Doubts DVD drive of PC

[MK14]

The main reason for keeping old computers (and the corresponding media) is the desire to preserve the look and feel of the old computers themselves. I have also transferred copies of the data to new media, but e.g. a software emulator for an Apple II isn't the same thing as the original machine with its rattling and shuffling floppy drives.

I have been quite disciplined when it comes to collecting stuff at home: A couple of old Macs, the Apple II and (worst "offence") the massive Baudot teletype which was my first printer. The bigger toys are not mine, but are hosted at a private computer museum where I help out, during non-Covid times: https://technikum29.de/en/.

But again, while we have read old media that were added to the collection and want to use the old media on the old machines, we also make backup copies on modern HDDs!

That's a very good answer 

That looks a very nice museum to visit. Although obviously, now would not be the best of times.

As I have probably said in other threads (just like you), I like emulators to some extent. But they don't seem to quite give one, the same look/feel/smell and experience of the real thing. Somehow it's those extra whirring noises, and the difficulties of pressing all those buttons, the warm feeling one gets, when you see all those flashing lights, while the ancient computer struggles to perform the calculations, etc etc.

Back in those good/bad old days 

[robertart]

please answer my question and stop asking who i am where i posted etc.

[SVFeingold]

please answer my question and stop asking who i am where i posted etc.

Which $20 DVD drive will last several decades is the wrong question. None of them. Or all of them. A $200 drive might die in a year. A $10 drive might last for 30 years. Who knows.

Get archival bluray media and buy a drive. It's not cheap but the media should last 100+ years. There's probably archival DVD media as well. The best solution long-term is - as always - to transfer it to new media every so often. In 30 years you don't want to be stuck trying to find a Bluray drive, and an adapter for the interface it uses, and a driver for the current OS, and/or emulating a compatible OS that will properly interface with it, etc. These get harder and harder to find easily as time goes on.

I had a hell of a time getting the right setup to transfer some circa-2010 MiniDV footage via Firewire a couple months ago. Took weeks trying different PCIe 1394 adapters (only 1 of 3 worked), messing with Windows 1394 legacy drivers, trying different cables, finding a compatible player, etc. And that's Firewire! It's not that old.

[hexreader]

please answer my question and stop asking who i am where i posted etc.

Please stop asking the same questions over and over under multiple user names on multiple forums.

03 December 2025 Here is what I know so far:

76 User names:

adryman, Alucardps1, and77man, aranbafdan88, aranvaryt, arrnnau, arunsamus77, barretff7, bbvvaran, carlosff2, castlearn, cecil87, cecilp87, classic87, classicaran77, classicsamus87, classicsamus, classic samus aran , classicjohn, cloudff7ps1, cloudff7, cloud ff7, cloudff153642, cloudff1987, electroenergy, eletroenergy, electroenergy88, fgytiyti7y66t, gamemaniaco, gamemaniaco1987, Gamer87, gamer87, Gamer87fan, gamer776, gamer1987, gamer87fla, gamer87272298, gamerfan, hardwarepc86, iStef 1, italnogcloudff7, james23051987, jobas77, johnmullins, John rodrigues, johnroduigues, john82, jonas7878, junior1987, kaiko88, kesadav882, lucas88, lucasmm88, lulu7757645, marks88, Mario Snes, micksmelanie, nanado77,  nandoman77, nnaear, nogueiraat, Nogueira AT, nonoaran77, patrion87, ranger87, renan88657, robertart, samusaran87, samusaran88, samusbadan77, scatmanjohn, sonicmario, tiago1986, tiagoof88, tsubasaoliver, 73nog

