How to "unlock" capability in LG Electronics model GH22LP20

[Dastari]

Hi

I have an LG Electronics GH22LP20 burner. According to the documentation in the user's manual on the LG site, the write speeds available for a DVD+R DL disc should be: 2.4X, 4X, 6X, 8X, 10X, 12X, and 16X. Then I use the program ConvertXtoDVD to try to burn various multimedia files as a DVD. However, the program forces me to a 4X minimum no matter what else I select. It does recognize that I am using a DVD+R DL disc because it says that it is recognized as such on the log files that the program outputs.

I first tried using a Memorex DVD+R DL 8X disc and I got the options: 4X, 6X, and 8X.

Then I tried using a Verbatim DVD+R DL 8X disc and I got the options: 4X, 6X, 8X, and 10X.

Finally I tried using a Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4X disc and I only got the 4X option.

I would like to burn at the slower speed to maximize quality but the program doesn't seem to recognize that the burner is supposed to be able to burn at 2.4X. I have spoken on the ConvertXtoDVD forums and the people there do not have this problem although they are using different burners than mine. However, the program gives some of them the option of going all of the way down to 1X. So first I wonder if I have a hardware problem with my drive or if for some reason the ConvertXtoDVD software doesn't recognize that my drive has this capability for some reason.

I am not a very big expert on either hardware or software or where the various problems may be or if I even misunderstand the data given on the LG Electronics site. I would post a link to the manual but the site doesn't allow direct links to the manuals but someone can go to the site and look up the drive to see the information posted there.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ian]

I can't say that I've tried burning at 2.4x with that drive, but that writing speed is definitely listed in the firmware.

DVD+R9 supported media types: 30
------------------------------------------
CMC MAG D01 2.4x
CMC MAG D02 8x,4x,2.4x
CMC MAG D03 8x,4x,2.4x
CMC MAG D04 4x,2.4x
CMC MAG D06 16x,12x,8x,4x,2.4x
DEFAULT1 6 8x,4x,2.4x
DEFAULT2 P4 2.4x
DEFAULT4 4x,2.4x
DEFAULT6 6x,4x,2.4x
DEFAULT8 8x,4x,2.4x
INFOME D01 2.4x
ISSM D00 2.4x
MBIPG101 R10 8x,4x,2.4x
MBIPG101 R12 8x,4x,2.4x
MKM 001 4x,2.4x
MKM 003 10x,8x,4x,2.4x
PHILIPS CD2 4x,2.4x
PHILIPS PD2 2.4x
PRODISC D01 4x,2.4x
Plasmon3 D02 8x,4x,2.4x
RICOHJPN D00 2.4x
RICOHJPN D01 8x,4x,2.4x
RICOHJPN D01 8x,4x,2.4x
RICOHJPN D02 16x,12x,8x,4x,2.4x
RITEK D01 4x,2.4x
RITEK D03 8x,4x,2.4x
RITEK S04 8x,4x,2.4x
RITEK S06 16x,12x,8x,4x,2.4x
RITEK S06 16x,12x,8x,4x,2.4x
UMEDISC DL1 8x,4x,2.4x

Are you able to choose the 2.4x writing speed with other applications, such as ImgBurn? If so, its probably an issue with ConvertXtoDVD.

[Dastari]

Ok well here's what happens. I put in the Verbatim 2.4X DVD and the following displays on ImgBurn:

HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LP20 1.00 (RAID)
Current Profile: DVD+R DL

Disc Information:
Status: Empty
Erasable: No
Free Sectors: 4,173,824
Free Space: 8,547,991,552 bytes
Free Time: 927:32:74 (MM:SS:FF)
Supported Write Speeds: 4x

DVD±R DL Boundary Information:
L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,086,912
Changeable: Yes

Physical Format Information (ADIP):
Disc ID: MKM-001-00
Book Type: DVD+R DL
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 2
Track Path: Opposite Track Path (OTP)
Linear Density: 0.293 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 16,580,607
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 2,283,519

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: MKM-001-00
Book Type: DVD+R DL
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 2
Track Path: Opposite Track Path (OTP)
Linear Density: 0.293 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 16,580,607
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 2,283,519

