Write errors while writing DVD+R DL, help!

[neo76]

Hi,

I tried writing a DVD+R DL Ritek brand with some 7.2 GB movie data using VSO Copy to dvd v3.1.3.

I'm using a LG GSA-4163B DVD Writer, with firmware supposedly updated to A105. But while I tried to write the DVD I got the error ,
"Write error at 288256(16) - Code 04 09 01 [HW Error, Tracking servo failure ]"

The following is the log, someone please help me as i don't want to get any more coasters..

Log:-
8/9/2006 1:46:37 PM info ******************** Report session closed *********************
8/9/2006 1:44:45 PM info Finalizing CD ..
8/9/2006 1:44:45 PM error Write error at 288256 (16) - Code 04 09 01 [HW error, Tracking servo failure]
8/9/2006 1:41:46 PM info Lead-in burning time (mS) 17
8/9/2006 1:41:45 PM info Start Write Buffer
8/9/2006 1:41:45 PM info Start writing...
8/9/2006 1:41:45 PM info Buffer under-run proof enabled
8/9/2006 1:41:45 PM info Layer change set to LBA 2048112 (3.91 Gb.)
8/9/2006 1:41:19 PM info Writing speed requested x2.4, effective x2.4
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Writing session #1 and closing disc.
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Open Image file "C:\Program Files\vso\copytodvd\COPYTODVD_08092006_134118_750. cache"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Required sector size : 3787888
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Available sector size : 4173824
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Available write speed: x2.4
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Media ID: RITEK-D01-01
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Optimal Layer Break is in cell 39, around 01:22:20
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM warning AUTOUPDATE : The update site is not reachable. (0 - Socket Error # 11001
Host not found.)
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info VIDEO_TS.IFO/BUP reallocated to keep DVD VIDEO structure compatibility
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info 120mm DVD
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Detected media $002B : Dual Layer DVD+R
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Finished browsing files - Data size 7.22 Gb.
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info File scan complete: 13 files, 2 directories
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Start Browsing file structures
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Controller
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Location : PCI bus 0, device 31, function 1
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Support Media : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Writing device used : 0:0:0 - HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4163B A105 [F] (Ide)
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.35, Internal revision 35 - Async. Access mode
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Using DVD Video filelist creation mode.
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info ParamStr 3 = "/writedevice=F"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info ParamStr 2 = "/volumename=SUPERMAN"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info ParamStr 1 = "/dvdvideofl=C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Vso\~c2c_fl.tmp"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info ParamStr 0 = "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info User default language : 1033 (0x0409h) - English (United States)
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info System default language : 1033 (0x0409h) - English (United States)
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info Version 3.1.3.137
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info ExeName : "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info OS : Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4 (Build 2195)
8/9/2006 1:41:18 PM info 32 bits native system
8/9/2006 1:41:07 PM info ******************** Report session started ********************

do I need to do anything else or get some more driver updates?

Thanks,
Neo

[dafoe]

I can't really help- I've only burned 2 DL and I'm not really familiar with the software you are using. But the general consensus on this board seems to be stay away from DL that aren't Verbatim. Could be bad disks?

I don't think I'd trust Ritek SL, let alone DL.

[neo76]

Hi Dafoe,

thanks, but ive done this before correctly, with Ritek DLs. Its just that a month ago my PC crashed and i had to reinstall everything again. I guess i installed the firmware update also but still this error happened and hence I'm asking whether do i need to reinstall the drivers again or do anything else?

Thanks,
Neo.

[lordsmurf]

RITEK media is unreliable. I'd bet that is the problem. It's the first obvious one, at any rate.

[CrayonEater]

Ugh, the 4163B. Did you happen to buy yours at Newegg? Unfortunately, I did.

I have used Ritek D01 with pefect success (30 out of 30), but all these were burned on an NEC 3550a. I have a GSA-4163B and it's double-layer capability failed after a dozen burns with various media types incl. Verbatim. Although Verbatim definitely is better, Ritek D01 isn't bad, at least in terms of producing coasters and device compatibility.

You logfile really doesn't say anything about why it failed. If you're using an older version of your software, or an older firmware (I think 1.05 is the latest for the LG) then that might be the cause of the problem. If you recently flashed your LG drive, then you should not need to reflash it, and your XP drivers should not need to be updated.

If, however, you are using the latest firmware and a modern version of your burning software, try Nero. It has good logging and error-reporting. If you encounter an error burning DL with it to the effect of a "Focus" or "Power" error, and the burn fails around the transition from layer 1 to layer 2, then it's almost certainly your drive.

