Can anyone offer me advice on a TDK dvdrw1280b?
It must be over 2 years old now, and struggling to read/write dvds. Whenever I put a blank dvd in to write to, it changes the drive to a cd drive!
It runs off the original windows drivers on xp pro, but surely they need updating?
Got my system over 3 years ago then the writer a year or so later and installed it myself with no problems for a couple of years.
Have tried the TDK site, but they no longer list dvd writers, so think they have sold that off.
Any help is much appreciated.
eddie.
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Straight after posting, I found the tdk ts74 firmware update, and installed and ran it, but still same problem, so might be a fault with the unit.
Any help still very welcome, Thanks
Eddie

Support Information:
Device Type: CD / DVD
Manufacturer: tdk
Model: dvdrw1280b
Interface: IDE
Operating System: Windows XP Professional
Age of Device: < 2 years old
FCCID: <- what the hell is that?

Type of drive: dvd-r/cd-rw (dvd burner, dvd reader, &amp; cd burner combo)
Location: internal
What recording software are you using?: Nero/version

Find it on DriverGuide (http://members.driverguide.com/index.php?action=srch&sm=b&aax=&qa6=0&qa5=3&qa7=1500&dp=2&qm0=dvdrw1280b&jmd=and&fzz=d) | Find it with Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=tdk+CD+%2F+DVD+tdk+dvdrw1280b+Windows+XP+Profess ional+%3C-+what+the+hell+is+that%3F)

Can anyone offer me advice on a TDK dvdrw1280b?
It must be over 2 years old now, and struggling to read/write dvds.!
Mine is older than yours and I don't have any such problem. Could you be more detailed with your problem and include details from Device Manager?

Whenever I put a blank dvd in to write to, it changes the drive to a cd drive!
This is not possible, please explain how you believe it is possible. DVD drives will always remain such unless you start messing with firmware.... then they can become "blank" drives if the update is not done properly. That usually requires sending them back to a repair center.

It runs off the original windows drivers on xp pro, but surely they need updating?!
Nothing needs updating except the os and possibly the recording and dvd decoding software. Drivers are not required.

Got my system over 3 years ago then the writer a year or so later and installed it myself with no problems for a couple of years.
Have tried the TDK site, but they no longer list dvd writers, so think they have sold that off.
TDK is very much alive: http://www.tdk.com/consumer/support/index.html
However, you won't find Windows drivers posted, since none exist. Drivers are only required (and available) for DOS os.

Straight after posting, I found the tdk ts74 firmware update, and installed and ran it, but still same problem, so might be a fault with the unit.
Are you sure that's the correct firmware? Did the update "take"? Do you now see the new firmware version when you go into "Properties" of the drive? I updated mine with firmware from TDK and I had no problem after doing so. Didn't have any problems before updating but I updated so I would have dual-layer burning capability. Before updating, I could only burn to a single-layer dvd.
Updating firmware usually does not fix a non-working drive... it only updates features of the drive or sometimes fixes minor problems with a drive and it's burning process.

It sounds like you have a drive that needs repair. Have you tested it in another machine to see if the same problems follow it?

This is not possible, please explain how you believe it is possible. DVD drives will always remain such unless you start messing with firmware....

You tell me! That's why I asked for help!
I would get a 'power calibration error' using nero 6.6.0.8 within 1% of burning a data disk.
I would close everything down, then re-insert a blank dvd+r and nothing would happen, except the disk id in 'my computer' would change from 'dvd/rw' to 'cd-drive'.
The drive light would flash, but wouldn't run the disk.
I'd try a dvd film and again, nothing would happen.

TDK is very much alive: http://www.tdk.com/consumer/support/index.html
However, you won't find Windows drivers posted, since none exist.

I wasn't looking for windows drivers, I was looking for a firmware update, which I believe is the T7S4, which is the firmware already installed. Have since found the T7S4 patch and re-installed which went ok.

Since then, I googled the 'power calibration error dvd-rw1280b' and found a problem someone else had.
Some say cheap media, but this guy reckons for some reason, the dma settings change to 'pio' which make it unusable.
He suggested un-installing the drive and re-installing it, to reset the dma settings. Tried that and it seems to be working again.

Have updated my nero to 6.6.1.4 or something like that and problem seems to have gone.

I did buy the drive off ebay, so maybe it is telling me it's on its last legs.
I did have some malware/trojans on my system but rooted them out, maybe they altered something or knackered my registry settings.
Who knows, but seems to be working again now.
Thanks anyway.
eddie.

Your post does state "Driver Needed". Perhaps the tech support section would have been a more appropriate place to ask similar questions in the future.

I would close everything down, then re-insert a blank dvd+r and nothing would happen, except the disk id in 'my computer' would change from 'dvd/rw' to 'cd-drive'.
The drive light would flash, but wouldn't run the disk.
I'd try a dvd film and again, nothing would happen.

I am having the exact same problem.
Any updates on this issue?