74 Forums:

afterdawn forum - gamer1987
allaboutcircuits - james23051987, micksmelanie, classicsamus87, hardwarepc86, junior1987, electroenergy, barretff7, cecilp87, kaike88, samusbadan77, arrnnau
anandtech - gamerfan
arduino - cloudff1987, aranbafdan88
audio science review - jobas77
avforums - nonoaran77
AVSforum - gamerfan
badcaps.net forum - gamer87
bleepingcomputer - cloudff7
candlepowerforums - samusaran88
CDRinfo forum - gamemaniaco
circuitdigest - johnmullins
circuitlab - cloudff7
core-electronics - gamer87272298
DigiKey TechForum - cloudff7, italnogcloudff7, kesadav882
DigitalFAQ forum - gamemaniaco
Dingoonity - gamer87
diy audio - cloudff7, nandoman77, tiagoof88
Edaboard - Gamer87, John rodrigues, cecil87, adryman
eepower - cloud ff7
EEVblog - micksmelanie, johnrodrigues, classicsamus87, robertart, tiago1986, carlosff2, ranger87, john82, marks88, renan88657, lucasmm88, aranvaryt, castlearn
ElectricalEngineering - Gamer87fan
electriciantalk - classicaran77
electroda - gamemaniaco1987
electronics-lab - bbvvaran, nogueiraat
Electronica Pt - gamer87, Alucardps1, cloudff7
eletronica2002 forum - gamemaniaco
emulator zone - gamer87
engineerboards - cloudff7
eng-tips - lucas88
ETO - cloudff7, classicjohn, eletroenergy, samusaran87, and77man
EverDrive - cloudff7
ExtremeHW - cloudff7
HardForum - aransamus77
hardwareluxx.de - cloudff7
HDD LAND - gamer87
HDDGURU - sonicmario
hddoracle.com - carlosff2
hdsentinel - cloudff7
Head-Fi - lulu7757645
High Voltage Forum - fgytiyti7y66t
ImgBurn forum - gamemaniaco
Infineon - cloudff153642
intel community - gamer87
intofpv - carlosff2
levelonetechs - classic_samus_aran
linustechtips - cloudff7
Maker Pro - gamer87, johnmullins, scatmanjohn, classicsamus, tsubasaoliver, electroenergy88, bbvvaran
microchip forum - gamer87, 77nog
overclock - nanado77
pedalpcb - cloudff7
physicsforums - gamer87, jonas7878
PSX Place - cloudff7
Quora - Nogueira AT
recovery force - cloudff7
reddit - carlosff2
Redfox.bz - cloudff7
scienceforums.net gamer87
sparkfun - classic_samus_aran
ST community - iStef.1
StackExchange - classic samus aran, Mario Snes
techenclave - gamer87
techpowerup forum - gamer87fla
techsupportforum - cloudff7, gamer776
tek-tips - gamer87
tom's hardware - cloudff7, cloudff7ps1
truenas - cloudff7
VideoHelp forum - gamemaniaco, patrion87
vintage computer federation - classic87
vintageradio.net - cloudff7
vogons - gamer87
WD community - gamer87
windows ten forums - cloudff7

Plenty more on social media, but luckily, I do not do reddit etc

From Brazil, IP address Brazil, but claiming Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Belgium (Bruges), Denmark, Iceland, London, New York, UK, United States

Behaviours:
Storing things, flooding multiple forums, opening multiple accounts, asking the same question over and over and ignoring the replies, lying

[SVFeingold]

I read some of his old posts from other accounts and man. I'm at a loss. It's not even like he's shilling for some shady webstore or trying to get people to send money. It's just bizzare. It's like an AI wrote them.

"SSD Banggood storage for family photos how long safe for?"

Like what could possibly be the purpose of these weird-ass questions? Are there really people out there that care that much about how safe their data is on random garbage-tier storage devices? I guess that's what that one dude was buying hundreds of counterfeit flash drives for $1 a piece "because it's such a good deal." Or maybe his hobbies are leaky old caps and cheap storage media. 

[Halcyon]

I read some of his old posts from other accounts and man. I'm at a loss. It's not even like he's shilling for some shady webstore or trying to get people to send money. It's just bizzare. It's like an AI wrote them.

I thought exactly this initially, but the PM responses I was getting back were a bit too "personal" if you know what I mean, I still haven't ruled it out though.

[hexreader]

I think I am just about ready to go mad.

https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/doubt-dvd-drive-sata-pc.160704/

[Halcyon]

I think I am just about ready to go mad.

https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/doubt-dvd-drive-sata-pc.160704/

I like your response. As long as he doesn't bring that crap here again... He has had his several chances.

[MK14]

I think I am just about ready to go mad.

https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/doubt-dvd-drive-sata-pc.160704/

It is so across the internet, in so many circles.
Look:
https://www.scienceforums.net/topic/122880-question-glue-bag-and-label-product-aliexpress/

[Alex Eisenhut]

Someone should buy him a Blu Ray burner and get it over with. The scratch-resistant coating of Blu Ray discs is far superior to DVD discs's coating.

Just that alone should end that debate immediately.

