Difference between revisions of "Template:Optical Media Testing"

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(Created page with "__NOTOC__ We test the basic ability of an optical drive to boot a live disk, read data, and write data. Start by confirming which functions you need to test for the optical drive…")
 
 
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__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
We test the basic ability of an optical drive to boot a live disk, read data, and write data. Start by confirming which functions you need to test for the optical drive installed.
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*All drives should have CD read and CD write functions (CD-R/W).
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====Determine drive functions====
*Check the drive faceplate or Keeper label to see if your drive has DVD read and write capabilities (DVD-R/W), or just DVD read (DVD-ROM).
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All drives should have CD read and CD write functions (CD-RW) and DVD read (DVD-ROM) capabilities. <br>
&#9744; You will need three testing disks:
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&#9744; Check the drive faceplate or Keeper Label to see if your drive has DVD read and write capabilities (DVD-R/W), or just DVD-ROM.<br>
*Live bootable disk (all optical drives)
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&#9744; Open a terminal and run <code>/usr/lib/freegeek_show_cd_drives</code>. You should see something like:<br>
*CD-RW for CD read and write functions (all optical drives)
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*DVD-RW for DVD read and write functions (DVD-RW drives), or
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device:      sr0
*DVD-ROM for drives without DVD write functions (DVD-ROM drives)
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model:      Optiarc_DVD+_-RW_AD-5540A
====Live boot test (all optical drives)====
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supporting:  cdrom, cdrw, dvd, dvdrw
Booting a live disk tests the optical drive firmware (the little bit of software installed on the drive itself). The goal of testing the live boot first is to eliminate hardware problems before testing read and write functions in the operating system. <br>
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&#9744; Insert a live disk and reboot.<br>
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&#9744; Make sure the drive functions listed on the optical drive faceplate match the Terminal output. If the functions listed do not match, ask your instructor for help. <br>
&#9744; You should end up on a screen from the disk, rather than the Xubuntu login screen. Remove the disk and reboot back to Xubuntu. <br>
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'''Troubleshooting steps'''<br>
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====CD and DVD read tests====
*Make sure your BIOS boot order is set correctly.
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&#9744; You will need two testing disks:
*Try a few different live disks.
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*CD-R or CD-ROM disk, such as an audio CD.
*If the drive still fails to boot a live disk, it's probably time to try a different optical drive.
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*Commercial video DVD (movie, television show, etc.)
'''Tip'''<br>
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&#9744; Insert your testing CD, and wait a few moments. A file manager window should pop up.
Live disks are often very slow to load.
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*Confirm that the operating system can read the files or audio on the disk.
====CD read and write test (all optical drives)====
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*If the window does not appear, check for the disk in the '''Places''' menu.
'''Write'''<br>
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&#9744; Repeat the test with a DVD.
&#9744; Insert a CD-RW disk.  <br>
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*A media player should appear and the DVD should start to play. If it does not start then consult with your Instructor as this may indicate a problem with the DVD codec installation.
&#9744; Open the burning program '''Xfburn''' from Menu >> Multimedia.<br>
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&#9744; Create a new data project:
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*Select '''New Data Composition''' from the Xfburn main menu.
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[[Category:Laptops]]
&#9744; Select a file to burn:
 
*In the Xfburn file browser window select Desktop >> '''freegeek-manual-desktop'''.
 
*Add the file by selecting the green plus.
 
&#9744; Start the burning process:
 
*Hit the '''Proceed to Burn''' button.
 
&#9744; Eject the disk once the burning process has completed.
 
*The disk will autoeject in some systems.
 
*Eject by right clicking on the disk Desktop icon >> Eject.
 
*Open a terminal and type <code>eject</code>.
 
'''Read'''<br>
 
&#9744; Reinsert the disk, and wait a few moments. Confirm that the file you burned is on the disk.
 
*A file manager window should pop up, with the file you burned.
 
*If the window does not appear, check Places for the disk.
 
&#9744; Blank the disk from Xfburn >> '''Blank CD-RW''' to prepare the disk for the next tester.
 
====DVD read test (for DVD-ROM drives only)====
 
&#9744; Insert a DVD-ROM disk. Confirm that the operating system can read the files on the disk.
 
*A file manager window should pop up, with the file you burned.
 
*If the window does not appear, check Places for the disk.
 
'''Tip'''<br>
 
*Copywritten software is required to play DVD movies. We do not install this software, but verify instead that the files on the DVD are readable by the operating system.
 
====DVD read and write test (DVD-RW drives)====
 
&#9744; Follow the instructions for CD-RW testing, with a DVD-RW disk.
 
'''Troubleshooting steps for -/+RW media'''<br>
 
Optical disk media is finicky, and disks in the build room are used frequently.
 
*Try several different -/+RW disks.
 
*Try a read-only disk (CD or DVD-ROM), and see if the drive can read the disk.  
 
*If the drive can read a CD or DVD-ROM disk, ask your instructor for a brand new CD/DVD-RW disk or CD/DVD-R. Some media formats don't play nice with specific optical drives when running Ubuntu.
 

Latest revision as of 16:49, 14 September 2013


Determine drive functions

All drives should have CD read and CD write functions (CD-RW) and DVD read (DVD-ROM) capabilities.
☐ Check the drive faceplate or Keeper Label to see if your drive has DVD read and write capabilities (DVD-R/W), or just DVD-ROM.
☐ Open a terminal and run /usr/lib/freegeek_show_cd_drives. You should see something like:

device:      sr0
model:       Optiarc_DVD+_-RW_AD-5540A
supporting:  cdrom, cdrw, dvd, dvdrw

☐ Make sure the drive functions listed on the optical drive faceplate match the Terminal output. If the functions listed do not match, ask your instructor for help.

CD and DVD read tests

☐ You will need two testing disks:

  • CD-R or CD-ROM disk, such as an audio CD.
  • Commercial video DVD (movie, television show, etc.)

☐ Insert your testing CD, and wait a few moments. A file manager window should pop up.

  • Confirm that the operating system can read the files or audio on the disk.
  • If the window does not appear, check for the disk in the Places menu.

☐ Repeat the test with a DVD.

  • A media player should appear and the DVD should start to play. If it does not start then consult with your Instructor as this may indicate a problem with the DVD codec installation.