As some of you know, my Lite-On DVD drive was killed by SecuROM (In an attempt to install FEAR)

So, I'm now in the market for a new DVD drive but I don't want to suffer the same problem as before. I'd like to ask my fellow forumers as to what drives you guys are using to play your games and which are the ones that have the least conflicts.

In short, here's what I want to know:
1) What brand is your DVD drive. I don't really want a burner/combo drive due to the possible issue with Starforce, but if there's nothing else, I will settle for it.
2) Which of these DRMs work with the drive. SecuROM, Safedisc and Starforce. I'm looking for one that works with all three with the least amount of risk.

Thanks in advance.

I use an ASUS DVD-ROM. It's got no probs with securerom or any DRMs. Been faithful for the last two years. Only thing about it it that it doesn't read dual layer DVD, so i can't watch dual layer DVD movies on it. Other than that... i recommend ASUS.

That's......impossible. How long have you been using the drive?

Drive is working perfectly fine until I bring back the FEAR DVD. Even when running the autorun, it comes out all wonky (Takes ages to load and doesn't load properly). When trying to install, it fails to load the setup file. After this incident, the drive is no longer able to copy files from CD/DVD without spitting out some read errors at random.

I also read online that Lite On drives are NOT supported by SecuROM, so I wouldn't want another one of those again.

Regardless of age (My faithful drive for 3 years) and how it got busted, I still need to find a new one and with the rage of DRMs now, I want to pick one that's not fickle.

H@H@ : thats weird... first time hearing SecuRom wreaks hardwares... are u sure?.. mabbe juz concidence it wreak at the same time as u install F.E.A.R?.. coz the only thing i heard and mostly know its StarForce its the one protection who wreak pc hardwares... and its kinda proven too...

http://www.glop.org/starforce/

Cheers

Well, according to some sites I went, LiteOn drives can't read SecuROM discs at all, so factor in my drive's age and the DRM, it caused it to go wonky permanently.

And thanks for more anti-SF stuff... Its almost mandatory for ANY talks on game DRMs to include that infamous website.

So, aside from Asus drives, any other recommendations?

EDIT: Oh yeah, it has become a known fact that incompatible DRMs may cause permanent damage to unsupported drives. I've read about Safedisc incapacitating combo drives about 2-4 years ago. So, its not an isolated case. Maybe its because mine's an older generation drive I guess.

This post has been edited by H@H@: Apr 12 2006, 04:35 PM

H@H@ : aaah.. didnt knew abt that... oh well, i guess it is time to say... "Its good time to get a new dvd-rom drive" .. heh... im using Asus drive now so far so good, how abt NEC, Pionner and LG?.. popular for dvd-rom drives or shld say dvd-burners.. heh..

Kinda miss those Pioneers 'slot-in' dvd-rom drives... looks cool , those not in production anymore rite?...

Cheers

This post has been edited by TomatomanzSeedlezz: Apr 12 2006, 06:59 PM

I used ASUS DVD ROM, played FEAR also. Since that, my DVD drive produce quite ittitating noices, and cant read at all certain burned DVD disks..I guess I have the same problem with h@h@.

ASUS

How's about Sony drives? I mean, SecuROM IS by them, so it shouldn't have any problems right?... RIGHT?

I suppose its LG or Pioneer then.

Wah 3 years? Fuh, my drives never went past 2 years!

That's why I never opt for burner/ combo drives. Normal ones last longer. I still have a CD ROM that's "technically" still functioning after 5-7 years (It has a problem ejecting the tray)

If I do buy a burner, it will strictly be for that purpose.

You sound desperate.

Anyway, it's ok I guess. So far I can run games like Neverwinter Nights and No-one Lives Forever 2 without any problem. But I suppose you can try out other brands as well. Anyone willing to give their opinion on LG or Pioneer?

This post has been edited by Zerol: Apr 13 2006, 04:16 PM

Yes, I need it to play Oblivion... Something which could hit our shores any minute now (*hint* *hint* to lazy distros )

Previously, I was using my friend's DVD burner (Can't remember the brand... Oh woe is me) but now he's back in Aus... *sigh*

my hp dvd400i seems okay.......
how bout LG drives?
cheap and 'looks' classy

HP sells their drives separately?

Hmm, I think my friend's drive was a Pioneer. Seemed pretty nice.

Anyway, DVD drives are so freaking cheap now, the price difference is usually 10-20 bux difference, so no real problem in that department... The REAL problem is finding them as the craze now is on multipurpose drives.

Pioneer tray still available in market, slot is too dangerous as it dun have emergency reject hole.

Someone said slot in ??


yeah it doesn't have an emergency reject hole