 240 2408 VAIO out of warranty: 09050 310 006 Our lines are open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday Regards, John Sony VAIO-Link Team
just to keep you all updates, I had this back from Sony today
Click on Start, type Run in the start search field, then type Regedit.exe and click ok
Navigate to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet then Control and Class
Under Class, click {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
In the right panel, right-click Upper Filters, and then click Delete.
Click yes when prompted to delete the registry value.
In the right panel, right-click Lower Filters, and then click Delete.
Click yes when prompted to delete the registry value.
Quit Registry Editor. To do this, click Exit on the File menu.
Restart the computer.
Test.
What program are you using to burn the cd's?
I got a similar reply today. It was in German though
The saga continues
this email today:-
Dear Mr Everson
Thank you for your reply
Could you please let us know what kind of CDs are you trying to record?
Please note that is not possible to record audio CDs at more than 4x speed.
What happens if you try data CDs?
Do you have any problem recording data DVDs?
What kind of CDs are you using?
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
I tried the steps outlined above but it didn't fix the issue. I have replied to sony awaiting further instructions
Thalamus,
your right, i tried that and it can see the cd rom drive again.
Mind you I still can't write above 4x speed but I'll wait for that one.
do you have any more insode info on this issue?
Many thanks
Lee
Thalamus,
your right, i tried that and it can see the cd rom drive again.
do you have any more insode info on this issue?
Happy new year everyone!
Please note that is not possible to record audio CDs at more than 4x speed.
Any one else know that you can't burn audio above 4x speed?
Got this from sony a few days ago
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for contacting Sony VAIO Link.
Regarding your optical drive issue please run the diagnostics on the drive:
1. Turn on your vaio and repeatedly tap F10.
2. You will see a screen stating Windows Is Loading Files.
3. Then a screen with edit boot options will appear, tap the enter once on this screen.
4. The recovery tools will launch.
5. Once the tools are loaded you should see a Hardware Diagnostics option. select it.
6. Click Start
7. First of all you can do quick test (this name however is misleading as it can sometimes take 2/3 hours in total) which will check each component of the computer (CPU,RAM etc)
8. If there are any errors then write down exactly what they say
It sounds as though given the troubleshooting already done this could be a hardware issue with the computer to confirm this you will need to do a full recovery of the computer:
BACKUP DATA BEFORE DOING THESE STEPS
To do a full recovery please follow the instructions below.
1. When the unit is turned off , press the power button, then tap the F10 key.
2. On the screen you should see the message 'Loading Files'.
3. If you see the message 'Edit boot options.....' , press enter.
4. The next message you should see is 'Recovery tools are being launched'
5. You should now be in the recovery console.
6. The option you should choose is 'Complete Recovery'
7. If you are asked to do a hardware diagnostics test or a system restore you can skip this step.
8. The rest of the recovery startup process is just to confirm that you understand exactly what you are doing and it also asks you are you sure?
9. When the recovery starts you do not need to be with the unit.
10. The recovery may take up to 90 minutes to complete.
11. When completed you will just have to create your account and enter a password.
If this does not resolve the issue we must repair your computer please read the following:
Please note that the repair trun around time is 5 working days depending on the part availability and payments.
The courier will collect the VAIO from your address.
Please follow these instructions in the presence of the DHL courier. This is required by DHL to ensure the secure nature of the transported product.
- Open the box and take out the plastic bag and 2 DHL Air Way Bill (AWB) labels. If the courier arrives without a box then do NOT give your unit to the courier.”
- Hand only your Vaio laptop (without any accessories) to the DHL courier who will place the VAIO in the box provided by DHL. If the VAIO has a power issue, then the ac adapter and battery need to be included also.
- Once the courier has placed your Vaio laptop in the box provided by DHL, the courier has to insert this box in the sealable security bag, making sure to fully seal the bag once the box has been inserted. As the return address labels are printed onto the secured transport bag, these should not be removed or obstructed.
Payment will be involved only if there is no problem found or if the VAIO is physically damaged. In this case should you wish to send back the VAIO unrepaired there is a flat fee aprox 148.14 gbp incl vat.
Please back up your personal data before shipping the Vaio to the repair center as Sony do not take any responsibility for their lose.
All replacement parts became property of Sony.
If you provide us with a mobile phone number, then you will receive an SMS once the unit arrives at the repair centre and on the day it ships from the repair centre.
Should you accept above repair terms and conditions please reply with the following:
- Name and surname to whom should we address the box
- The collection pickup and delivery address
- Windows login name and password
- BIOS password
- Two best contact numbers
- Email address only if you are able to access it from another computer
Important!! Once the repair is setup you will receive a confirmation email with a repair case id and date of the collection. Please note that courier will collect the VAIO in hours 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. There is no availability to collect the VAIO on weekends.
If you encounter anymore issues please respond directly to this email or alternatively you can call the following corresponding numbers.