Benq coasters

[oofers72]

Ok, I hope someone here can tell me what to do next.

Here is the situation--- I recently got a BenQ DW1655 DVDRW drive. As it so happens, I also was in need of a clean install (had been 2+ years since the last one).

I burned a couple of audio CDs with my new BenQ. No problems. Then I try to burn a DL DVD disk......this is why I got the drive in the first place, so I wanted to try it out. The burn failed about halfway through. I was thinking there was some issue getting to the second layer. I then realize I had not yet looked for firmware updates, etc. I figure now is as good as a time as any to do a clean install. I did the clean install.

I only mention this to show that I *may* have had this problem before my clean install. I wish now I had never done the clean install, because it just adds another variable to the troubleshooting process.

So anyway, after my clean install, I have that "fresh start" feeling and begin to make sure that all my drivers and firmware are up to date. The BenQ drive has the latest firmware. Windows is up-to-date. I check the drivers for the IDE controllers. I even flash my motherboard's BIOS.

This is the situation:

-- CDs burn fine

-- I'm not even concerned with my DL DVDs yet, I'm sticking with 2 kinds of 4.7 DVD:

Playo brand DVD-R, DVD Identifier gives the manufacturer ID as UME01
and Ritek brand DVD-R, DVD Identifier gives the manufacturer ID RITEKG04

-- Using Nero Burning Rom (from Nero Ultra Edition 7), I have been doing two types of burning: using the "Burn DVD-Video Files" template and simplying copying DVDs. Thus one approach is burning the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders, the other is burning an image that was copied to my hard disk.

-- I also tried bare-bones burning software, like ImgBurn and TMGEnc DVD Author's burning program.

-- I even removed my other drive from my system, thinking that maybe it was some kind of master/slave foul-up. The BenQ was primary before.... and it is still primary, but the slave slot is now empty.

-- I would estimate 1 out of 6 burns is successful. The coasters are adding up.


Issue 1 is that although I know that the Playo DVDs are el cheapo, I had been using both these brands with no problems whatsoever with my previous drive, a Plextor 708A. As I understand it, BenQ is very much a quality drive, like Plextor. Of course I realize that same burners are just finicky with the el cheapo brands, but I am having the same issue with my Ritek blanks. And Ritek is supposed to be a quality brand.

Issue 2 is that I don't know if my clean install is any way related to my woes. I did have that one unsuccessful burn, but that was with a double layer disk, and before I had checked firmware version, etc. At least now I am certain that everything is up-to-date.

I have attached a file that contrains two Nero Error reports. They both report NeroError -1135. I can find no help on this. I don't think that it is a software issue, because I fail also using the other burning programs listed above.

I called BenQ and asked them for any advice. He basically just said it was a media issue. He recommended Fuji. I didn't argue with him, but I just can't believe that a BenQ would reject Ritek. I may try to buy a 3-pack of Fuji to test his claim.

If all this turns out to be a simple media issue, I will be very disappointed with my new BenQ, and it will contradict all the raves I had heard about this drive. The fact that my previous drive had no problems with the cheap or the quality media, and my new drive has problems with both makes me think it *must* be something with my configuration since my clean install.

Either that, or I just got a bad drive.


Any response with a pointer as to what to try next is greatly appreciated! I need to figure out if I indeed do have a bad drive as the warranty period is very short. There's a lot of expertise here in the forums, someplease lend a little to me!!

Thanks in advance.






neroerorrlog.txt

[budz]

I don't own a BENQ 1655 but I have a 1650 which essentially is the same drive but without lightscribe technology. IMHO you'll be better helped at the BENQ FORUM at Cdfreaks.com. I would suggest using better DVD+ DL MEDIA than ritek. It's a known fact that the ritek DL MEDIA isn't the best to use. Try using VERBATIM DL MEDIA. Do a search at the BENQ FORUM on DL burns and you'll see that ritek isn't good media to use. BENQ 1640, 1650 & 1655 drives are great to have when you use good quality dvd media but it sucks with cheapo media.

