I know this is an older post but I too have a samsung dvd/cdrw device
and it will not burn disks with serpentine, which was installed as
default. I had to install gnomebaker, (the package manager got it and
installed it with no problems) Now it will burn everything, even ISO
files (although there is no listing for ISO in the graphic menu, it
sees the ISO and burns it automatically).
I suspect it is a problem with the device and the serpentine, not with
ubuntu. I would notify the distributor of the serpentine software if I
knew how.


As an aside:
I have a dual boot system windows/ubuntu and because of the trouble
with the cd burner, I would download various things with windows and
burn them, and then use them on linux.
I downloaded three different versions of BSD (freebsd, netbsd. and
openbsd) and burned them with windows burners. Each time, the disks
would boot and the partitioner would partition, but when it came time
to install, the system said it could not find the media to install
from on the cd. I used two different burning programs to make the cd's
(six in all) and they all came out the same. I was going to give up
until I got the gnomebake working on my Ubuntu, so I gave it one last
shot. It booted, partitioned and when it came time to install---
---Yes, Yes, Yes,---
It installed without a glitch,(except for the archaic installer system
on the BSD Unix Distro's. They are still living in 1991)
Thanks to swapping out the cd burner I now have a BSD toy on an old
computer and I am a happy man. If you have not figured out the problem
yet, try another burner software. Samsung doesn't seem to like anybody.