I'm new to Linux, trying to get free from Windows, I am not a programmer. Everything was beautiful until I tried to access a CD DVD, then the whole system freezes, each and every time. Here is the information I have gathered after 2 days of frustration:

Using Ubuntu 9.10 on my Quad core with 3 gigs Ram
duo boot w/Windows Vista I think kernel is 2.6.31.19 I upgraded from .14 to .19. My DVD drives are:
Optiarc DVD RW AD 7173A
HL-DT-ST-DVD-ROM GSA-HSSL

Here is the information I have gathered after 2 days of frustration:
.....
here is the output from lshw:
*-cdrom:0
*******description: DVD-RAM writer
*******product: DVD RW AD-7173A
*******vendor: Optiarc
*******physical id: 0.0.0
*******bus info: scsi@6:0.0.0
*******logical name: /dev/cdrom
*******logical name: /dev/cdrw
*******logical name: /dev/dvd
*******logical name: /dev/dvdrw
*******logical name: /dev/scd0
*******logical name: /dev/sr0
*******version: 1-03
*******serial: [Optiarc DVD RW AD-7173A 1-03 Jun21,2007
*******capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
*******configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
***-cdrom:1
*******description: DVD-RAM writer
*******product: DVD-RAM GSA-H55L
*******vendor: HL-DT-ST
*******physical id: 0.1.0
*******bus info: scsi@6:0.1.0
*******logical name: /dev/cdrom1
*******logical name: /dev/cdrw1
*******logical name: /dev/dvd1
*******logical name: /dev/dvdrw1
*******logical name: /dev/scd1
*******logical name: /dev/sr1
*******version: 1.02
*******serial: [HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GSA-H55L1.0207/06/15 7U02
*******capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
*******configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
***-disk:0
*******description: ATA Disk
*******product: WDC WD5000AAKS-2
*******vendor: Western Digital
*******physical id: 0
*******bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
*******logical name: /dev/sda
*******version: 12.0
*******serial: WD-WCAPW3802576
*******size: 465GiB (500GB)
*******capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
*******configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=0688a667
***-disk:1
*******description: ATA Disk
*******product: WDC WD5000AAKS-2
*******vendor: Western Digital
*******physical id: 1
*******bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
*******logical name: /dev/sdb
*******version: 12.0
*******serial: WD-WCAPW3629275
*******size: 465GiB (500GB)
*******capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
*******configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=83f1eaed
***-disk:0
*******description: SCSI Disk
*******physical id: 0.0.0
*******bus info: scsi@8:0.0.0
*******logical name: /dev/sdc
***-disk:1
*******description: SCSI Disk
*******physical id: 0.0.1
*******bus info: scsi@8:0.0.1
*******logical name: /dev/sdd
***-disk:2
*******description: SCSI Disk
*******physical id: 0.0.2
*******bus info: scsi@8:0.0.2
*******logical name: /dev/sde
***-disk:3
*******description: SCSI Disk
*******physical id: 0.0.3
*******bus info: scsi@8:0.0.3
*******logical name: /dev/sdf
***-disk
*******description: SCSI Disk
*******product: 5000AAKS Externa
*******vendor: WD
*******physical id: 0.0.0
*******bus info: scsi@9:0.0.0
*******logical name: /dev/sdg
*******version: 101a
*******serial: WD-WMAPW1178623
*******size: 465GiB (500GB)
*******capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
*******configuration: ansiversion=4 signature=44fdfe06
cdrom
cdrom1
cdrw
cdrw1
pktcdvd
scd0
scd1

Will someone please have mercy and help me.

Thank you.

Bill

Its probably not the solution, because your system freeze and you don't have the permission error (add user to the cdrom group), but you can check if your part of the cdrom group.
You did say that you upgraded the kernel, was the dvdrom working before?

No it was not working, neither the Optiarc nor the DVD LightScribe. Which is why I tried for Hardware update and then software update next.

How do I find if I am part of cdrom group? Both CD DVD's show up when I look at the HDD's and CD drives with a file browser, Everything looks good. But just slide a CD into the drive and one minute later. No mouse no keys work, frozen solid.