BTW, a lot of folks here will say Nero isn't too good for double-layer burning. Although I haven't had any problems, I'm asking you to try Nero simply for diagnostic reasons; if it turns out your drive is ok, then you can try something else like Imgburn, etc.

Let me know what happens.

[neo76]

Thanks CrayonEater, but I'm getting "HW Error, Tracking servo failure" as the error. So is it an error due to the lack of driver? or mismatch of driver? Secondly, the version of Nero i have 6.3.4 does not support greater than 4.7 GB data i.e. for double/dual layer.

I'm thinkin of removing the firmware completely, installing 103 or 104 version and then on top of that install 105 version of the firmware. Else I would check out whether the other software would help or not, I wouldnt want to have another coaster.

Neo

[CrayonEater]

That sounds like a bad drive. I forgot to ask, do you know if you can you burn a single-layer disc successfully? Anyway, let's look a few things before trashing the drive.

First, try Verbatim media.

Second, try another program. You're right, your version of Nero doesn't support DL; you need, I think, 6.6.0.18 or higher. (Actually, there are earlier versions that support DL, but this is one of the few really stable versions.) You should be able to download a trial version. Alternatively, you can download the free Imgburn or the dree DVD-Decrypter. All handle DL as well as SL burning.

Third, if the above fails, by any chance, have you put a Sony CD in your computer at any point? Remember from last year the XCP rootkit that Sony was installing on people's computers as a form of copy protection? I believe that caused oddball error messages like this as it was designed to interfere with burners. Try Rootkitrevealer, Blacklight, etc. I just though I'd throw this out.

If THAT doesn't work, it doesn't hurt to update the driver at this point. If you have any other CD/DVD drivers like Any DVD I'd uninstall them. On XP Service Pack 1, the latest drivers are file version 5.1.2600.1106. You can validate the files if you want with SHACalc to compute an MD5 and compare with the below.

CDROM.SYS 6506e033ad04cfec9ee56dbefd1083dd
IMAPI.SYS 3cb4410747f2330d97b10b656d5bb2ac
REDBOOK.SYS ab56d6ed4e86d2b6f819a24a070f35f7

BTW, this is not a requirement that you validate these; I'm just telling you this so you have an idea whether or not you have the most current drivers.

Finally, I don't know if you can roll back firmware, but there's nothing else to do if all the above fails besides buying a new drive.

[neo76]

Thanks CrayonEater.

I'm able to write normal 4.7 GB DVDs. Secondly, I've never used DVD Decrypter for burning dvd+r dl, how du do that? I wud try to reload the previous driver and then again install the lates one.

Neo

[neo76]

This is real wierd. I removed the new firmware and replaced with older firmware and then again upgraded the firmware. I burned a DVD+R DL of around 7.2 GB dvd video data and I was successful doing that using VSO CopyToDVD. But after the first burn i tried to burn another DVD+R DL with around 7 GB dvd video data and I faced the "Tracking servo failure" error message again -"Write error at 2065216 (16) - Code 04 09 01 [HW error, Tracking servo failure]" and I got another coaster again.

I read a couple of forums where they've mentioned that probably the dvd writer might be getting over heated and maybe i should try to power off or write at lower speed. Is this true? Will this help?

The VSO CopytoDVD settings indicate max writing speed. The Ritek DVD+R DL dvds are at 2.4x speed.

Any suggestions please?

Thnx,
Neo.

[VegasBud]

neo76,

I have a 4165B (not a 4163B) that only converts RITEK-D01-01 media into coasters, not dvd-video disks. That media works flawlessly in my ND-3520, but hasn't worked once in the LG. Verbatim DL is what works reliably in the LG (for me, anyways). Since you don't have a problem burning SL disks, and one of the potential solutions to a "Tracking Servo Failure" message is changing to different media, it would be prudent to try a Verbatim DL. It would be cheaper than making coasters, and you can always use them, even if they don't solve your current problem.

It would also be a good idea to try CrayonEater's suggestion to use ImgBurn for one burn. Different software might fix your problem. ImgBurn is free, and is very reliable for burning both SL and DL disks. At the very least, it gives a much more detailed burn log.

[neo76]

Hi CrayonEater & VegasBud,

Thanks for your suggestions. I read the IMGBurn guide here on VideoHelp and was successfully able to burn the dvd video files on to a Ritek DVD+R DL this time. I also reduced the write speed to the DVD disc speed, so I guess that also helped. Thanks a lot. Would try to burn more and let you know if it still works.

Thnx,
Neo