TSST issues a warning for using new high-speed DVD-RAM media with old Toshiba drives

Trying to read the coming high-speed 6x-16x DVD-RAM media in certain old Toshiba drives will apparently not be a very good idea. Not only will the drives refuse to read the media but TSST also warns that the drives will either not eject the media or eject the media while it's still spinning:

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New DVD format specifications, entitled "DVD-RAM
6X/8X/12X/16X," were recently established by the DVD Forum. Media meeting
the new DVD-RAM formats will be available in the near future.

 

Conventional DVD-RAM discs supported up to 5X speed (Class0: standard writable speed 2X). New DVD-RAM format discs will support 6X, 8X, 12X and 16X speed (Class1: standard writable speed 6X), which could enable faster recording.

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It is recommended that you playback or record data on new DVD-RAM format discs with optical disc drives labeled as compatible with such new DVD-RAM format media (such as those bearing the following "RAM2" mark).

 

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Please check for compatibility on the disc drive itself or in the manual for the drive.

 

Inserting new DVD-RAM format media into the following ten (10) models of disc drives will result in drive performance issues, as follows :

 

A) the media cannot be ejected from the disc drive; or the computer stops responding and the media cannot be ejected from the disc drive, or

B) the media is ejected automatically while continuing to spin (at approximately 1600 rpm).

 

The drive models subject to these issues are :

 

SD-R1312/SD-R1412/SD-R1512/SD-R5112/SD-R6112

SD-R2212/SD-R2312/SD-R2412/SD-R2512/SD-R9012

 

If you use new DVD-RAM format media, and the issue in A) above occurs, follow these instructions

 

A) First, shut off the computer;

Note : You cannot shut off your computer by removing the power cord from the outlet because your computer still operates with its internal battery.

B) Then, restart your computer, push the eject button, and remove the media from the drive within five (5) seconds after the LED light on the drive begins blinking.

 

If you use new DVD-RAM format media and the issue in B) above occurs, DO NOT touch or attempt to remove the spinning media. Doing so may result in personal injury as the media continues to spin after ejection, including injury to your fingers. To remove the media, follow these instructions :

 

A) First, shut off the computer;

Note : You cannot shut off your computer by removing the power cord from the outlet because your computer still operates with its internal battery.

B) Wait until the media has stopped spinning before attempting to remove it.

 

TSST has developed modified firmware for download so that the ten (10) models of drives shown above will safely eject new DVD-RAM format media inserted into the drive. Please contact the distributor from whom you purchased the disc drive for the modified firmware.

 

None of the above drives were designed to play new DVD-RAM format media and TSST does not warrant that they will play with such media. The modified firmware being made available does NOT make the drives forward-compatible with new DVD-RAM format media.

Thanks to D4rk0n3 for submitting the news!

Source: TSST

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