I still borrow DVDs from the library to watch things I would never pay for. The discs are universally scratched and often stutter on playback.

When I get Blu Rays, the discs presumably handled the same way as DVDs, are much shinier and smooth and no problems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durabis

Maybe "Robert" will finally now find peace.

[SVFeingold]

I don't think he actually cares about the DVD stuff at all. It's way too bizarre. Nobody is that stupid. I could see like...a bird repeating the same question 1,000 times in 1,000 places while being totally incapable of comprehending any answer. A bird yes. A human? No...

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE ROBOT MAN?

[MK14]

I don't think he actually cares about the DVD stuff at all. It's way too bizarre. Nobody is that stupid. I could see like...a bird repeating the same question 1,000 times in 1,000 places while being totally incapable of comprehending any answer. A bird yes. A human? No...

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE ROBOT MAN?

If you want some variety, they also do this one:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/360851-Question-monitor-LCD-durability

How many years can last up to an LCD monitor? I'm not talking about LED
type: mine is a Samsung 732NW model manufactured in 2007, it is still running in 2013 but want to know how long it can withstand a maximum taking into account its components such as motherboard, capacitors, liquid crystal display, power supply and lamps
is very important for me to find a concrete answer because just think different opinions and no opinion of someone who understands the subject as an engineer

[SVFeingold]

Maybe he has a fetish for failure modes in old electronics. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

[Ian.M]

Maybe he has a fetish for failure modes in old electronics. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

Eeeww!  NSFW!  I doubt Dave or anyone else who dumpster-dives for old electronics wants to have to consider the need to inspect salvaged equipment under UV light, and with a Luminol spray  to detect bio-hazards from fetishistic self-gratification.

[Mechatrommer]

Like what could possibly be the purpose of these weird-ass questions? Are there really people out there that care that much about how safe their data is on random garbage-tier storage devices? I guess that's what that one dude was buying hundreds of counterfeit flash drives for $1 a piece "because it's such a good deal." Or maybe his hobbies are leaky old caps and cheap storage media. 

you mean this? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/1tb-pendrive-for-$5-$20/msg3402526/#msg3402526 at least there is "science" behind it and "that guy" is not fooling other people around... by repeating the same question over and over 1000 times. wouldnt you agree?

[Mechatrommer]

If you want some variety, they also do this one:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/360851-Question-monitor-LCD-durability

I got this monitor as a gift from a friend and how old it is (2007) I wanted to know the longevity of a LCD monitor as it has several parts board, lamps, lcd, power supply capacitors

Your story doesn't add up (seem real), to me.

Because you (assuming identical identities), seemed to say you had already BOUGHT/obtained the DVD drives, two of them.
E.g. One was from your brother.

Why is your story changing ?

A changing story, worries me, that it may not be 100% truthful.

tl;dr
Which is it ?
Advice on buying new DVD drives, or help with 2 you already own and possess ?

I didn't lie the story is true my brother provided me with DVD drives and none worked so I put it in the trash and bought a new unused drive

But, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I think there might be more at play than just a language barrier. We'll be watching...

funniest robot i've encountered... reminds me one of my room mate back in school. almost everything everytime later turned out to be like "bully" scenario, due to his obsession and inadequacy at comprehending advices.

[DrG]

It is a puzzle. The user (under all of the nicknames and across all of the sites) has found a way to compulsively ask questions that can never be answered. The questions are asked in an environment (Forums) that literally depends on answering questions. Intentional or not, it is a good example of exploitation.

Fledgling AI / hybrid program, some kind of compulsive disorder, troll, sincere but odd-ball enthusiast? Is someone sitting behind the monitor gleefully chuckling at every response, or paralyzed by the fear of not knowing how long XXX will last. There is a kind of dysfunctional brilliance there, reminds me of an MC Escher engraving.

[Alex Eisenhut]

Maybe he has a fetish for failure modes in old electronics. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

Then he should collect Tektronix 500 series scopes and plugins. Esoteric parts and inexplicable failures all over the place!

[sleemanj]

I don't think the poster is a bot, could be, but I don't think so.

I think they are just well onto the autistic spectrum - gets some item of minutiae stuck in the brain, extreme focus on it to detriment of taking other information offered, difficulty with communication and understanding that people don't know what's in their own head or see things the same way they do.

There's plenty of people on the spectrum here in EEVBlog, although this poster seems a bit further along than most.

