For anyone still interested, I updated my 12.2 machines with the latest cdrtools-2.01.01a57-i486-1_slack12.2 patch.

First I tested the HP CD writer in my older box. I erased a CD-RW with no problem. I burned an ISO image to the same disk with no problem.

Next I updated the patched package on my production box with the DVD drive. I burned an ISO image to a DVD+RW with no problem.

I validated md5 sums with both machines.

I don't know the reasons or causes but everything here is consistent. Something about the a53 version was buggy --- at least on my machines. I had no problems using the a38 or a50 versions. Version a53 would not function for me on two different machines with two different devices.

Version a57 seems to function normally for me on both machines and devices.

The DVD device no longer recognizes CD media of any kind. I have accepted some kind of failure. Originally when I reported the problem with cdrtools there actually were two problems, one masking the other. Nonetheless, the same thing goes for the DVD device. Versions a38, a50, and a57 function fine but not a53.

the dvd device actually has the red laser and blue laser red for cdrom and blue for dvd. I wonder if the modules for your device are not reading your dvd chipset right. when I built the cdrkit I looked at the defferent machines the build was compiling for. could you check your bios to see if for some reason the drive is not being detected.
I mean what does bios report for the device and what does linux report and load. a quote for your device from Lite-on found this helped some people woodsman this is a 2.6.27.7 bug that was asigned to a kernel maintainer.

cdrtools-2.01.01a53-i486-1 is Slackware's 12.2 native version -- the current patched version is cdrtools-2.01.01a57-i486-1. Did you try it?

[EDIT]
Well... You did. Excuse me. I passed over #16 and #17 posts.
[/EDIT]

Although refusing to write CDs, the DVD device was reading commercial CDs when this episode began. The device stopped recognizing all CDs a couple of days later. I also reinstalled 12.1 (kernel 2.6.24.5) to my testing partitions with the same results. Currently the DVD device will not boot the computer from a CD but boots from a DVD. I don't think the problem is kernel related.

The DVD device is the only IDE device on the second (IDE1) port and is jumpered correctly. The BIOS boot screen indicates as much.

I remain open to the idea that version a53 somehow caused the problem, but I don't know of a way to reset the DVD drive to default settings --- if there are any. I also remain open that the problem is a hardware failure.

Regardless, the new a57 patched version is not causing the same problems I reported with a53. The CD device now works without hitch with CDs and the DVD device now works without hitch with DVDs.

If that is the case then I agree, it cannot be a kernel issue. If it just stopped working all by itself, then it just malfunctioned or broke.

I installed kde 4.2 and instead of using our patched for kde3-compat I used a zenwalk that was compiled for 4.2. I had to go to slack build to get libsimplerate and libmusicbrainz to get k3b going. works great.
but it had to crash three times it has a debug built in for this.
then 4 was a charm.
I would have never known this unless I looked at the scripts and the folders.

The thing about the cdrtools was my dvd is on the slave and it went down right after 12.2 install. and then used the slackbuild cdrkit then reverted to the newest in extra or testing. for 4.2.
sorry to see your red lights out still. i still think this is a hardware issue if it worked under 12.1 then I do not know. I installed xfburn and ran that even in kde till I got it figured out.
If you can't boot from it and it is not a bios setting then you know your going to have look at a another piece of hardware.