DVD-RW hangs with blank media installed

[Guest]

System: Sony Vaio PCV-RS510, Pentium 4 2.8GHz 504MB RAM
OS: XP Home v. 2002 Service Pack 2
Burner: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4040B
E: atapi SCSI ID0 adapter 1 (ID:0 HA:1)
Driver: Microsoft v.5.1.2535.0

Problem:
Burner began to inexplicably hang with blank discs installed. Was previously
working perfectly and no new hardware/software changes before failure. With
blank discs installed, burner just seeks and seeks and seeks... without error
message. Able to play prerecorded CDs/DVDs okay.

Have tried: Different brand blank DVD media
Uninstalling/reinstalling drivers
Shutoff all non-essential programs (Firewall, Virus Checker,
etc.)
Did System Restore Point to date prior to failure.

This sounds like the burn function in my DVD-RW drive is dead, but I just
wanted to check with you before I go out and drop a chunk of change on a new
drive...

 

[Bob]

System: Sony Vaio PCV-RS510, Pentium 4 2.8GHz 504MB RAM
OS: XP Home v. 2002 Service Pack 2
Burner: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4040B
E: atapi SCSI ID0 adapter 1 (ID:0 HA:1)
Driver: Microsoft v.5.1.2535.0

Problem:
Burner began to inexplicably hang with blank discs installed. Was previously
working perfectly and no new hardware/software changes before failure. With
blank discs installed, burner just seeks and seeks and seeks... without error
message. Able to play prerecorded CDs/DVDs okay.

Have tried: Different brand blank DVD media
Uninstalling/reinstalling drivers
Shutoff all non-essential programs (Firewall, Virus Checker,
etc.)
Did System Restore Point to date prior to failure.

This sounds like the burn function in my DVD-RW drive is dead, but I just
wanted to check with you before I go out and drop a chunk of change on a new
drive...

My XP computer has developed exactly rhe same problem in the last few days.
I replaced the drive with a new one, but the problem persists. I believe
that either XP has gone wonky or that the motherboard controller is
failing. I would not rush to buy a new drive. Perhaps some of the very
helpful here will be able to help.