Performance (Write Speed):
Descriptor 1...
-> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00
-> EL: 4173823 (0x003FAFFF)
-> RS: 11,080 KB/s (8x) - WS: 5,540 KB/s (4x)

As you see it tells me that my only option is burning at 4X. I try to override it and set the write speed to 2.4X. This is the log file that results:

I 18:14:42 ImgBurn Version 2.4.4.0 started!
I 18:14:42 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition (6.0, Build 6001 : Service Pack 1)
I 18:14:42 Total Physical Memory: 3,134,836 KB - Available: 1,692,016 KB
I 18:14:42 Initialising SPTI...
I 18:14:42 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 18:14:42 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 1 DVD±RW/RAM!
I 18:16:13 Operation Started!
I 18:16:13 Source Device: [4:0:0] Optiarc DVD-ROM DDU1675A 1.10 (E:) (RAID)
I 18:16:13 Source Media Type: DVD-ROM
I 18:16:13 Source Media Sectors: 2,312,768 (Track Path: OTP - L0: 1,156,400 - L1: 1,156,368)
I 18:16:13 Source Media Size: 4,736,548,864 bytes
I 18:16:13 Source Media Volume Identifier: Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:16:13 Source Media Volume Set Identifier: 3AB7B606________Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:16:13 Source Media Implementation Identifier: VsoSoftware
I 18:16:13 Source Media File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 18:16:13 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / 8x
I 18:16:13 Destination File: D:\Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen.iso
I 18:16:13 Destination Free Space: 954,327,031,808 bytes (931,959,992 KB) (910,117 MB) (888 GB)
I 18:16:13 Destination File System: NTFS
I 18:16:13 File Splitting: Auto
I 18:16:14 Reading Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:16:14 Reading Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:16:14 Reading Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1156399)
I 18:22:02 Reading Layer 1... (LBA: 1156400 - 2312767)
I 18:27:50 Exporting Graph Data...
I 18:27:50 Graph Data File: C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\Optiarc_DVD-ROM_DDU1675A_1.10_SUNDAY-MAY-24-2009_6-16_PM_N-A.ibg
I 18:27:50 Export Successfully Completed!
I 18:27:50 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:11:36
I 18:27:50 Average Read Rate: 6,645 KB/s (4.8x) - Maximum Read Rate: 8,990 KB/s (6.5x)
I 18:30:10 Operation Started!
I 18:30:10 Source Device: [4:0:0] Optiarc DVD-ROM DDU1675A 1.10 (E:) (RAID)
I 18:30:10 Source Media Type: DVD-ROM
I 18:30:10 Source Media Sectors: 2,312,768 (Track Path: OTP - L0: 1,156,400 - L1: 1,156,368)
I 18:30:10 Source Media Size: 4,736,548,864 bytes
I 18:30:10 Source Media Volume Identifier: Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:30:10 Source Media Volume Set Identifier: 3AB7B606________Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:30:10 Source Media Implementation Identifier: VsoSoftware
I 18:30:10 Source Media File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 18:30:10 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / 8x
I 18:30:10 Destination File: D:\Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen.iso
I 18:30:10 Destination Free Space: 949,590,470,656 bytes (927,334,444 KB) (905,600 MB) (884 GB)
I 18:30:10 Destination File System: NTFS
I 18:30:10 File Splitting: Auto
E 18:30:16 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:00:06
E 18:30:16 Average Read Rate: N/A - Maximum Read Rate: N/A
I 18:31:15 Operation Started!
I 18:31:15 Source Device: [4:0:0] Optiarc DVD-ROM DDU1675A 1.10 (E:) (RAID)
I 18:31:15 Source Media Type: DVD-ROM
I 18:31:15 Source Media Sectors: 2,312,768 (Track Path: OTP - L0: 1,156,400 - L1: 1,156,368)
I 18:31:15 Source Media Size: 4,736,548,864 bytes
I 18:31:15 Source Media Volume Identifier: Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:31:15 Source Media Volume Set Identifier: 3AB7B606________Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:31:15 Source Media Implementation Identifier: VsoSoftware
I 18:31:15 Source Media File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 18:31:15 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / 8x
