DVD M3 4.6 Source?

mele4nyc · #1 12-19-2009, 06:59 PM

My battery died a few days ago, and of course after I got a new battery I found out that the dvd reader no longer read dvds. I updated the firmware with a cd just fine, so that seemed to work. I'm guessing I have to replace the dvd drive. I saw the source list on the diy thread but I'm looking for a U.S. source. Any of you guys from the U.S. try this fix? Perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

Not looking to deal with paying VAt and worrying about shipping from the Netherlands, and the only site in in the U.K. doesn't have them in stock.

Sponsored Links

KiwiJochen · #2 12-20-2009, 05:38 AM

If the DVD loaded an OS OK it means the CD laser is still good but the DVD laser is dead.

So you can still read CD maps.

To repair it, simply replace the laser assembly.
Or let someone do it for you based on the instructions.

Or replace the entire mechanism. Tobias Weber in Germany has them:
Elektronik-Idee

He's a good guy and will ship to the USA happily.

mele4nyc · #3 12-20-2009, 07:40 PM

Thanks, I e-mailed him about it. Hopefully the price is not too outrageous.

Didi · #4 12-21-2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiwiJochen

If the DVD loaded an OS OK it means the CD laser is still good but the DVD laser is dead.....

This rumor will never die

There are no seperate lasers for CD and DVD. It's only one that reads both (hopefully).

Currently here is an auction of the laser unit:
eBay.com.sg: NEW SANYO SF-HD4 laser black cover for DVD (item 300378392060 end time Jan 16, 2010 02:48:18 SGT)

complete URL:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/NEW-SANYO-SF-HD4-laser-black-cover-for-DVD_W0QQitemZ300378392060QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item45eff285fc

KiwiJochen · #5 12-21-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didi

This rumor will never die

There are no seperate lasers for CD and DVD. It's only one that reads both (hopefully).

Really?

"First off, yes, the CD laser and the DVD laser are different. The light
from a DVD laser has a wavelength of 640 nanometers where the light from a
CD laser is 780 nanometers. The smaller DVD laser wavelength allows it to
focus on the smaller pits in the DVD disk. Thus, accounting for the
increase in storage capacity."

You cannot generate light of 2 different wavelengths from one laser
ergo: there are two lasers, one for CD @ 790nm, one for DVD @ 640nm

This is why when the DVD laser fails, the CDs can still be read. Because there are two different lasers

When you replace the laser, you replace the laser "assembly", which is a unit made up of both lasers and the necessary optics.

mele4nyc · #6 12-21-2009, 04:13 PM

Interesting, thanks KiwiJochen. Either I need to replace the drive itself, or the laser. Sure the drive is more expensive, but I don't have the skills necessary to replace the laser. Thanks again.

Didi · #7 12-22-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiwiJochen

Really?

"First off, yes, the CD laser and the DVD laser are different. The light
from a DVD laser has a wavelength of 640 nanometers where the light from a
CD laser is 780 nanometers. The smaller DVD laser wavelength allows it to
focus on the smaller pits in the DVD disk. Thus, accounting for the
increase in storage capacity."

You cannot generate light of 2 different wavelengths from one laser
ergo: there are two lasers, one for CD @ 790nm, one for DVD @ 640nm

This is why when the DVD laser fails, the CDs can still be read. Because there are two different lasers

When you replace the laser, you replace the laser "assembly", which is a unit made up of both lasers and the necessary optics.

Jochen. Yes you are right. It is always a bit confusing to talk about the laser unit. The only thing we can exchange is (as you wrote) the "laser assembly" which consist of 2 different laser diodes (for DVDs and CDs) plus optics plus.....

Sponsored Links