1 members found this post helpful.

Since you confirm of the total freeze, this is probably not the solution, but you should read this little tutorial about managing groups.
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/Lin...ingGroups.html
Sorry if i can't help more, it's the first time i hear of this happening, (computer freeze when cd inserted).

Thanks Davno,

I will read the tutorial. I also downloaded, Fedora, another copy of Ubuntu, and Mint last night.
I plan on testing to see if they all freeze with this DVD drive. Since I have Ubuntu set up with
all the apps I like, can you tell me how to back up before I format the drive and start over?
Will the sbackup inside Ubuntu work for my apps?

Anyone else with ant ideas on this Freezing problem please jump in.

I read the tutorial mentioned above.
I set all users to read and write to devices.
I slipped a CD into the drive and watched with file browser open.
I saw the information show up for CD.
Then received this error: (which is new)

"Cannot mount device DBus error org.gtk.Private.RemoteVolumeMonitor.Failed:
An operation is already pending."

Do I just need to go buy two new DVD drives or what?

Final piece of info:

The Results are exactly the same with
Fedora
Mint
Ubuntu

in all cases once I try to access CD or DVD (either drive)
the system stops responding, even when working from a Live CD or from an installation on my HDD.

Thanks for any suggestions.

kernel bug?

Then it has nothing to do with a permission problem and since it freeze on every distro, i don't think it's a kernel or distro problem either.
And since it does that with "both" drive, i don't think it's your hardware "drive" either.
Is your hardware installation new in your box, is it possible it is wired wrong, or some bios setting could be wrong. Did it work in windows?
I would try to borrow a drive from a friend and connect it on the same wire then try a live cd to confirm.

1 members found this post helpful.

Nothing new. This computer came with Windows Vista. Currently, I have a duo boot with Ubuntu 9.10. Windows loves these drives. One is a LightScribe which I use to make CD's which I sell pf spiritual talks. The other is a Dual Layer, for 8 gig DVD's. I use them both constantly.

I was able to write a file to one drive and as soon as it said, "successful," it froze the system in Ubuntu. I rebooted and checked in Windows and the file it wrote was good. It seems as soon as I insert a CD DVD, I have about two minutes until freeze happens. I have tried unplugging one drive and trying the other. I have tried booting into Live CD Ubuntu. Each and every access to the other drive causes a freeze.

I really love Linux and want this to work. I hate to buy new hardware but will if needed. But I gotta know it is going to work before I buy it. I can try my CD player from my old XP machine downstairs here, but not until Thurssday, I have other responsibilities calling now.

Thanks again for being a live person. :-)

Bill

We got snowed in here so I was able to take an old Samsung CD/DVD out of an XP machine and plug it into my Ubuntu/Vista duo boot machine. Results...

As long as I unplugged the second DVD drive it worked wonderfully. I burned a data DVD, played a music CD, mounted and unmounted and basically kept it busy for an hour with no freeze whatsoever.

I will be going to Best Buy store as soon as the snows melt to buy 2 new DVD burners. I need Dual Layer and one to burn LightScribe labels.

It seems a shame that neither drive would work when they are 2007 drives, Sony and LightScribe HP I think. I will have to buy 2.

So I guess we can call this solved although Windows recognizes them just fine.

Does anyone at all have suggestions for compatible DVD drives before I go looking? I have checked online but most hardware sites assume DVD's will be compatible. Any tips at all would help and I would be grateful.

Thanks so much.

I use LG dvd drives in my PC with Kubuntu 9.10. No problems at all.

Thank you, I will write that down.

I also have LG's on all my computers and 2 of them are Lightscribe witch work well in Linux.

I bought LG DL w/Lightscribe only to find it also would not work.
So...

I uninstalled Ubuntu 9.10 and installed Ubuntu 8.04.4 and Voila!
Everything is working. Both DVD's, Nvidia, USB, External Hard Drive,
Sound, Network, Everything. It is a BUG in Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6,31.19.

I now have Ubuntu on HDD 1 and Windows Vista booting from HDD 2.

All is well at last!

Take care...