I 18:31:15 Destination File: D:\Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen.iso
I 18:31:15 Destination Free Space: 949,590,470,656 bytes (927,334,444 KB) (905,600 MB) (884 GB)
I 18:31:15 Destination File System: NTFS
I 18:31:15 File Splitting: Auto
E 18:31:20 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:00:05
E 18:31:20 Average Read Rate: N/A - Maximum Read Rate: N/A
I 18:34:22 Operation Started!
I 18:34:22 Source File: D:\Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen.mds
I 18:34:22 Source File Sectors: 2,312,768 (MODE1/2048)
I 18:34:22 Source File Size: 4,736,548,864 bytes
I 18:34:22 Source File Volume Identifier: Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:34:22 Source File Volume Set Identifier: 3AB7B606________Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:34:22 Source File Implementation Identifier: VsoSoftware
I 18:34:22 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 18:34:22 Destination Device: [4:1:0] HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LP20 1.00 (F:) (RAID)
I 18:34:22 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) (Speeds: 4x)
I 18:34:22 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824
I 18:34:22 Write Mode: DVD
I 18:34:22 Write Type: DAO
I 18:34:22 Write Speed: 2.4x
I 18:34:22 Link Size: Auto
I 18:34:22 Lock Volume: Yes
I 18:34:22 Test Mode: No
I 18:34:22 OPC: No
I 18:34:22 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 18:34:22 Book Type Setting: DVD-ROM
I 18:34:22 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,156,400
I 18:34:22 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: Copied From Original Disc
I 18:34:22 Set L0 Data Zone Capacity Succeeded!
I 18:34:22 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 18:34:23 Writing LeadIn...
I 18:34:56 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:34:56 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:34:56 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1156399)
I 18:42:37 Writing Layer 1... (LBA: 1156400 - 2312767)
I 18:49:48 Synchronising Cache...
I 18:50:10 Closing Track...
I 18:50:40 Finalising Disc...
I 18:50:52 Exporting Graph Data...
I 18:50:52 Graph Data File: C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\HL-DT-ST_DVD-RAM_GH22LP20_1.00_SUNDAY-MAY-24-2009_6-34_PM_MKM-001-00_2.4x.ibg
I 18:50:52 Export Successfully Completed!
I 18:50:52 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:16:29
I 18:50:52 Average Write Rate: 5,191 KB/s (3.7x) - Maximum Write Rate: 5,598 KB/s (4.0x)
I 18:50:52 Cycling Tray before Verify...
W 18:51:04 Waiting for device to become ready...
I 18:51:18 Device Ready!
I 18:51:20 Operation Started!
I 18:51:20 Source Device: [4:1:0] HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LP20 1.00 (F:) (RAID)
I 18:51:20 Source Media Type: DVD+R DL (Book Type: DVD-ROM) (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) (Speeds: 4x)
I 18:51:20 Image File: D:\Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen.mds
I 18:51:20 Image File Sectors: 2,312,768 (MODE1/2048)
I 18:51:20 Image File Size: 4,736,548,864 bytes
I 18:51:20 Image File Volume Identifier: Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:51:20 Image File Volume Set Identifier: 3AB7B606________Yume Senshi Ai Eien ni...Saturn Fukkatsu Hen
I 18:51:20 Image File Implementation Identifier: VsoSoftware
I 18:51:20 Image File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02)
I 18:51:20 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX
I 18:51:20 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:51:20 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 2312767)
I 18:51:20 Verifying Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1156399)
I 18:59:00 Verifying Layer 1... (LBA: 1156400 - 2312767)
I 19:06:38 Exporting Graph Data...
I 19:06:38 Graph Data File: C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\HL-DT-ST_DVD-RAM_GH22LP20_1.00_SUNDAY-MAY-24-2009_6-34_PM_MKM-001-00_2.4x.ibg
I 19:06:38 Export Successfully Completed!
I 19:06:38 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:15:17
I 19:06:38 Average Verify Rate: 5,044 KB/s (3.6x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 6,996 KB/s (5.1x)