It would be better if they just stuck to one username though, then those who don't want to deal with it can just add to their ignore list.

[Haenk]

A pure SATA drive is certainly (in theory) more reliable than an USB-based drive - a USB driver board just adds another point of failure.
However there is no point in storing spares of those. All computers for more than a decade came with one, so it's pretty certain used drives will be around for 1-2 decades.

[Halcyon]

I don't think the poster is a bot, could be, but I don't think so.

I think they are just well onto the autistic spectrum - gets some item of minutiae stuck in the brain, extreme focus on it to detriment of taking other information offered, difficulty with communication and understanding that people don't know what's in their own head or see things the same way they do.

There's plenty of people on the spectrum here in EEVBlog, although this poster seems a bit further along than most.

It would be better if they just stuck to one username though, then those who don't want to deal with it can just add to their ignore list.

I whole heartedly agree, hence the several chances. But at the end of the day, without making this an "exclusive" community, we have some standards to uphold, loose standards, I grant you that, but standards nonetheless. There are essentially three of us who help Dave run this place: Simon who you all should know pretty well has been around for ages, he does an amazing job with moderation when I'm asleep or otherwise tied up, Gnif who does all the server/back-end stuff (and rarely intervenes in the forum) and myself. As a bit of insight, the moment anyone reports a post to a moderator, we all get an email, each and every time (for me, that means my phone goes off).

With the amount of users and activity, this is one of the least moderated forums out there, particularly when you look at the inconsistent and heavy-handed approach of forums like Whirlpool (I make no bones about that).

If you think difficult users could be handled differently, we're all ears. I will say however, the moderator system on this forum is kind of crap. ;-)

[MK14]

I whole heartedly agree, hence the several chances. But at the end of the day, without making this an "exclusive" community, we have some standards to uphold,

Although I'm not sure if it is a real person with a real problem, or outright trolling (possibly by someone else), or even some kind of AI/Bot system (not trying to disagree, but trying to keep an open/scientific mind, until we know 100% for sure). But I agree, the AI/bot theory seems to have been largely eliminated, or at least there is a human operator there, some of the time.

Assuming it is a real person, with genuine issues. It is too much.
They keep on (looking around other forums, as well as ours), continually picking on items they have (DVD/HDD/Monitor/CR2032's/crt-TVs/Power-adapters etc), and essentially ask how long it is going to last (and possibly how to preserve it).

They get say 50 people, who all say 'don't worry about it' etc. But they just keep on and on about it. Until it drives everyone nuts about this guys repeated threads/posts about the same thing.

I don't think we can help them on this forum. In-fact I think, we are probably making them worse. When we mention possible ways things can fail, e.g. Bad Electrolytic Capacitors.
It seems to drive them into making threads about how long Electrolytic Capacitors last.
If you reassure them about that, they then go on and on, about something else.

They seem to need professional help (not engineering advice).

[Ian.M]

... There are essentially three of us who help Dave run this place: Simon who you all should know pretty well has been around for ages, he does an amazing job with moderation when I'm asleep or otherwise tied up, Gnif who does all the server/back-end stuff (and rarely intervenes in the forum) and myself. As a bit of insight, the moment anyone reports a post to a moderator, we all get an email, each and every time (for me, that means my phone goes off).

O.T. @Halcyon:  I frequently report spammers.  If you have other measures in place and would rather I wasn't blowing up your phone with alerts so frequently, please let me know.

[Halcyon]

... There are essentially three of us who help Dave run this place: Simon who you all should know pretty well has been around for ages, he does an amazing job with moderation when I'm asleep or otherwise tied up, Gnif who does all the server/back-end stuff (and rarely intervenes in the forum) and myself. As a bit of insight, the moment anyone reports a post to a moderator, we all get an email, each and every time (for me, that means my phone goes off).

O.T. @Halcyon:  I frequently report spammers.  If you have other measures in place and would rather I wasn't blowing up your phone with alerts so frequently, please let me know.

Nah it's all good. It comes in waves, we'd prefer you report, particularly spammers as they are usually jumped on pretty quickly. Whenever we get a spammer, there is usually 5-10 people hitting that report button ;-) It actually helps somewhat, if it's a one-off alert, it's usually some disagreement or "move this thread", those can wait, if my phone keeps going off, it's usually something that needs attention fairly quickly.

[fzabkar]

recoveryforce.com - cloudff7
hddoracle.com - carlosff2