lightscribe
Lightscribe label problems with TDK media
03/03/06 05:26
Well, since I couldn't find anymore Vebatim
lightscribe media I thought I would try the TDK
lightscribe CDRs that I found in its place. It looked
the same but my Surething 4.x software would not
accept it for labeling at all.
The first error would always say that the disk was not a lightscribe disk, and the second error would simply say internal error from the software.
I have a HP 640i DVD Writer with firmware CS30. I was stumped... I read forums, asked Google but ntohing was making the problem go away. I did dig up a couple of Verbatim disks and they would burn just fine but nothing doing for the TDK.
Finally I thought to try reflashing the DVD drive with a different 640C firmware (it is confusing that there are multiple versions of firmware bearing similar names). This firmware said it was JS04 for the 640i revision C drive.
Anyways, I loaded it in, rebooted the computer and suddenly Surething says I have a blank lightscribe disk waiting to be printed on. Very strange but it worked for me. The only side effect so far is that after the normal 30 minutes to burn my label to the CD, the lightscribe label on the CDR comes out much lighter than it ever did when using the CS30 firmware. I guess the solution is not 100% final. Using Verbatim lightscribe disks does not have this problem, under CS30 or the newer JS04 firmware.
The first error would always say that the disk was not a lightscribe disk, and the second error would simply say internal error from the software.
I have a HP 640i DVD Writer with firmware CS30. I was stumped... I read forums, asked Google but ntohing was making the problem go away. I did dig up a couple of Verbatim disks and they would burn just fine but nothing doing for the TDK.
Finally I thought to try reflashing the DVD drive with a different 640C firmware (it is confusing that there are multiple versions of firmware bearing similar names). This firmware said it was JS04 for the 640i revision C drive.
Anyways, I loaded it in, rebooted the computer and suddenly Surething says I have a blank lightscribe disk waiting to be printed on. Very strange but it worked for me. The only side effect so far is that after the normal 30 minutes to burn my label to the CD, the lightscribe label on the CDR comes out much lighter than it ever did when using the CS30 firmware. I guess the solution is not 100% final. Using Verbatim lightscribe disks does not have this problem, under CS30 or the newer JS04 firmware.
Lightscribe CD labeling
03/09/05 01:03
Well, I finally cracked for a lightscribe CD/DVD
burner. For those that don't know, lightscribe is a
Hewlett Packard technology that allows you to flip
the CD and use the CD burners laser's to write an
image/ label to the CD. This saves from buying
labels, running them through printers, and then
possibly destabilizing your CD if the label is not
put on correctly.
Well, all I can say is that it is ok. The CD's do look much better than the black/ white labels I was making before. However, a best quality image takes about 30 minutes to write to the CD cover and although they look great in bright to moderate light, a dimly lit place will not do them justice. I've also heard that the DVD's with lightscribe look a little blurry due to an extra layer of plastic on those.
And of course you do need to buy lightscribe supported blank CD/DVDs which are in general twice the price as your normal blank CD/DVD's. So, while they are better than what I was using and I did need something more than writing with a pen on the CD, they may not be for everyone.
Oh, if you do get a lightscribe drive, it is worth checking if there are any firmware updates for the CD drive or lightscribe printing engine updates for the computer. I had some strange banding issues where solid black should have been until I updated the lightscribe printing engine from HP's website.
Well, all I can say is that it is ok. The CD's do look much better than the black/ white labels I was making before. However, a best quality image takes about 30 minutes to write to the CD cover and although they look great in bright to moderate light, a dimly lit place will not do them justice. I've also heard that the DVD's with lightscribe look a little blurry due to an extra layer of plastic on those.
And of course you do need to buy lightscribe supported blank CD/DVDs which are in general twice the price as your normal blank CD/DVD's. So, while they are better than what I was using and I did need something more than writing with a pen on the CD, they may not be for everyone.
Oh, if you do get a lightscribe drive, it is worth checking if there are any firmware updates for the CD drive or lightscribe printing engine updates for the computer. I had some strange banding issues where solid black should have been until I updated the lightscribe printing engine from HP's website.