As you can see, even though I manually set it to 2.4X, it ended up burning at 4X speed. I also verified this from the window that opens during burn. The write speed quickly reached 4X during the burn and stayed that way during the entire burn.

So the only thing that I can think is that either my drive itself is bad or whatever process IMGBURN and CONVERTXtoDVD queries the drive to see which speeds are available is wrong. Is this some sort of driver issue? I'm running Windows Vista and it tells me that I have the correct drivers installed for this drive.

Let me know what might be causing this. The reason why it is important is that I'm having trouble burning some DVD's that I want to play in my home player. The guys on the ConvertXtoDVD forum told me that it is likely that I am burning to fast. They never burn anything faster than 2.4X for use in a home DVD player so I'd like to have that capability as well.

Any help is appreciated.

[Ian]

You're using good quality media so I doubt slowing it down to 2.4x will help with compatiblity. One thing you might try to do is set the book type to DVD-ROM.

[Dastari]

You're using good quality media so I doubt slowing it down to 2.4x will help with compatiblity. One thing you might try to do is set the book type to DVD-ROM.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by setting the "book type" to DVD ROM. Is that something that I do in my DVD player somehow? I am a technical person and I'm an electrical engineer by trade but I'm use to dealing more with industrial logic devices. I have little experience dealing with computers although I understand how they work on a basic level. I've just never had to burn anything before that wasn't data so learning all about different media tapes and the fact that one DVD-ROM isn't the same as another is all new to me as are these programs that I'm downloading. I never used IMGBURN until you just suggested it and I downloaded it. So basically that's just a longwinded way of saying that I can be taught but I know little about this subject matter.

However, even with this issue aside I do want to figure out why I can't get my drive to burn at 2.4X speed. It is in the manufacturer's specs so even if that isn't my problem it is something that I want to fix.

Something that was suggested to me over on the ConvertXtoDVD forum was that I may have the wrong firmware version. Out of curiosity was the firmware that you posted above 1.00 or a later version? I currently have 1.00 but I'm going to upgrade to 1.03 and see if that makes a difference. Any information that you can give me would be appreciated or any other ideas on how to make this thing burn at 2.4X speed would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ian]

With some drives, you can set the bits (aka bitsetting) so that a disc is identified as a DVD-ROM rather than say a DVD+R or DVD+R DL. Some players have issues when they see something other than DVD-ROM and this will help them play back the disc. I'm not sure if ImgBurn supports bitsetting with LG drives (I'm guessing it does.. it supports everything else) but I know that Nero does.

The firwmare that I posted was 1.02.

[Dastari]

Well here's my issue...By switching to Verbatim 8X discs I was able to successfully create a DVD from the file that was giving me trouble. However, I still have a lot of Memorex discs left as well as some Verbatim 2.4X discs which I bought back when I thought that my drive could burn 2.4X. I have over 50 of those and those were VERY expensive. I'd like to still unlock this capability somehow so that I can chug through my low quality media at the slower speed and use the higher quality media. Verbatim 8X discs are very hard to find around here. I was only able to find them at Best Buy and they were the kind that were only 5 to a pack with jewel cases. I couldn't find them offered in a spindle set at all. I find the Verbatim 2.4X a lot but if I can't figure out a way of burning at the slower speed then I can't use those.

I updated my firmware to version 1.03 and for some reason IMGBURN and ConvertXtoDVD both still do not recognize the 2.4X speed. Any further ideas would be appreciated.

[Dastari]

One other thing that I guess that I should ask is how did you obtain the information on the firmware for 1.02? Is it a method that can be utilized on my end for 1.03? I can't imagine why they would add this capability for 1.02 and then take it away for 1.03 but if I can get some sort of verification of what is written in the 1.03 firmware, I can discover if I should actually downgrade down to 1.02.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Ian]

I used a program called MediaCodeSpeedEdit (http://ala42.cdfreaks.com/MCSE/)

[Dartman]

You might want to get a second burner that likes the Memorex media you have now.Some of the LG drives that are based on the renesis chipset, I believe, do very well with any low quality media and possibly the NEC based burners would be a good bet as well, like the new 7240, or one of the Pioneer series of drives.
My old LG H22n does very well with about any DL media I feed it and my Pioneer 111 did well too.

[Ian]

I dunno... I haven't found a drive yet that works well with Memorex's 2.4x DL media.

[Dartman]

I agree they make crappy stuff most times but the H22n has made playable copies of every cheap DL media I have tried with it and my 111 wasn't far behind so if he wants to try and use it up those would be my choices for drives that may make workable copies.
Other option is try to get them to replace it and hope he gets something better from them that his drive does work with.