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dwaincchm

I have been having problems with the CD/DVD reader/burner on my docking station - the Vaio is a PCG-R600HMPD. I have gone to the download area for updates but I still cannot seem to get the driver to either read or burn disks when I insert a new CD into the slot. Any recommendations? I have tried to go through Sony technical support but they have not been very insightful into a solution.

Jacko

Cheers for the tip, Kee-Lo.

I went and downloaded the Adaptec ASPI layer (from here - ftp://ftp.adaptec.com/software_pc/aspi/aspi_v470.exe ) and although it checks out ok with the enclosed ASPICHK checker, it hasn't made any difference.

CDs, CDAs and CD-Rs still 'click-click-click' give up after a while, begging "Please insert a disk into Drive E:" - and DVDs work fine (just watched Blackadder 2 again to make sure ;))

I'll try a different version of ASPI just as soon as I have worked out how to remove this one. I found a possibly useful site here http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~aa571/aspi.htm which may possibly be of use to others in the same boat as me.

kee-lo_

Hi Jacko,

Sounds a right pain really... I'm wondering if you have tried that Nero cleanup utility?

Jacko

Hi Jacko,

Sounds a right pain really... I'm wondering if you have tried that Nero cleanup utility?

Yup - scraped the whole thing several times - by hand and with utilities alleging to remove all trace of Nero. I'm as sure as I can be, that there's no trace of it left - but to be honest, I'm more worried about 'stub-ends' from CloneCD or simply a failure to replace swapped items with their originals (rather than just deleting the Nero/CloneCD versions).

For example - PXHELP20.SYS - I noticed this was left behind, and have finally removed it - but I've never been convinced if this really WAS a Nero addition, or something SONY put in. And Google's not been all that helpful determining that fact. I'm hoping SONY can clarify.

kee-lo_

Yeah I'm not too keen on CloneCD.

Jacko

A quick update on this thread (at least, as far as my 'quest' is concerned).

In my post above, I mentioned removing PX20Help.Sys. DON'T!!!!!! I did it, sometime after the above post, but its removal COMPLETELY locked out my XP after reboot. Could not even get to Safe mode, couldn't boot from CD, couldn't get to the XP login screen. Completely shut out.

Stupidly, I'd placed the PXHELP20.SYS file into a folder on my desktop, thinking I could replace it if it was a bad idea removing it in the first place... But of course, I didn't expect a TOTAL lockout, and could not get back to the files to replace them....

In the end, I had to remove the drive, and host it in ANOTHER PC. Even that wasn't smooth - the VAIO drive was NTFS-formatted, and it was a the devils own job doing a 'registry spoof' so that I could take control of the (protected) Desktop folders owned by the VAIO-user (and thus un-modifiable by the other PC's XP user!!)

Eventually, I put the PXHelp20.sys files back, undid the registry changes on the drive, and put the harddrive back into the VAIO and thank GOD it booted again.

Of course, the f&(*$^)&ing CD-RW/DVD still didn't work though....

In the end, I finally managed to get my Vaio-Link online account up and running, explained the problem, and they told me they would fix it. I had to ship the Docking Station to France..... They sent me an invoice for nearly 200 UK pounds, which freaked me out - but on further hassling, they agreed that they HAD said it would be a free fix - ONCE - when I originally contacted them.

So in the end, I got my Docking Station back... and YIPPPEE!!!! IT WORKED!!!!! I was chuffed. This was about 3 months ago now, max. Maybe less.

However, even though I have installed NOTHING which would affect the DVD/CD drivers, IT HAS DIED AGAIN!!!

Slightly different symptoms - the drive doesn't seem to 'chug-chug-click' when it can't read a disc, but it just seems to give up after a few minutes with the LED on. Can't read DVDs, CDs, shop bought CD-Audios, home-made DVD+RWs, home-made CD-ROMs, etc.

I am so frustrated....and feel I am nearing this PCG-R600HFPD VAIO's end of life (and certainly my end-of-patience). I can't afford 200 quid to get it fixed this time - I would rather put my money towards a decent DELL laptop. They NEVER used to let me down as badly as this VAIO has, their support is better (ie, THEY do it, they don't leave it to dedicated users to wrestle for themselves, like Kee-lo has here for years).

kee-lo_

Hi Jacko,

Yeah this has been a real headache on this forum, people's drives dying for no apparent reason.

I have no idea why, but I bet it's to do with MS

Jacko

Well, I've reopened my support case with SONY again, but I haven't heard anything back yet (not surprising really, it being the weekend ;))

What annoys me is that the vaio-link site contains NOTHING about there being any compatibility problem with Nero drivers or whatever.... I found that out by hunting Google for about two weeks, eventually it was tucked away on a US-only site, in connection with the 505, which is (I think) the US version of the R600 or similar, anyway.

I don't actually think the version of Nero I installed (last year, but removed very quickly afterwards) actually caused the problem - apparently it was only ONE specific Nero sub-version that messed up the firmware.... but of course, the bint who answered my original Sony Support email seized upon that as being the reason. If I have said I had spilled coffee on it, or that it was cold outside, she'd probably have said THAT was the cause, too!

I wish to god they would actually make some of these KNOWN compatibility issues, or Win-Update clashes (I'm sure it's that, really) completely public. At least then I will be able to pin down the exact problem, or know what NOT to install or do. As it is, it's a case of 'do you fancy spending £200 sending this back to SONY so that some goon can re-burn a chip (allegedly), drink coffee, send it back, and have it go tits-up again in a month's time when you've done nothing wrong. Again.

Never got this kinda sh*t off of Dell. I'm never gonna buy another SONY again, after this. Too much like hard work.

kee-lo_

They need to investigate it, as it's been happening to a lot of drives in many series, which does beg the question why is this happening and can Sony find some one who's able to say "yeah it's x and y and z needs to be done"