LG GCE-8520B strange problems.

[heappy]

Hi all.
I've recently bought an LG GCE-8520b recorder after my old TEAC CD-540E sadly passed away. I must say I am not satisfied with LG because:
* Windows 2000 option "Enable digital audio for this device" is not working - when I try to enable it, I get a warning saying "This device has not been shown to support digital audio playback. You may have problems." And I do hear all kinds of pops and clicks whenever I play an audio CD (tested on different original CDs) with this option on, or with Winamp's CDReader plugin.
* It will sometimes not recognize medias, while other times everything is perfectly Ok. It is not media-related because I use only one kind of media, plus it happens with the same CD.
* EAC will not recognize it as a writer with blank CD-Rs ("Can't determine write speeds"), while when using CD-RW everything is smooth.
* Plus sometimes when I try to check media info (with various programms), it gets stuck, and won't eject the CD-R.

I've tried all kinds of solutions - reinstalling IDE drivers for Windows, reinstalling ASPI layer, I've flashed it with 1.04 firmware, and I even flashed it with a GCE-8480B firmware (this time EAC seemed to work fine), but it stays the same. I've tried it on different PC - same thing. I replaced it in the shop, but nothing changed.

I have to say that I own a LG GCE-8400B for some time now, and I'm more than satisfied with it. It's a shame I can't buy another one like it.

My config: Windows 2000, LG is connected as secondary master with no slave.

I'll be glad to hear any suggestions.

[CDRecorder]

Welcome to CDRLabs, heappy!

Have you updated your firmware? I would recommend that you upgrade it to the latest version if you haven't already. You can download the upgrade at LG's website.

[jedimc]

I had none of the problems you have,It Automatically had "Enable digital audio for this device" on and i have never had trouble playing music, try using other music and see if its the same.it could be a windows 2000 problem have you updated all your ide drivers.

my config:windows ME, intel 810e chipset,Lg connected to secondary master

[heappy]

Welcome to CDRLabs, heappy!

Thanks, glad to join.

Have you updated your firmware? I would recommend that you upgrade it to the latest version if you haven't already. You can download the upgrade at LG's website.

I have tried all of these things with 1.0 firmware that the drive came with, then I flashed with 1.04 - the problems stayed, and then I tried 1.06 firmware for GCE-8480b - I deliberatly slowed it down. The problems stayed (except for EAC not recording), and some others have shown. I'm now back to 1.04.

try using other music and see if its the same

It is not disc problem, since I tried several original discs, plus these discs play fine in GCE-8400 and even in my 8-years old home stereo.

it could be a windows 2000 problem have you updated all your ide drivers.

I did reinstall IDE drivers several times. But what's worst, I tried to install it on another PC, with completely different configuration, the only thing that is the same is Win2K (but the drivers are of course different) - no changes (the GCE-8400B though works fine on that same PC).

[CDRecorder]

Maybe the drive is just bad.

If it wouldn't be too hard, I think your best option would be to exchange it for another.

[Scrondar]

the only thing that is the same is Win2K

Is it possible this is your problem? As solid as Win2K is as network client, I never (after using it for about a year) found it to be as hardware or multimedia freindly as I needed at home. WinXP Pro, however, has been a joy for all my upgrades, and my 8520B runs like a quiet rocket on it. EAC, CloneCD, Roxio, it all works flawlessly with the LG for me.