LG GGW-H20L - BD-R / BD-RE writing speed problems

[jack68fr]

Hi,

I read all posts from the forum about the problems behind the writing speed of the LG GGW-H20L as listed bellow :
- update to firmware 1.05
- check fastwriting on ImgBurn
- uncheck bd veryfing in Nero 8.0
But my problemes are still there, that's why i am posting a new topic.

Here is my problem :

I 've got BD-R 25 Go from SONY which can be recorded at 4x.
DVD Identifier tell me that the disc can be recorded at 1x, 2x and 4x...At this time no problem.

The problem come when i look at the DRIVE CAPABILITIES ON DISC : it tells me i can only write at 2x.
I used NERO and IMGBURN and it appears that DVD Identifier is right. I am only reaching a 2x speed recording.
Can someone help me with this case or may i ask Mulder And Scully ?

Here is the Disc Identifier Info on BD-R / -RE

[17:52:47] DVD Identifier V5.0.1
[17:52:47] Initializing Drive Interface [Auto-Select ASPI/SPTI]
[17:52:47] SPTI Drive Interface Successfully Initialized
[17:52:47] 2 Supported Drives Found (Out Of 2 Available Drives)
[17:52:47] Manufacturer Database [12-OCT-08@872$99] Loaded From File : (@872$99) Entries Found
[17:52:47] Internet Version Check Postponed Since Last Check Happened Less Than 1 Hour Ago
[17:52:50] Blu-ray Medium Detected. Starting Identification...
[17:52:50] ** Initiating PIC Retrieval
[17:52:50] PIC Read Completed Without Errors
[17:52:50] Disc Identification Completed Successfully
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique Disc Identifier : [BD-R-SL:SONY-NS2-002]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disc Type : [BD-R SL : Class 0 - Version 1]
Manufacturer Name : [Sony Recording Media Co.]
Manufacturer ID : [SONY]
Media Type ID : [NS2]
Product Revision : [002]
Stamper Date : [Not Present On Disc]
Layer Info : [1 Layer (L0) : 25.03 GB (23.31 GiB) Per Layer]
Blank Disc Capacity : [12,219,392 Sectors = 25.03 GB (23.31 GiB)]
Recording Speeds : [1x , 2x , 4x]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ DVD Identifier V5.0.1 - http://DVD.Identifier.CDfreaks.com ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the Disc Identifier Info on DRIVE CAPABILITIES ON THIS DISC

** INFO : Drive = HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L - [FW YL05] - [ATAPI]
** INFO : Write Capabilities = BD-R BD-RE
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD+R DVD+R-DL DVD+RW
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD-R DVD-R-DL DVD-RW DVD-RAM
** INFO : Disc = [BD-R-SL:SONY-NS2-002]
** INFO : Reference Speed : 1x BD = 4496 kBps = 3.25x DVD
** INFO : An Writeable Disc Is Recommended For Accurate Results
** INFO : Write Speeds (Supported By This Drive On This Disc) Listed Below

** INFO : GET PERFORMANCE Write Speed Descriptor(s)
Descriptor #1 = 8991 kBps ( 2.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

** INFO : MODE SENSE Write Speed Descriptor(s) [Legacy Command]
** WARNING : MODE SENSE Is Obsolete And Not Always Properly Supported
Descriptor #1 = 8991 kBps ( 2.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

My pc configuration is attached.

Thank you for your help.

Jacques

[Ian]

The disc may be rated at 4x, but the LG supports it at only 2x.

If you want to write at 6x, you're going to need media from Maxell, TDK or Verbatim. Verbatim's 2x BD-R media is probably your best bet as its easy to find, relatively affordable and works at 6x.

[jack68fr]

Thank you for the answer ian. i am going to buy some verbatim.
i keep you posted.

[frank1]

I opened the latest YL05 firmware for this LG GGW-H20L burner with MCSE
and found 7 Sony ID codes entries among the BD-R's.
2 of these 7 Sony codes can be written at 4x

There is an entry for SONY-NS2-000 with only a one possible recording speed: 2X
This should mean: Product Revision : [000] for this BD-R code.

But there is no sign of the exact code mentioned by jack68fr !
Manufacturer ID : [SONY]
Media Type ID : [NS2]
Product Revision : [002]

[frank1]

I opened the downloaded YL05 firmware [a file named GGW-H20L_YL05 . exe]
in MCSE and inside it says: ...-H20N

I will try to find out if there is a mix-up ...
BTW does anybody know the exact difference between the 2 burners: -H20L and -H20N ? ?

[frank1]

. . . I will try to find out if there is a mix-up ...
BTW does anybody know the exact difference between the 2 burners: -H20L and -H20N ? ?

So I dowloaded all the firmwares
YLxx for the -H20L burner
and XLxx the -H20N burner
from this official location:
http://www.lge.com/support/software.jsp

I had a look at them:
YL03 & XL03
YL04 & XL04
YL05 & XL05
Except the name of the dowloaded file they look the same in bytes size and when you load then in MCSE

[frank1]

Though if you own a OEM version of this GGW-H20L burner, like for example the one build in by Medion you are with a YD03 firmware.
In that case it is not possible to flash your drive with an official YLxx update from LG and you have no update available from Medion (probably for a very long time).

Some people complain that with this YD03 they are unable to use some (exotics ?) BD media codes.

A solution is to crossflash the drive to an official YLxx firmware using a tool that ala-42 has put in the latest version of his MCSE:
http://ala42.cdfreaks.com/MCSE/

Latest Version: MediaCodeSpeedEdit V1.1.0.21, adding support for latest Liteon clones
and LG bluray crossflash