USB DVD burners and Light Scribe

[rayi23]

I purchased 2 DVD USB portable Burners from eBay. I complained that the first one: Sony Optiarc AD-7561A GH09 157 USB would not LightScribe in any of my computers. And I have pretty good computers and laptops (i5 to i7) running Windows 7. I used it in ones that didn't have any LightScribe to ones that do, so the drivers and software was already functioning well. In the ones that didn't have LightScribe, added the software and driver. Surething 5 and 6 which work well with internal DVD burners.

Then they said they would send me another one: Pioneer DVDRW DR-KD08HB USB which also wouldn't LightScribe. Now they would burn DVD's, although the Sony Optiarc barely burned a DVD but the Pioneer did better. I even used a USB to IDE adapter for this one IDE LightScribe DVD burner which worked fine. I have been using LightScribe for a long time. I just don't get it. They both have 2 cables: one for direct USB connnection and the other is for power using USB connection. I even tried an external USB power source to to avail. I just don't get.

I even have a USB Blue ray, DVDRW burner with no LightScribe which works well but I was lead into believing it had lightscribe by LG website but didn't feel like returning it. I am not sure why I am even bothering to post this because, what can you say? they both don't work? I have never really had any problems with any LightScribe burner but they were all internal: either IDE and later SATA but don't have experience with USB lightScribe. Anyone else have problems with USB LightScribe burners?

 

[TMTOWTSAC]

It could be a power issue, especially on the laptop. Do you have other devices on the same USB controller? If it's trying to draw the maximum from both connections at the same time it could still be running short. Not sure about the separate power cable to an external source. I have a couple charging adapters that deliver a max of 1 amp at 5 volts, while my newer ones supply up to 2.1 amps at 5 volts. Any idea what yours are?

 

[rayi23]

It could be a power issue, especially on the laptop. Do you have other devices on the same USB controller? If it's trying to draw the maximum from both connections at the same time it could still be running short. Not sure about the separate power cable to an external source. I have a couple charging adapters that deliver a max of 1 amp at 5 volts, while my newer ones supply up to 2.1 amps at 5 volts. Any idea what yours are?

I don't know. It uses 2 cables. The DVD burner has a USB B port for USB Connection for a USB A/B cable ; while the other port has a power round type port for the the round plug with a USB A end for power to draw power from the computer. I tried using a USB type adapter that they use for phones to directly connect to an electrical port which didn't seem to help.

 

[TMTOWTSAC]

It's strange. I can't even find any information about the existence of either of those two devices. The closest I see are both internal laptop drives. That kind of makes me think the seller pulled them from salvaged laptops and put them into external enclosures, though it's usually not cost effective to do that.

Looking at similar models with Lightscribe, they're claiming a peak power usage of around 25 watts. That's way beyond what a pair of USB ports can be expected to provide, unless it's a Type-C. If it is a laptop pull, it's possible you might be able to remove it from the enclosure and run it as an internal if you have the right connectors.

 

[rayi23]

It's strange. I can't even find any information about the existence of either of those two devices. The closest I see are both internal laptop drives. That kind of makes me think the seller pulled them from salvaged laptops and put them into external enclosures, though it's usually not cost effective to do that.

Looking at similar models with Lightscribe, they're claiming a peak power usage of around 25 watts. That's way beyond what a pair of USB ports can be expected to provide, unless it's a Type-C. If it is a laptop pull, it's possible you might be able to remove it from the enclosure and run it as an internal if you have the right connectors.

 

[ArtPog]

I purchased 2 DVD USB portable Burners from eBay. I complained that the first one: Sony Optiarc AD-7561A GH09 157 USB would not LightScribe in any of my computers. And I have pretty good computers and laptops (i5 to i7) running Windows 7. I used it in ones that didn't have any LightScribe to ones that do, so the drivers and software was already functioning well. In the ones that didn't have LightScribe, added the software and driver. Surething 5 and 6 which work well with internal DVD burners.

Then they said they would send me another one: Pioneer DVDRW DR-KD08HB USB which also wouldn't LightScribe. Now they would burn DVD's, although the Sony Optiarc barely burned a DVD but the Pioneer did better. I even used a USB to IDE adapter for this one IDE LightScribe DVD burner which worked fine. I have been using LightScribe for a long time. I just don't get it. They both have 2 cables: one for direct USB connnection and the other is for power using USB connection. I even tried an external USB power source to to avail. I just don't get.

I even have a USB Blue ray, DVDRW burner with no LightScribe which works well but I was lead into believing it had lightscribe by LG website but didn't feel like returning it. I am not sure why I am even bothering to post this because, what can you say? they both don't work? I have never really had any problems with any LightScribe burner but they were all internal: either IDE and later SATA but don't have experience with USB lightScribe. Anyone else have problems with USB LightScribe burners?

I'm not going to be much help to you but FWIW...

For a fair number of years I worked with LightScribe technology, and in terms of its CD/DVD print quality was very satisfied with its output. Unfortunately, as you probably know, LightScribe's demise as a technology was primarily due to two things...
1. The cost of the media, and,
2. The rather lengthy amount of time it took to print a CD/DVD.

There was a slightly higher cost for the burners as you know but it wasn't too onerous considering the print quality that was generated.

We always worked with internal SATA LightScribe burners, never any USB external burner. (I still have two or three LightScribe burners around that we use for non-LightScribe CD/DVD burning.)

I do recall an acquaintance who did use a USB external LightScribe burner some years ago, and like you, was dissatisfied with the results. But I can't recall the reason(s) or the model he used.

 

[rayi23]

It's strange. I can't even find any information about the existence of either of those two devices. The closest I see are both internal laptop drives. That kind of makes me think the seller pulled them from salvaged laptops and put them into external enclosures, though it's usually not cost effective to do that.

Looking at similar models with Lightscribe, they're claiming a peak power usage of around 25 watts. That's way beyond what a pair of USB ports can be expected to provide, unless it's a Type-C. If it is a laptop pull, it's possible you might be able to remove it from the enclosure and run it as an internal if you have the right connectors.

What you say sounds plausible if they were able to access lots of external enclosures cheaply to sell them for $15. I also tried using a USB power adapter .to give it more power by plugging it into an outlet but it still wouldn't light scribe. However, I have this IDE internal lightscribe drive laying around loosely which I used an IDE To usb adapter, with an external power source and it lightscribed it successfully. This CableToGo ide to usb adapter has always worked well. I have had some cheaper ones that were less successful. So I don't know what the problem is.