Sony DRU-500A Write Problems

[JohnnyCNote]

I've started having write errors with my Sony DRU-500A. After having burned 50+ Verbatim CD-R's and dozens Imation DVD-R's, it starting giving me buffer underrun and other frustrating errors. I ran DriveCheck.exe and got the following results:


[12/17/2003 10:52:56 PM] 1 log - 702 MB Blank CD-R
[12/17/2003 10:52:58 PM] 1 log - Media ID: 97.34.23
[12/17/2003 10:52:58 PM] 1 log - Testing drive: SONY DVD RW DRU-500A (2.0g)
[12/17/2003 10:52:58 PM] 1 log - Begining Test
[12/17/2003 10:52:58 PM] 1 log - Begining CD Write
[12/17/2003 10:55:01 PM] *** err - Failed to write data to track
[12/17/2003 10:55:01 PM] *** err - edwMmcWrite10 returned the following error: SCSI Sense - Key:3 (Medium Error) ASC:73 ASCQ:03
[12/17/2003 10:55:01 PM] *** err - Failed to write track 01


Does anyone have any idea what the above means, beyond that I probably have to send it back to Sony? This is the 2nd time it's messed up, I might add. The first time was just 3 weeks after buying it. Now it's something else. Based on that I can't recommend these drives.

Any help would be appreciated.....

[disturbed1]

Sense 03 ASC 73 ASCQ 03

Power Calibration Area Error.

Laser can't focus the power needed to burn the media at set speed.

Clean the laser, try another disc, send in for repair.

Just an FYI, I'm getting the error codes from Primo DVD's help file. Record Now Max has the same table, as does Sonics support web site.

I personally have only had this error code while trying to write Faked Maxell media ID DVD-Rs with my A03 at 2x speed. Reducing the speed to 1x took the error away.

And
With an old Plextor 8x CDRW drive after 4 years of overuse. Which of course finally died.

[JohnnyCNote]

Thanks for the help! What's the best way to clean the drive? I have a cleaning disk and a can of compressed air. It's still under warranty, so I don't think I can open it up without voiding it......

[disturbed1]

I wouldn't use compressed air. The force could knock something out of alignment. Try the cleaning disc.

Buffer underrun errors are usually problems with how your PC is set up. But most Power Calibration errors are from Media/Drive incompatibilities. I noticed you said Verbatim CD-Rs. The Verbatim CD-Rs I have are made by CMC, though rated at 48x, don't achieve good results over 24x. I'd rate these discs with the no-name silvers made by Princo.

I'd recomend trying some FujiMedia (CDR/DVDR) or TDK (DVDR). The Sony burners have shown to like the expensive stuff.

Even though it's under warranty, they may deem it non cost effictive, since the 500 is 2 generations old. My girlfriend's family had a 500 go bad, and wanted to exchange it. Since the store no longer sold the 500, they had to pay extra to upgrade to the 510 Wish they would of let me handle the matter 8)

[garryheather]

Cleaning discs can do more harm than good though - if you're sure its not the media then send the drive back to get it looked at.

I work with optical drives and apart from one used by a heavy smoker who literally blew smoke into the damn thing, have yet had the need to clean one. My old 2x CD-R drive is still going strong after all these years, for example.

You won't want to open it up and void the warranty, but be aware that cleaning discs can void it too - check the small print to make sure this doesn't apply to you. All the discs I have seen use brushes bonded to the surface of a suitably authored disc, but these can scratch the lens and / or move it out of allignment. When cleaning the optics, you should use a high purity alcohol in a circular motion, applying just enough pressure to make the lens wobble. A mass produced cleaning disc will not be that gentle !

[handyguy]

PCEs are common, search the forum. Its a media/firmware issue or you are writing too fast, try writing at 1x & see what happens.

I don't use Verbs on a Sony, they arent compatible. I hear verb reformulated though.

[masterpug]

just downgrade your firmware to 1.0f or lower and should work. recent firmware upgrades like 2.0 make the drive way too picky on what media it will accept, and you'll often get the dreaded power calibration error. classic case of just because it's an "upgrade" doesn't make it better. 1.0f works on everything i've thrown at it, and the burns are flawless....trust me on this.

[JohnnyCNote]

Thanks to everyone for the help! I ran the cleaning disk for about 25 minutes and it seems to be working okay for now. What was strange was that I'd never had problems with the Verbatim disks, and after cleaning have used two of the ones that were previously rejected. I also erased and "backed up" a movie on a Memorex (ugh!) DVD-RW and it went fine.

It's worked fine for months, burned many of the Verbatim CD-R's, Imation DVD + and - R's and the Memorex DVD-RW's, although I just bought some Fuji's. So, I guess it was just some dust, which wouldn't be surprising around here

Hopefully it will work long enough 'til I can get a dual layer drive......