Although I do not have an exact answer for you I do sympathize with you. 
It is probably a matter of "it is what it is", but I would validate if 
the power supply has a high enough rating for the full range of hardware 
you have. And, if you are not using one, I would at least use a good 
surge suppressor or , better still, an UPS.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Tom

Peter Ekkerman SC wrote:
> Hi Norman,
>
> Sorry you're having so much trouble with your DVD burners.
> On one hand you can relax - IMHO , there's no such thing as "bad vibes" 
> ;)
> Bad luck is either created by a person's own actions, like
> neglect,carelessness etc  or it is just the luck of the draw ;)
> can't fight that one.
>
> Things that affect or reduce the lifespan of a burner are:
> Assembly - using inferior components and careless assembly.
> Handling prior to purchase or installation - rough handling will damage
> some components.
> Handling while installing - again rough handling will affect
> lifespan,plus static induced damage from touching
>     the circuit board.May not be enough to cause instant failure,but may
> set it up for reduced lifespan.
> Very frequent use.
> Overheating from not getting enough cooling - obviously very important
> during continuous or very frequent usage.
> Corrosive or very dusty environment.Close proximity to a salt water
> source like an ocean (living on a boat ;) 
>     will cause early failure.
>
> I would sortof rule out overvoltage as the cause,since that would have
> caused damage to other components and devices.
> Nevertheless, do a voltage check on the powersupply and the DVD power
> connector.
>
> That's all I came up with for now -there may well be more,but the above
> is from personal experience.
>
> Peter E
> PS Hope you have better luck with your Samsung burner ;)
>
>
>  -------- Original Message --------
>  Subject: [PCBUILD] Failing DVD burners
>  From: Norman Ushijima <[log in to unmask]>
>  Date: Sun, October 04, 2009 8:57 pm
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  
>  
>  Hello,> 
>  I have an almost 3 yrs-old Dell 530 with WinXP SP2, Audigy SoundBlaster
> and GeForce 8300 GS.
>  
>  I'll be replacing my DVD burner for the fourth time.  The first two
> developed
>  skips and pops when playing a CD...the original and replacement were
> trouble-free for only a few months.  These were a Sony and Toshiba.  The
> second one also began freezing my pc when a DVD (burned and commercial)
> was inserted.  I would have to eject the disc with a paper clip and then
> my pc would return to normal.  Tired of going thru Dell support again, I
> purchased a LiteOn burner and it has lasted for over a year and a half. 
> Now, it's begun to have the same problem as the second burner, except
> the eject button still works and playing a CD is fine.  A Samsung burner
> is coming in a few days, but, I'm wondering if it will also follow the
> path of the first three burners.
>  
>  Is it hard luck (I've been told I have bad vibes) or is it something
> within my pc that is causing the repeated DVD burner failures?
>  
>  By the way, I've never burned a DVD with any of three drives.
>  
>  Thank you,
>  
>  Norman Ushijima 
>  
>
>                    
>

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