Correction. I have now been able to download working PDF manuals from the LaCie website. Careful examination of their web pages indicates that the recorder is only able to use DVD-R discs "for general use." I guess this indicates that they are not meant for professional or archiving usage. As this has been the main disc type I have tried to use it may account for some write problems I have had (but not reported in my previous note).
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Paul Freeman Sent: 12 September 2003 15:16 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PRODIG] Lacie Support Warning Seeing the post about the external harddrive prompted me to warn you about a poor experience I have had with support for a new Lacie d2 DVD rewriter. This is a PC oriented "review". The hardware seems pretty good. However the software, and the subsequent lack of support which I have had has left a lot to be desired. ---------------- 1) The PDF manuals do not display correctly so I could not read detailed how-to on how to use the machine. Oddly only the cover page of the PDF's is displayed. I guess they werent distilled correctly or something. LaCie does not offer downloads of anything more up to date. 2) There is a problem with the supplied Roxio software on my Windows XP machine. As a result I can't use any of the software. For some reason the Roxio s/w thinks I have not agreed to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement). However it doesn't provide me with an means of agreeing to it! Three uninstall/reinstall cycles and a registry hack have not made anything better. 3) As I couldn't read the PDF manuals I probably made an obvious error when I installed the drive on a 1.1 USB laptop. I then tried to write to a DVD-RW and ended up trashing the hard drive on the laptop (the machine became unbootable). Yep, don't ask how that can happen but I can attribute it to the Roxio software I think. I eventually repaired the laptops HD by removing it and installing it via an adaptor into my desktop. The only helpful suggestion LaCie have made is that the device "Doesnt work with USB1.1". Funny, I thought USB 2.0 was back compatible with USB 1.1 ---------------- I contacted LaCie support as Roxio, helpfully, do not provide support for OEM copies of their software. So far I have made three support requests of LaCie regarding problems 1 & 2. I have had no suggested resolution and several requests from their tech support form have gone unanswered even by an auto email response to say that my form filling was successful. They did answer to 3) because of the seriousness of hard disc loss I guess, but by the time they responded I had already whipped out the HD and repaired it on the desktop. ---------------- Overall, this has been a very poor experience and I am forced to conclude that LaCie know how to make cool looking cases but that they know llareggub about anything else. ---------------- As you smart people probably realised already. Roxio's software is not worth the plastic it is printed on. I went out and bought Nero 6 yesterday... and now everything works fine apart from DVD-RW recording, but at least Nero has not trashed the hard drive so far. Possibly I am using a disc type that the DVD burner doesnt like (Verbatim DVD-RW)? In any case, if you fancy this product, factor in an extra 40 quid for Nero if you hope to retain your sanity and do not let Roxio near your registry! Paul Freeman www.architecturalimages.co.uk -- ____________________________________________________ Message scanned for viruses and dangerous content by <http://www.newnet.co.uk/av/> and believed to be clean =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE -- ____________________________________________________ Message scanned for viruses and dangerous content by <http://www.newnet.co.uk/av/> and believed to be clean =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