[trhouse]

Your Nero file says your firmware is BCDB. That is not the latest. Try this,

http://service.benq.com.cn/UploadFile/Drivers/ZIP/DW1655_Firmware_BCGB.zip

[lordsmurf]

Playo brand DVD-R, DVD Identifier gives the manufacturer ID as UME01
and Ritek brand DVD-R, DVD Identifier gives the manufacturer ID RITEKG04

These discs are crap.

Ritek was never a "quality brand". They have been known as crapmeisters since the 1990s. For a short time, they got lucky with some DVD media, but even then, most of the positive glowing reviews were exaggerated and undeserved.

www.nomorecoasters.com for some info on what are good discs.

[Denvers Dawgs]

crapmeisters

he said crapmeisters.....lol

But honestly I have to agree, spend a little more $$ and buy better media. Over 4 years or so I have never had a coaster (Verbatim/Fuji/memorex) Memorex wasn't the best media for some, but it worked out for me on the ones I used. The only problem I ever came across was when i decided to buy Prodisc white hub prinitables about 1 1/2 years ago. Got a few coasters, rest started failing after 2 months. I backed them all up again on Verbatims(MCM MKM-dual layer) & Fuji (TY) and everything is wonderful again. So I spend a little more $$ (which I don't even find that expensive) for quality, peace of mind that my dvds will be fine.

I currently have the Benq 1620, and have burned 11+ Verbatim DL discs with 0 issues...

[KTH]

Did you remember to check that the drive controller that the BenQ is attached to is set to DMA mode and not PIO? Also is the BenQ the only device hooked up to that controller? Some burners are picky about whether they are the primary or secondary device on a certain controller.

[chas0039]

I would stay away from the BCGB firmware. I have tested it on my 1655 and it is much worse than the BCDB. I have also seen reports that it is made for bad media in China, similar to a version they made for the 1620.

[pchan]

For BenQ, please stick to +R media.

[budz]

For BenQ, please stick to +R media.

Why With the latest firmware for the BENQ 1620, 1640 & 1650 I have no problems in using DVD-R TAIYO YUDEN or VERBATIM MEDIA. No coasters at all!

[hech54]

My BenQ 1620Pro can't burn TY -R 8x media at full speed...with 4x I get no coasters.....8x...all duds.
My BenQ 1620Pro produced 2 out of 5 coasters on Verbatim D/L+R media.

Both my LG4040B and my BenQ1620Pro blast through Ridata 8x DVD+R media at full speed and never a coaster.

Sorry guys....all rules do not apply to everyone..

[oofers72]

I would stay away from the BCGB firmware. I have tested it on my 1655 and it is much worse than the BCDB. I have also seen reports that it is made for bad media in China, similar to a version they made for the 1620.

Ok, when trhouse told me I had missed a firmware update, I felt really dumb. Then I went back here:

http://www.benq.us/serviceandsupport/Drivers/drivers.cfm?product=816

I saw that according to this, I *am* up-to-date with BCDB. Still, trhouse had an update called BCGB. Seemed to be a link from benq, but I was still suspicious. "G" is later in the alphabet than "B".... maybe it is a beta version or something? Anyway, I tried it, and YES my problems seem worse. Simply in that..... the bad burns are now occurring earlier in the burn process, sometimes right at 1% into it! And a new twist with BCGB is that the errors are not detected until the verification process.

I appreciate budz's suggestion about which DL media to buy, but these problems I'm discussing are wholly with single layer disks. As I said, I'm not going to even *try* to flirt with DL until I get this staightened out.

Lordsmurf, thanks for the link to to digitalfaq.com. Reading what is there, it is easy to believe that I just have a batch of crap media by two different manufacturers. This would ease my mind *EXCEPT* that this link you gave me calls Ritek a "2nd Class Media", with a 80 to 95% success rate. Out of 4 classes, that is hardly "crap". ALSO... I have a big problem with the fact that these media worked absolutely fine (!!) in the Plextor I had before this BenQ. The Riteks worked fine and so did the Playos.

