Can't Get 16x Burns -Not Even Close

[videocheez]

I'm running XP Pro with 1GB RAM (PC2100) and 2.53 GHz processor. The comp came with a 1X first generation DVD burner. I recently bought one of those el cheapos from Fry's (Emprex) all in one super fast burner. When I first bought it, it appeard to burn at lightning fast speeds using Nero. Now it seems to burn slowly and my used read buffer almost goes to zero periodically throughout the entire burn. If I even try to do something with my computer during the burn, the write fails and I end up making another coaster. I'm thinking that it could be bad memory but i wanted to see if any of you guys had a suggestion. Please let me know; I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

VC

[wewa]

You need to state what kind of 16x discs you are using.
Brand?
Rated speed?
DVD+R?
DVD-R?

I had bought Memorex 16x at compusa, and it was failing with every 16x DVDR drive i had (Magic, Maddog, Liteon).

Even after firmware update (Liteon then worked).

I got Pioneer DVR110 and Plextor 740A and they worked fine at 16x out of the box.

Also, DVDXCOPY and Intervideo3 works well with these 2 also. The other cheapo brands give errors and fail backup.

I am sticking to Pioneer for now.

[videocheez]

I'm using TDK DVD+R 16x

[ropdoh]

Check out to ensure that DMA is still enabled on your hard disks and burner. Sometimes, it mysteriously gets turned off, resulting in slow burns and buffer problems.

[videocheez]

Hmm sounds like a good tip. I have had lots of mysterious things turn on and off over the years. How do I verify if DMA is still enabled?

Thx in advance,

VC

[ropdoh]

Control Panel -> System->Hardware->Device Manager

Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
Right-Click on Primary (or Secondary) and select Properties
Look at advanced settings tab

Should say if it is running in DMA / PIO
PIO is bad (slow)

Check both Primary and Secondary IDE

I'm not sure exactly where you find DMA settings for SATA drives, but it will be a similar process

[videocheez]

Thanks my comp. is too old for SATA.

[handyguy]

If you use cheap disks or it can't read your media about 5 times, then it turns DMA off to protect itself. Silly tho. Lucky for you there is lots of info on the net on correcting it.

[oldfart13]

A lot of the 8X or 16X media out there won't burn at maximum speed without errors. These days I always check with DVD Decryptor and find out what IT says the maximum speed is. Taiwanese made Fuji and Maxell +R discs say up to 8X but Decryptor says 4X, so that's what I burn at. Oddly enough though, the old Japanese made versions of the same discs say 12X! I still only burn them at 8X though. No preblems to report with this method...

[videocheez]

Great tips guys. I forgot how smart all of you guys are. It was set up as PIO. Now I'll try another burn to see if I get better speeds. I don't have to get 16x but i can't live with 2x.

[videocheez]

So I went into the advanced settings and tried to chage the xfer mode to DMA. The only option is "DMA if available" and "PIO only". I made sure that the setting said "DMA if availble", I reboot and go to see if the change that I made was accepted and It still says current tranfer mode is PIO. Do you guys have any opther suggestions that might help? Do I have to reload Windows? I know I got a few fast burns when I first bought the writer but it's really slow now.

Thnaks in advance,

VC

[budz]

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6645
check out this link on problems enabling DMA MODE in XP.

[ybeard]

So I went into the advanced settings and tried to chage the xfer mode to DMA. The only option is "DMA if available" and "PIO only". I made sure that the setting said "DMA if availble", I reboot and go to see if the change that I made was accepted and It still says current tranfer mode is PIO. Do you guys have any opther suggestions that might help? Do I have to reload Windows? I know I got a few fast burns when I first bought the writer but it's really slow now.

Thnaks in advance,

VC

You might want to go into control panel-System-Hardware-Device Manager, uninstall the IDE controller that your PIO only DVD drive is on, reboot and let Windows reinstall the controller. Has worked for me in the past.

[videocheez]

You might want to go into control panel-System-Hardware-Device Manager, uninstall the IDE controller that your PIO only DVD drive is on, reboot and let Windows reinstall the controller. Has worked for me in the past.

Ok, I gave this a try and when i rebooted, I no longer had an advanced tab on my secondary IDE controller so now I have no idea if xfer mode is either DMA or PIO. Any ideas where the advance tab went to?

[redwudz]

I uninstall the channel, not the controller, but that's probably what you did. I've never had the advanced tab disappear, though. You may have to reinstall your motherboard chipset drivers.

If that doesn't help, then you can do a Google search for 'advanced tab in IDE controller missing' for some further ideas.

[mikesbytes]

If you have a second drive on the same cable, try disconnecting it, to confirm that it isn't dropping both drives to PIO

[videocheez]

I uninstall the channel, not the controller, but that's probably what you did. I've never had the advanced tab disappear, though. You may have to reinstall your motherboard chipset drivers.

Thanks for the help guys. teh advanced tab is gone but I'm getting lightning fast burns now so I'm content.

Thanks,

VC

[redwudz]

If your burns are up to speed, that's the main thing. Apparently programs like Application Accelerator and a few other disable the Advanced tab, but run the channels at the fastest DMA speed available.

It's unfortunate that Windows resets the DMA mode automatically, but fails to reset it when the problem is gone. A little bug in the OS.

It could be worse. Sometimes you have to go into the Registry and make changes to re-enable DMA.