Can a Laptop Blu-Ray Burner not be able to Burn Dual Layer DVD Rs?

Author: The Aluminum Falcon
Time: 9-Feb-2011 3:01 AM
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Sorry for being not so tech savvy but is it possible to have a Blu-Ray burner that DOESN'T burn dual-layer discs? I bought my laptop a year or two ago and the pre-installed Blu-Ray disc burner burns Blu-Rays fine but can't recognize/process blank dual layer DVD-Rs. When I bought the thing, I assumed that dual-layer burning would obviously be a feature. Any help would be appreciated.

Author: Darth Mallwalker
Time: 9-Feb-2011 6:01 AM
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Almost five years ago I got new laptop. I thought "It's gonna be great" having a DL burner in my laptop. I was stoked

Luke said:
What a piece of junk!

Actually it's a Slimtype model, built by LiteOn. The hardware itself should have been 'good enough' but the firmware spoils it.
You see it's "specially customized for Gateway" firmware. That means brain-dead, certain features disabled, and the like.
For example most LiteOn drives, with LiteOn firmware, are capable to change the book-type bit on DVD+R media. Gateway firmware won't do it, and here's the rub: Gateway ain't offering any firmware updates!

Back on topic, Can you give us any more clues besides "laptop" ?
A vendor name like Gateway probably won't be enough.
Can you tell us the drive's make/model, and especially its firmware version?
If you're running Windows, you might find that in Device Manager.
Or better yet, ImgBurn should give it to you straight.

Does your drive use a laptop vendor's proprietary firmware?
Does that vendor offer firmware updates?
Is it possible to flash your drive with drive manufacturer's firmware, instead of laptop vendor's "custom" version?

However, in practice you must take into account the “fuckwit factor”. Just talk to Darth Mallwalker…
-Moth3r

Author: The Aluminum Falcon
Time: 11-Feb-2011 3:29 AM
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My laptop actually is a Lenovo Thinkpad W500. It's got Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 installed on it. I actually bought it straight from Lenovo. I haven't been able to check for firmware updates so I'll do that soon. Also, the Blu-Ray player is a Matshita BD-MLT UJ232A. Thanks for trying to help Darth Mallwalker.