Believe me I know the Playos were crap....but the Ritek aren't supposed to be THAT bad..... added to the fact that I had no troubles with them before.... it just makes no sense to me.

At this point, after reading the stuff at digitalfaq, I must admit part of me wants to believe that my BenQ is perfectly fine and is just showing its perfection in the media it rejects....and maybe I just was lucky before with my Plextor successes. It certainly seems like it should not be this difficult. However, I am reserving final judgement until I try out the Fujis I play to purchase tomorrow. The BenQ support guy I talked to recommended them, and several people here mentioned that brand as well.

I appreciate all the other suggestions.

As I say, this experience has taken the wind out of my sails on what I thought was an upgrade purchase for me (DL and LightScribe!)......now I just seem to make coasters.

Also thanks for the suggestion to repost at cdfreaks. I may cut and paste my orginal post there. I am desperate at this point and still want to believe I have a defective drive. As I said, my trying the Fujis will be my final test.

Incidentally, out of 20 burns (using about an even amount of both media I described originally), I have had 3 success. My original estimate of 1 out of 6 has stood up pretty well.

Thanks again for all and any future responses.

[budz]

do a search on ritek dvd media at cdfreaks.com and you'll see most members there do not use ritek single layer dvd media as well. I used ritek those orange ones when I first began dvd burning and they worked well with my Plextor 708a. Then ritek G05 media came out and they burned crappy on my Pioneer 107d & Plextor 708a.

IMHO use better dvd media than ritek single or dual layer media. Don't blame the drive because it's burning coasters. My suggestion is to try TAIYO YUDEN DVD media which is sold under the brands SONY & FUJI but the spindles have to say "MADE IN JAPAN". If they say MADE IN TAIWAN then those are not going to be TAIYO YUDEN. You may also try using VERBATIM which is MADE IN TAIWAN. I only use VERBATIM (MADE IN TAIWAN) & SONY (MADE IN JAPAN) dvd media for all of my dvd burners. FUJI used to have MADE IN JAPAN TAIYO YUDEN but they now use another manufacturer. I haven't seen MADE IN JAPAN FUJI dvd media in a long time. Try out those brands before thinking the dvd burner is the problem.

[trhouse]

Sorry that update did not help.

Here is where it came from,

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/327229

There is much discussion about it and other updates as well.

[DarrellS]

I called BenQ and asked them for any advice. He basically just said it was a media issue. He recommended Fuji.

I'd take their advice. I burned 25 ritek discs before I discovered they were all coasters. All I use now is Fuji. You have to be careful nowadays when buying discs though cause everyone is packaging Ritek discs as something else, including Fuji, TDK etc... I bought my brother a 50 pack of Fuji's from CompUSA and 2 months later, we find out they were Riteks. I usually buy my Fuji discs at K-Mart because they are the cheapest and all of those discs have either been Fuji or Prodisc which both burn fine in my Liteons.

[pchan]

For BenQ, please stick to +R media.

Why With the latest firmware for the BENQ 1620, 1640 & 1650 I have no problems in using DVD-R TAIYO YUDEN or VERBATIM MEDIA. No coasters at all!

BenQ works with all the +R media that I try. Did try Verbatim -R... all I got were coasters.
The best bet still +R media.

[budz]

For BenQ, please stick to +R media.

Why With the latest firmware for the BENQ 1620, 1640 & 1650 I have no problems in using DVD-R TAIYO YUDEN or VERBATIM MEDIA. No coasters at all!

BenQ works with all the +R media that I try. Did try Verbatim -R... all I got were coasters.
The best bet still +R media.

You probably were not using the latest firmware for you BENQ drive. Check out the BENQ FORUM where you'll see good quality scans of DVD-R media. When I have some time I'll post a scan in this thread for you.