We need to figure out how to replace diodes.

[BijouMan]

Since Pioneer has exited the disc drive business, leaving Hitachi-LG Data Storage the only company that might still be making computer Blu-ray drives, we as a community need to do something to keep existing disc drives operational by being able to create replacements for various failure points within them. One such failure point seems to be the lasers themselves, which seem to either last forever or stop detecting certain types of disc after a short time. On one hand, my Wii U has been left on, at times for many months in a row, with the disc spinning and it still reads both Wii U and Wii Game Discs just fine. On the other hand, I have two computers that both shipped with basically the same Hitachi-LG Data Storage slot-loading drive, and while they will read DVD-9, DVD+R9, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM discs perfectly, they very quickly lost their ability to read any DVD-5, DVD-R5 or DVD+R5 I throw at them. The laser does not properly detect the reflection that causes it to trigger the DVD mode and the drive instead just defaults to the CD mode and never ends up reading the disc. I also have a computer from 2012 with a Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology TS-U633J in it, and now it does not properly detect the reflection from some DVDs unless I turn the drive upside down as I push the tray in (once it detects the reflection it proceeds to read the disc perfectly, even once I turn the drive right side up again.) I don't currently have any Blu-ray drives, but many of them seemingly quickly lose their ability to properly detect the reflection from BDs, especially slim ones. It's to the point where I feel that if I was to get a used drive, especially an early one, it might only read a BD once or twice and then quit. The current solution to fix these problems in disc drives is to replace the entire pickup assembly, but those are only made as long as the drive in question is made, so it is not a sustainable solution. What we need to do is figure out how to disassemble pickup assemblies, clean them out, change only the laser diodes, and reassemble them. It would be easier to just manufacture diodes than try to re-engineer entire pickup assemblies that the manufacturers for whatever reason don't want us to be able to know how to make, even after all these years. There were so many different pickup assemblies used throughout the years of disc drives, so we would have to be able to study each one and figure out how to replace its diodes. Slim drives would probably be admittedly harder to do, but I would still like to see it. Focus should especially given to rare drives like HD DVD drives and the original PlayStation 3 drive. There are a couple laptop HD DVD drives on eBay right now, but do any of them actually still read HD DVDs? Will they be reliable or will they break after the first HD DVD you put in them? The sellers don't say. Anyway, I just wanted to see what we can maybe do about this. Maybe we can leverage AI in some way to figure this out? Who knows?

[Deadend45]

Yeah the 'AI' that drives people into stationary objects is a great solution.

[bhampton]

Someone already knows how to repair disc drives.

I have 2 Panasonic UHD BD players, a PS5, and 2 LG USB UHD BD drives. Getting a backup player isn't a bad option.

I have never and will never want to have a HD DVD drive.

"Will they be reliable or will they break after the first HD DVD you put in them? The sellers don't say." -> That makes sense because how many Ebay sellers could predict such a thing ? ???????

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

It would be easier to just manufacture diodes than try to re-engineer entire pickup assemblies that the manufacturers for whatever reason don't want us to be able to know how to make, even after all these years.

Is your dealer the same one dealing to that 1080P guy? The idea of building replacement diodes in one's garage is so ridiculous that it's not even laughable, just sad. Maybe if you have an obscene amount of money, you can buy a factory that makes such things and also pay for all the employees required to ensure that such widgets are cranked out. That's your only option. Otherwise, as the last guy said, stock up on replacement drives for a rainy day.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by apollo828

Is your dealer the same one dealing to that 1080P guy? The idea of building replacement diodes in one's garage is so ridiculous that it's not even laughable, just sad. Maybe if you have an obscene amount of money, you can buy a factory that makes such things and also pay for all the employees required to ensure that such widgets are cranked out. That's your only option. Otherwise, as the last guy said, stock up on replacement drives for a rainy day.

I don't work at any dealer. I'm just worried about there being less and less working drives over time, especially now that we are down to the last manufacturer. I would just like it if we could figure out some solution to this problem.

[apollo828]

I think you missed what I meant by "dealer." Anyway, no, there are no solutions other than:

- Stock up on drives and, if you can get your hands on them (doubtful but who knows), replacement parts.
- Find a billionaire willing to flush money down the toilet by keeping drive assembly lines going indefinitely.

EDIT: I can't speak to the veracity of this post but this post in the Oppo 203 thread indicates that critical replacement parts are still available for some drives. Snatch 'em up if you're that terrified of your drives failing.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Since Pioneer has exited the disc drive business, leaving Hitachi-LG Data Storage the only company that might still be making computer Blu-ray drives, we as a community need to do something to keep existing disc drives operational by being able to create replacements for various failure points within them. One such failure point seems to be the lasers themselves, which seem to either last forever or stop detecting certain types of disc after a short time. On one hand, my Wii U has been left on, at times for many months in a row, with the disc spinning and it still reads both Wii U and Wii Game Discs just fine. On the other hand, I have two computers that both shipped with basically the same Hitachi-LG Data Storage slot-loading drive, and while they will read DVD-9, DVD+R9, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM discs perfectly, they very quickly lost their ability to read any DVD-5, DVD-R5 or DVD+R5 I throw at them. The laser does not properly detect the reflection that causes it to trigger the DVD mode and the drive instead just defaults to the CD mode and never ends up reading the disc. I also have a computer from 2012 with a Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology TS-U633J in it, and now it does not properly detect the reflection from some DVDs unless I turn the drive upside down as I push the tray in (once it detects the reflection it proceeds to read the disc perfectly, even once I turn the drive right side up again.) I don't currently have any Blu-ray drives, but many of them seemingly quickly lose their ability to properly detect the reflection from BDs, especially slim ones. It's to the point where I feel that if I was to get a used drive, especially an early one, it might only read a BD once or twice and then quit. The current solution to fix these problems in disc drives is to replace the entire pickup assembly, but those are only made as long as the drive in question is made, so it is not a sustainable solution. What we need to do is figure out how to disassemble pickup assemblies, clean them out, change only the laser diodes, and reassemble them. It would be easier to just manufacture diodes than try to re-engineer entire pickup assemblies that the manufacturers for whatever reason don't want us to be able to know how to make, even after all these years. There were so many different pickup assemblies used throughout the years of disc drives, so we would have to be able to study each one and figure out how to replace its diodes. Slim drives would probably be admittedly harder to do, but I would still like to see it. Focus should especially given to rare drives like HD DVD drives and the original PlayStation 3 drive. There are a couple laptop HD DVD drives on eBay right now, but do any of them actually still read HD DVDs? Will they be reliable or will they break after the first HD DVD you put in them? The sellers don't say. Anyway, I just wanted to see what we can maybe do about this. Maybe we can leverage AI in some way to figure this out? Who knows?

No we really dont have to do something. The days of drives in computers is over and will never return. You obviously have no idea how manufacturing works to produce a profit. Physical is a dying media, stock up and be done with it. Most new PC cases do not even have a spot for a physical drive.

[bhampton]

PS5 with the disc drive is still selling better than PS5 without.

I only have 2 external USB UHDBD drives. Wonder if I should get a third just to be sure.

[AfricanRabbit]

Yeah, I’ve had the same problem with slim drives, especially in laptops, they just seem to give out way faster than the bigger desktop ones. A couple of mine stopped reading DVDs after only a year or two, while an old full-size LG drive I’ve had since 2009 still works fine. The only thing that’s ever helped me squeeze a little more life out of the dead ones was carefully cleaning the laser, but even then it’s hit or miss. Replacing the whole pickup is usually the only option, but those parts disappear fast, so I definitely agree that figuring out the diode situation would be the better long-term fix.