Sony Dvd recorder/player drive needs replacing

The drive, model DW-U15A, on my Sony RDR GX300 needs to be replaced. I cannot find another. Do other brand DVD/CD drives interchange with Sony as long as the connections and dimensions are the same? The drive appears to be identical to my computer DVD drive unit.
Thanks for helping.

3 more comments
capmerc Dec 05, 2008

Same problem; about a year ago, the player began "not recognizing" discs intermittently...now it won't play or record any DVD's (though it still plays CD's). This week, I had an on-line chat with Sony service. The tech I chatted with said I "could try" swapping out the drive for a Sony DRU840a multi-format internal DVD recorder. Once I get all the specs, if it looks like a match for the DW-u15a (or if I find another compatible drive), I'll post the results here.
Anonymous Dec 29, 2008

Has been a good machine up until a month ago when I kept getting "disc error" messages with increasing frequency. Now it won't read any discs. Can the disc drive be replaced?
Anonymous Feb 08, 2009

I have exactly the same problem as you guys, but with a HX900. It uses the same drive as the 300. I've tried swapping it out with a Sony DRU800A and it just won't work. It's a special firmware on the drive's controller apparently.
Anonymous Feb 11, 2009

Well, here's another GX300 owner with the same problem. Slowly it stopped recognizing disks -- now it won't see any DVD-Rs. Shame there isn't a replacement drive. I buy Panasonic now. Not that Pana is perfect, but so far their stuff is doing fine. IF anyone gets another drive to work in the 300 LET US KNOW!!
afm_380 Mar 27, 2009

Same issue ... first the unit wouldn't read retail discs but would play copies fine ... then it stopped reading EVERYTHING. Load ... Load ... Load ... Error. I decided give the 840 suggestion a try. It take a little modification to get it to fit ... but all you receive for the trouble is a cycle from Welcome to Close ... nothing else. Hopefully there might be a firmware mod to get it to work, but it's not looking promising. Unfortunately, I WILL NOT be purchasing another Sony unit ... no matter how good the reviews.

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Posted on Feb 21, 2010

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I have the perfect solution never ever BUY ANYTHING with the sony name on it.

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The drive, model DW-U15A, on my Sony RX900 needs to be replaced. I cannot find another.

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WARNING: The following instructions involve opening your recorder and being exposed to dangerous voltages. make sure you unplug the unit from the mains supply before opening the unit. DO NOT PLUG INTO THE MAINS WITH THE COVER REMOVED.

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