LightScribe DVD Drive


Do you
need a 'special' DVD Drive for LightScribe?

The bad news is yes but if you do not already have one the good news is they are inexpensive to buy and you have a choice - A replacement Internal LightScribe drive or an External USB LightScribe drive.


LightScribe Enabled Drive

For a drive to burn LightScribe labels it needs to be a 'LightScribe Enabled' drive. This is accomplished by the use of an additional circuitry to enable the laser that normally would burn the data, video etc to be used to burn an image instead.

Part of this circuitry is visible on the drive trays of Notbook/Laptop LightScribe drives as seen on the images below and is called a LightScribe Drive Sensor.

 How to Recognize a LightScribe Drive

In fact the visibility of a LightScribe Drive Sensor is often the only way to recognize if your notebook has a Lightscribe drive installed.

 

Internal LightScribe DVD Drives

These as the name suggests are LightScribe drives that fit into your PC or Laptop, replacing or adding to your existing DVD Drive.

 

Most major dvd drive manufacturers now produce a LightScribe DVD drive and in the five years or so I have been using LightScribe I have personally used a number of these.

 

Coupled with feedback from LightScribe Toolbox customers I would like to suggest these as my top three manufacturers:

 

LG Logo Liteon Logo Samsung Logo

 

 

You may be asking why I have not listed HP above, after all they invented LightScribe...

 

Well it is true to say that because of that fact and that HP and Compaq PC's and Laptop/Notebooks come with LightScribe DVD Drives as standard they do have the lion's share of the drive market...

 

However (and this may just be because of the number in use...) the drives that most commonly cause problems according to the emails I receive are HP's...

 

I'm not suggesting if you have a working HP LightScribe drive you should change it but if it ever goes wrong (except if it is in a notebook) try either a LG, Liteon or Samsung Lightscribe drive instead.

 

As for recognition of an internal LightScribe drive, the presence of the LightScribe logo on the front is proof enough, see below:

 

How to recognize a LightScribe DVD Writer 

 

External LightScribe DVD Drives

 

The only difference between an Internal and external LightScribe drive is the fact it comes in its own case and is connected to your PC/Laptop via a USB cable. This makes these great for someone who has a laptop where the changing of the drive for a LightScribe one would be impossible.

 

I have used, for about 2 years now, an external LG LightScribe Drive and it has proved faultless.

 

I recommend these wholeheartedly.

 

LG External USB LightScribe Drive 

 

 

Blu-ray LightScribe  Drives

 

So to the future of LightScribe labeling...

 

Lightscribe drives are already available with Blu-ray burning capacity. As yet no Blu-ray LightScribe media is available but this is just a matter of time. so if you want to 'future-proof' your Lightscribe experience grab a Blu-ray LightScribe burner and have fun...

 

An example of one such drive is this:

 

LG Blu-ray LightScribe Drive

 

 

So what's next...

 

Now you have decided on your LightScribe drive, what is next in our list of 'must haves' to create your LightScribe Labeling System?

 

Well next is the software you need to get your newly acquired LightScribe Drive talking to your PC, and that my friends is the LightScribe System Software...

 

 

So please read on... 

 

Steve Nelson

 

 

Further recommended reading:

 

LightScribe System Software

 

LightScribe Labeling Software

 

LightScribe Media

 

LightScribe Basics

 

Darker LightScribe Labels

 

7 Steps to lightScribe Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top of Page

 

LightScribe Label Software

 

  

   

 LightScribe Software for All Windows XP to 11

Some  of our recent Customer Feedback...

 

 

Steve,  

 

I received the toolbox CD yesterday and Thursday night I burned the first label to a CD. 

 

Burning the label was easy, even for a novice like me.  Everything I needed was in the toolbox. 

 

I am excited about being able to burn directly to the disc!!  No more paper labels for me!!  

 

Thanks for such a priceless toolbox. 

