Looking for DVD burner with Linux device driver
 

My DVD/CD burner failed to work earlier today, and I have had to conclude that I must buy a new one. I bought the burner about a year before I installed Linux, and set up a dual boot system with Windows XP, so I didn't need a Linux device driver then. The DVD/CD burner that stopped working only worked in Windows as I could not find a Linux device driver for it, though I searched the Internet and other sources thoroughly, until I had to conclude that no Linux device driver was made for it. It has been a considerable inconvenience to have to go to Windows each time I wanted to use it. Today I have searched long and hard on the Internet to find DVD burners that have a Linux device driver, and every search I made has come to a dead end.
So I'm hoping that someone in this LinuxQuestions.org group knows of a decent but relatively inexpensive DVD burner that I can buy where a Linux device driver can be found, downloaded and installed. My PC is about three years old, and don't want to invest any more money into it than I have to since I will likely buy another PC in about six months. Since I need this as soon as possible, I would strongly prefer it to be one at a store where I can go by and pick it up rather than ordering it on the Internet, and waiting about a week for it to be delivered. But I will do whatever is necessary to get a DVD burner that has a Linux device driver available since I will be doing most of my PC activities in Linux rather than in Windows. If you know the answer to this problem, I will very much appreciate your help.

aplusguy333

I have NEVER heard of a DVD burner that does not work on Linux. There are no specific device drivers required, it's a totally standard hardware interface, like a sata disk or such. It sounds like you've only looked, and not just tried using it. In Linux land it's really VERY rare to need to go hunting down drivers at all. Have you tried using an app like brasero to burn something?

if you run, say, "grep -i dvd /var/log/*" you should see references to be boot up entries where the device is found, giving model numbers and capabilities.

Hi,

I've never had any problems with old ide burners: they "just work" with the drivers provided by the stock linux kernel. Also, please note that no one can suggest specific places that you can go to purchase one if they don't at least know what country you are in.
I was going to suggest http://h-node.org to check for hardware that works with free software (such as linux), but there doesn't seems to be any dvd burners listed.
Evo2.

I am near a large city in Texas, so most major electronics stores are available to me. Also, my PC is on a SATA system, not an IDE system. I didn't mention that because IDE systems were becoming obsolete when I bought this PC.

aplusguy333

Hi,

ok, so I'd suggest just going down to your local computer shop and purchasing the cheapest dvd burner they have (if you are unsure about hardware compatibility check your motherboard documentation). Take it home, and if you can't get it to work post back here. If all fails you can take it back to the shop.

Evo2.

Been using a native SATA DVD-RW here for 2+ years, and never had any trouble. They should work just like IDE just works.

I seem to recall once hearing about someone who had issues with a SATA burner in IDE mode, that might be worth checking.

Not bad advice really, but with DVD-Rws being so cheap, I would prefer to spend a few extra dollars and get a slightly better drive. I've found the 'bottom of the heap' burners slightly more likely to give you issues (windows or linux) with shorter lifespans.

I wouldnt chuck any money at it until you're done a bit more digging to figure out what the problem is.....if there is a problem at all.

Never had any version/distro of Linux to not recognize and immediately start working with any SATA or IDE drive. No special drivers are needed.

I'm using native SATA Blu-Ray burner here. Not sure if it works with Blu-Rays (since I've never burnt one in any OS), but works great with CD's and DVD's. Was a "basic" OEM SATA BDR.

I have seen a few distro's in the past that had issues with sata and with drives. Most of them have known fixes like noatapi or such or getting the latest kernel with support for the sata chipset.

A new cd/dvd in Texas is pretty cheap so if you don't want special features then I'd agree with the get cheapest one and use it.

Since it is a sata system, I can assume that a usb device may also suite your needs.

I'd be willing to gamble and say you would get a working drive (workable) first one you buy. This assumes it does work from the box.

LiteOn drives have a good reputation for reading damaged discs. NEC drives has a good reputation for writing disks. At least it used to be this way last time I checked. None of these things (DVD burners) should cost you much over $25. They're quite cheap now-a-days.

Pioneer dvd's work with linux Also LG bluray, for burning cd's/dvd's never tried blu-ray burning.