When do you think is a good time to replace your DVD drive. For example, when trying to rip a CD to FLAC, using advanced processes and checks, often there are no problems. However, recently, in very rare cases, the drive has trouble with 1 or two tracks that my laptop rips with ease.
Does this mean that the drive is starting to go? Additionally, I barely use this drive. I think I use it a few times a year.
The drive is an ASUS.
That doesn't sound like a drive problem. I've seen that with the discs themselves and not the drive. I have a recording studio and do a lot of recording for singers with Karaoke CD's. Its usually a dirty CD that is the culprit.
Some drives are more sensitive to dirty discs than others and maybe the difference. But, drives are cheap and you can get a replacement for about $25 at www.newegg.com
All CD/R disks aren't created equal, some brands are better, some make good coasters. I've had good luck with Memorex and Sony for two.
Strange, as Memorex is the brand we saw most of the problems with on the Dell forums. It is one brand that I tell my clients not to use.
I actually purchased a new Asus DVD drive and it was still having the same problems depending on the CD I wanted to rip. I returned that one and purchased a Lite-On instead. Boy does this thing do a much better job! Less insecure rips using DBPoweramp. There's still an occasional enhanced cd that has a problem, but it seems that this drive has less problems ripping music discs.
Quote