how to identify the ltd 166s from box

[hammad]

can someone please tell me how to identify the LITEON DVD ROM DRIVE LTD 166s from outside just by seeing the box,because i cant open all the box in the shop to distinguish between 165h and 166s.


thanks

[cfitz]

Hey hammad, you could have put this in the DVD forum. It is a perfectly valid question to ask in the technical forums. In fact, it would have been more approprite there.

Anway, I can't guarantee the following, but it might be something if no one else comes up with anything better. The 166S was released after the 165H. If LiteOn stopped manufacturing the 165H models after they started manufacturing the 166S models, then you could use the serial number and/or manufacturing date as a guide. I have a 166S made in September 2002 with S/N 225236009500. If my hypothesis is correct and you find a drive made later than that with a higher serial number, then it should be a 166S. I know it is a big "if", so hopefully someone can come up with something more definitive for you.

cfitz

[hammad]

thanks for reminding me that

actually i was reading the nero question from the index and i just hit POST

i am sorry for that and remember that mistake so it dont haappen in future.

ur serial no idea seems good but is ther any proper serial number to identify

[cfitz]

I can report that if you buy a LiteOn box itself (as opposed to a rebadged LiteOn), the serial number and manufacture date are printed on the outside of the box. The same might be true for rebadged models as well - you will have to look and see.

cfitz

[vbl117]

Sorry but cfitz hypothesis is wrong .
I ve bought a LTD-166S one week ago .
It was manufactured in August 2002 and s/n is 102235006221 ( lower than cfitz serial number although is drive has been manufactured later ) .

[Ian]

My 166S was manufactured in August 2002 too.

[vbl117]

Perhaps some users can say where they bought their 166S if you say where you live .
Mine is from the "Leclerc" Supermarket ( France) . 48 euros .

On the box the drive dimensions were writed .
145.8 x 41.3x x 170 mm .
Only 165H/166S models measures 170 mm length .
163D/163 models measures 190 mm length .

[cfitz]

Sorry but cfitz hypothesis is wrong .
I ve bought a LTD-166S one week ago .
It was manufactured in August 2002 and s/n is 102235006221 ( lower than cfitz serial number although is drive has been manufactured later ) .

Not that my feelings would be hurt if my hypothesis was wrong, but, vbl117, your data does not invalidate my hypothesis. I merely suggested that since my 166S was made in September 2002 with S/N 225236009500, any drives made later than that with higher serial numbers ought to be 166S models also. I didn't say anything about drives made earlier with lower serial numbers. I'm not so self-centered to believe that 166S drives did not exist before I bought mine...

Maybe this restatement of my hypothesis would help you understand better what I was saying:

September 2002 with S/N 225236009500 or later = 166S
September 2002 with S/N 225236009499 or earlier = unknown

Of course, now that you have reported an August 2002 drive with S/N 102235006221, we could perhaps extend the hypothetical 165H to 166S transistion even earlier and say any drive made in August 2002 with S/N 102235006221 or later is a 166S. However, since I don't think LiteOn has made 123,001,003,279 DVD-ROM drives between August and September, we can probably conclude the serial numbers are not simple linear progressions, and the most significant digits probably indicate things like the plant of manufacture, etc.

So how about this for the latest version of the hypothesis, subject to revision if more data arrives:

drives with 102235... series serial numbers:
August 2002 with S/N 102235006221 or later = 166S
August 2002 with S/N 102235006220 or earlier = unknown

drives with 225236... series serial numbers:
September 2002 with S/N 225236009500 or later = 166S
September 2002 with S/N 225236009499 or earlier = unknown

If you want to disprove the hypothesis (and please do so if you can - it would help anyone trying to ensure that they get a 166S), you need to produce a 165H drive with a 102235 series serial number that was made August 2002 or later with S/N 102235006222 or higher, or you need to produce a 165H with a 225236 series serial number that was made September 2002 or later with S/N 225236009501 or higher.

cfitz

[dodecahedron]

However, since I don't think LiteOn has made 123,001,003,279 DVD-ROM drives between August and September,

LOL

[vbl117]

you're right , your hypothesis must be right .
If S/N does not obey to linear progression but to an unknown code it can be an useless clue .
But you re right i have to prove it and my S/N does not prove it since it is lower than yours ( in a mad/insane way , i had the sense it was bigger than yours , but this is obviously the contrary ) .
I feel like a moron ( misunderstanting and when understanding , arguing in a wrong and absurd way ) .

I don't want to disprove anything since you are arguing very well and since i seem actually only able to argue in a weird/false/moron way .

[mike_s104]

I got a 166S and the date on it is Sept. 2002. on thing I did notice comparing the box to the 163's box...it's a lot shorter. don't know if that holds true for the 165 or not. you could just buy it online at a place that states it being a 166S.

[cfitz]

you're right , your hypothesis must be right .

I don't want to disprove anything since you are arguing very well and since i seem actually only able to argue in a weird/false/moron way .

vbl117, you are being too hard on yourself. First of all, my hypothesis is just a hypothesis. It hasn't been proven wrong, but it hasn't been proven right either. I'd be happy with it being proven either way, because that would mean we have more information. Second, you aren't arguing in a "weird/false/moron way." You just misunderstood my hypothesis. It is no big deal - everyone makes mistakes. Don't let it discourage you from contributing here again.

cfitz

[cfitz]

I got a 166S and the date on it is Sept. 2002. on thing I did notice comparing the box to the 163's box...it's a lot shorter. don't know if that holds true for the 165 or not. you could just buy it online at a place that states it being a 166S.

Yes, as vbl117 kindly pointed out, the 163/163D series is a different size than the 165H/166S series. But hammad was looking for a way to distinguish between the 165H and 166S within the 165H/166S series. And you are right that the best way would be to find a retailer who unequivocally states that they are selling the 166S. That may or may not be easy to do depending on the retailers available in one's area. Most retailers that I have dealt with don't know themselves what they are selling. One online retailer that does know, and does allow you to choose the specific model you want, is www.newegg.com .

cfitz