 

Audrey Cato 

Texas - USA 

 

Dear Steve,

Great product and so easy to use. I got more for my money that I was expecting.

Regards, 
Felix Negron
Colt Refining Inc.
Merrimack - USA

 

Steve 

 

As a photographer LightScribe is a marketing tool. Your product has just saved the day! 

 

Sharon Orienter

Rochester - USA

 

Steve,

 

I got the software and it works great, I love it. I made 2 CD’s within the first 1/2 hr after installation.

 

I couldn't be more happy. 

Thanks for the great price too, nowadays money is tight, but 17 dollars for software that includes so much, and so easy to use is worth every penny. 

 

Thanks again. You can quote me if you want.

 

Janet Menchyk - USA


Dear Steve,  

 

Got your product. WOW works great and sooooo easy. Best 17 bucks I have spent in a long time.

 

It works so good I don't need Tec support so I am just sending this Email to say Hello and thanks.

 

Jim  Smith – USA

 

Hi Steve 

  

Thanks for helping me out. I now saved the link in my favourites as you had instructed, and have successfully loaded the software.

 

It is wonderful and easy to use, thanks for making it simple for the non-tekkie! 

 

Don Kiefiuk – USA 

 

Steve

 

Thank you for the professional site. It was a really great experience to see something so easy, direct and informative.

 

The “Big Guys” have missed the point on customer service. You really have hit the mark.

 

Tom Karl – USA

 

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks for the GREAT product. It's products like yours that make using my computer a lot more enjoyable!

 

I was burning my first LightScribe disc label about 20 minutes after I got home.

 

Thanks for the disc tip, the next time I buy disc, I'll be sure to get Verbatim.

 

Dennis Coleman – USA

 

Hi Steve

 

Like you I was expecting to simply use Nero 7 to print LightScribe Labels but oh no!

 

Now thanks to yourself and this superb software I am merrily printing away.

 

Many, many thanks and keep up the great work.

 

George Douglass - UK

 

Steve

 

Product is great; worked exactly as advertised.

 

Money well spent. I’ve been making labels all afternoon. Thanks.

 

Peter Macey – USA

 

Steve,

 

I installed Vista, lost Light Scribe, and could not figure out how to get it back in, even after getting a firmware update for my cd/dvd drive.

 

Installing your stuff put the driver back in and now even my Nero software finds it.  Thanks a bunch!

 

Patrick Davis – USA

 

Steve,

 

Thanks for the email. I have not had a chance to scour it all, but I was able to create a quick disk that looked awesome, so thanks for everything.

 

Your toolbox has everything anyone would ever dream of needing to make some awesome LightScribe labels, I just loved it.

 

I personally think its well worth the investment, 100 times over.

 

Pat Ferrell - USA

 

Hi Steve,

 

I purchased your software and a LiteOn  20x DVD RW Dual Layer Super  Drive.

 

Your software works just great and the LITEON drive burned a magnificent image right out of the box, first try! I couldn't be happier.

Thanks a million.

 

Charlie Scott - USA

 

Hi Steve

 

I have just scribed my 1st CD label - It's idiot proof.

 

If I managed to use it so can anyone! Thank you.

 

Belinda Chalk – UK

 

Steve

 

Very nice package! Exactly what I was looking for!

 

Edward Adams Jr.– USA

 

Hi Steve

 

I am delighted with your software.

 

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year from us in South Africa.

 

Regards

 

Manfred Ahrensmeier – RSA

 

Steve

I just want to let you know that I received the CD.  I had no problem installing the software.

Thank you for the refund of the LS Download.

It's a pleasure doing business with you. I’ll pass the word around.

Thank You!

Hector Barrientos 

Abilene - USA

 

Steve,

Your software works simply awesome!

I burned a pretty complex background and it was so simple.

I can't wait to get more elaborate with it!

I will recommend this to anyone I know with a lightscribe drive!

Chuck Hammond - USA