Here's a log of the problem:

Burning a CD gives no error in the log. But of the last two that I've tried, two different isos of ubuntu, both have given checksum and subsequently installation errors.

I've tried with two manufactures of DVDs, both of which have worked before for me.

I've tried it across three separate installations of windows, a ubuntu 8.10 install, and a 9.04 session. All attempts failed. It is not OS specific.

Read words perfectly, with all kinds of dvds and Cds.

Pretty sure by now that it's a problem with the drive. But the ass from whom I've brought the thing is refusing to fix it, despite the fact that it's still under warranty. In trying to stave of a potentially very long bout of haggling, I'm hoping somebody can point me to the exact nature of the problem.

Code:

I 18:33:34 ImgBurn Version 2.4.4.0 started!
I 18:33:34 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)
I 18:33:34 Total Physical Memory: 916.464 KB  -  Available: 573.896 KB
I 18:33:34 Initialising SPTI...
I 18:33:34 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 18:33:53 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM! [B]At this point it should point out that it's found an empty disk as well. [/B]
I 18:34:25 Operation Started!
I 18:34:25 Building Image Tree.
...


I 18:34:48 OPC: No
I 18:34:48 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 18:34:49 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 18:34:50 Writing LeadIn...
W 18:35:10 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Write Error
W 18:35:10 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 18:35:10 Retry Failed - Reason: Write Error
W 18:35:10 Retrying (2 of 20)...
W 18:35:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Write Error
W 18:35:22 Retrying (3 of 20)...
W 18:35:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Write Error
W 18:35:22 Retrying (4 of 20)...


W 18:37:13 Retry Failed - Reason: Write Error
W 18:37:14 Retrying (22)...
W 18:37:25 Retry Failed - Reason: Write Error
E 18:42:42 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Write Error
I 18:42:42 Synchronising Cache...
W 18:42:44 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions.
E 18:42:44 Failed to Write Image!
E 18:42:44 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:07:55
I 18:42:44 Average Write Rate: N/A - Maximum Write Rate: N/A