[TriLUG] Linux causes damage to LG CD-ROM drives (Dells) ?

[Jeremy Portzer]

Noticed something interesting on the Mandrake web site:
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/errata.php3#badlg

"Error scenario: Installing 9.2 and being told unable to install the
base system and subsequent reboot reveals that CD-ROM is physically
dead.
"Why: According to LG Electronics, their ODD (Optical Disc Drive)
products do not support Linux nor do they test with Linux.
Unfortunately, many Dell computers (possibly others) come with these
CD-ROM drives. 
"Solution: Currently there is no solution or work-around for this issue;
it is still under investigation. Damage occurs even when doing a network
install. At this point, please do not install Mandrake Linux 9.2 on any
computer containing a LG-based CD-ROM or it will damage your CD-ROM! We
are actively looking for a solution to this problem."

How is it that a driver (presumable, the IDE / ATAPI driver in Linux)
can cause physical damage like this?  Has anyone encountered this? 
Seems very odd in this day and age.

--Jeremy

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| Jeremy Portzer        jeremyp at pobox.com      trilug.org/~jeremy     |
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