Verbatim 43888 "No disc inserted"

[Patappa]

Hey folks,

Long-time makemkv forum reader, first-time poster. I was recently inspired by some other posts on this forum to invest in a 4K-compatible drive and read folks mention that the Verbatim 43888 works "out of the box" -- recently imported from the UK into the states and it put me back about $120 (aside from the problems following, this wasn't the worst deal ever): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MTP9VKX

Anyway, I loaded this up in MakeMKV and the Info seemed to read exactly as I've seen in other folks' posts:
Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: [redacted]
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.14
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Unfortunately, when I put in any 4K disk, it just says "No disc inserted." It reads DVDs just fine but it hasn't read any of the five 4K disks I've tried. I feel like this problem is probably outside MakeMKV, but I'm out of ideas and hoping someone has a theory! Anyone know what I should try?

[MartyMcNuts]

Hey folks,

Long-time makemkv forum reader, first-time poster. I was recently inspired by some other posts on this forum to invest in a 4K-compatible drive and read folks mention that the Verbatim 43888 works "out of the box" -- recently imported from the UK into the states and it put me back about $120 (aside from the problems following, this wasn't the worst deal ever): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MTP9VKX

Anyway, I loaded this up in MakeMKV and the Info seemed to read exactly as I've seen in other folks' posts:
Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: [redacted]
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.14
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Unfortunately, when I put in any 4K disk, it just says "No disc inserted." It reads DVDs just fine but it hasn't read any of the five 4K disks I've tried. I feel like this problem is probably outside MakeMKV, but I'm out of ideas and hoping someone has a theory! Anyone know what I should try?

Did you test a standard BD disc?

[Patappa]

Looks like normal blu-rays are having the same problem as 4K's and also coming up with "no disc inserted."

Before I had only tested with American blu-rays and it didn't work but I assumed it was because this was a region B player, but now I've just tried with an all-region disk from Indicator and it also did not work.

[MartyMcNuts]

Looks like normal blu-rays are having the same problem as 4K's and also coming up with "no disc inserted."

Before I had only tested with American blu-rays and it didn't work but I assumed it was because this was a region B player, but now I've just tried with an all-region disk from Indicator and it also did not work.

Maybe the blue laser is no good??

Does the OS see the BD disc?

[Patappa]

Looks like normal blu-rays are having the same problem as 4K's and also coming up with "no disc inserted."

Before I had only tested with American blu-rays and it didn't work but I assumed it was because this was a region B player, but now I've just tried with an all-region disk from Indicator and it also did not work.

Maybe the blue laser is no good??

Does the OS see the BD disc?

The OS does not seem to see the BD, nope...

Well, I guess I'll have to see what Verbatim support can do. I appreciate the theorizing -- I'll report back here in case other folks end up having similar problems with the 43888 in the future.

[MartyMcNuts]

Looks like normal blu-rays are having the same problem as 4K's and also coming up with "no disc inserted."

Before I had only tested with American blu-rays and it didn't work but I assumed it was because this was a region B player, but now I've just tried with an all-region disk from Indicator and it also did not work.

Maybe the blue laser is no good??

Does the OS see the BD disc?

The OS does not seem to see the BD, nope...

Well, I guess I'll have to see what Verbatim support can do. I appreciate the theorizing -- I'll report back here in case other folks end up having similar problems with the 43888 in the future.

Might be easier to just return it.

[DerWom]

Anyone know what I should try?

Yep - that is excatly the drive I got.

Have you tried another USB Port ? I've seen errors on one port...

[Patappa]

Anyone know what I should try?

Yep - that is excatly the drive I got.

Have you tried another USB Port ? I've seen errors on one port...

I have! I've tried basically every port on three different computers and they've had the same issue: DVD's work fine but blu-ray and 4K disks don't. I think it's most likely a problem with the blue laser. Bums me out to get this kind of hardware issue considering returning it internationally is going to be annoying (already had a frustrating interaction with Verbatim support where they said importing it "makes no sense" because it "can be purchased within the USA")