Hi,
I am using Ubuntu 10.10 and have sony DVD Writer VRU-200A. It reads both CD's and DVD's without problem. It burns CD's but won't burn DVD's.

Here is my scanbus output:
----------------------------
spandey@spandey-desktop:~$ sudo cdrecord -scanbus
scsibus0:
0,0,0 0) *
0,1,0 1) 'SONY ' 'DVD RW DRU-V200A' '1.60' Removable CD-ROM
0,2,0 2) *
0,3,0 3) *
0,4,0 4) *
0,5,0 5) *
0,6,0 6) *
0,7,0 7) *

Here is my prcap output:
----------------------------

spandey@spandey-desktop:~$ sudo cdrecord -prcap
[sudo] password for spandey:
Device was not specified. Trying to find an appropriate drive...
Detected CD-R drive: /dev/cdrw
Using /dev/cdrom of unknown capabilities
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'SONY '
Identification : 'DVD RW DRU-V200A'
Revision : '1.60'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.

Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A:

Does read CD-R media
Does write CD-R media
Does read CD-RW media
Does write CD-RW media
Does read DVD-ROM media
Does read DVD-R media
Does write DVD-R media
Does read DVD-RAM media
Does write DVD-RAM media
Does support test writing

Does read Mode 2 Form 1 blocks
Does read Mode 2 Form 2 blocks
Does read digital audio blocks
Does restart non-streamed digital audio reads accurately
Does support Buffer-Underrun-Free recording
Does read multi-session CDs
Does read fixed-packet CD media using Method 2
Does not read CD bar code
Does read R-W subcode information
Does not return R-W subcode de-interleaved and error-corrected
Does read raw P-W subcode data from lead in
Does return CD media catalog number
Does return CD ISRC information
Does support C2 error pointers
Does not deliver composite A/V data

Does not play audio CDs

Loading mechanism type: tray
Does support ejection of CD via START/STOP command
Does not lock media on power up via prevent jumper
Does allow media to be locked in the drive via PREVENT/ALLOW command
Is not currently in a media-locked state
Does not support changing side of disk
Does not have load-empty-slot-in-changer feature
Does not support Individual Disk Present feature

Maximum read speed: 8467 kB/s (CD 48x, DVD 6x)
Current read speed: 8467 kB/s (CD 48x, DVD 6x)
Maximum write speed: 8467 kB/s (CD 48x, DVD 6x)
Current write speed: 8467 kB/s (CD 48x, DVD 6x)
Rotational control selected: CLV/PCAV
Buffer size in KB: 2048
Copy management revision supported: 1
Number of supported write speeds: 6
Write speed # 0: 8467 kB/s CAV (CD 48x, DVD 6x)
Write speed # 1: 7056 kB/s CAV (CD 40x, DVD 5x)
Write speed # 2: 5645 kB/s CAV (CD 32x, DVD 4x)
Write speed # 3: 4234 kB/s CAV (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
Write speed # 4: 2822 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 16x, DVD 2x)
Write speed # 5: 1411 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 8x, DVD 1x)

Supported CD-RW media types according to MMC-4 feature 0x37:
Does write multi speed CD-RW media
Does write high speed CD-RW media
Does write ultra high speed CD-RW media
Does write ultra high speed+ CD-RW media

What can be the problem?

what happens with k3b?
logs?

did you buy DVD+R media?

Sorry I lost the logs. Now it won't even recognise Blank DVD-R's. When I insert it just makes sound as-if balancing/adjusting it. And it keeps balancing it.

How old is this drive ? I had a drive do this, and then it lots features until it no longer worked. First it started by being picky with respect to media.

yeah could be the laser for burning dvds is burned out, i've had something like that happen too

It's about 2.5 years old. You mean there are different lasers CD and DVD writing?

not 100% sure but i believe so as they are different frequencies or different power output or something like that, however according to wikipedia the lifespan of a dvd recorder laser diode is about 2 years