Pioneer DVR-111 write problem

[Baj]

Hi,

Yesterday:-
My Pioneer DVR-111 (RAM writer version) would not write to DVD-R or DVD-RAM. (I never use +R or DL media). It does write to CD. It does read all compatible CD/DVD disks.
All my write programmes produce messages of the sort "invalid media", "insert valid disk".

Day before yesterday:-
This may not be relevant but it has never happened before. Inserted a commercial DVD that I wanted to watch using PowerDvd 5 and up popped a message similar to "Confirm region 2". Clicked on OK and the film played normally.

Further Info:-
I live in UK. DVR-111 set to region 2. Never changed as I don't watch other region DVDs.
Windows XP/SP2 up to date.
More than enough anti virus and malware protection (all updated daily).
IDE PATA - 40 way flat cable - end of cable - set as Master (middle connector to old ZIP Drive set as slave).
UDMA4 enabled (checked in BIOS and Device Manager).

System Restore to day before last write made no difference.
Device Manager reports "unit working properly".
Uninstall drivers, disable DVR-111 and then Restart computer, made no difference.
Update of firmware from v 1.06 to v 1.29 made no difference.
Tried different makes of media but it made no difference.

Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Baj

[Bjs]

So , you done all this work till now ...

1: Have you tried cleaning the optical unit ?
2: Have you replaced the ide cable ?

3: Did you try verbatim ?
4: Do you have the pc on a basic powerboard with active spike protection (basic unit) ?
5: Has there been power interuption's prior to this happening ... storm's and such ?

6: Get that zip drive the hell away from it ... and then try again .

I would also suggest checking keyboard has no sticking key's .
Check reset button on pc , and the power one are not sticking in case .
Confirm power supply is greater than 400watt's .

Trying a different keyboard and mouse ... they can become defective without the end user knowing it , and cause minor issue's unseen by the end user that can contribute to many issue's on current system's .

Take the unit to another pc if possible and confirm it can still burn dvd's here ...

If it dose , your pc has something more sinister happening ... if addon graphics card , update all system motherboard driver's , and the final is to update the vga driver's and retest unit .

Remove all other addon device's ... pci cards , usb connected priter's , camera's , scanner's till only the basic's remain ... if you have onboard video , and an addon agp ... remove addon agp ... test drive again ...

If it work's ... then one of these device's has developed a fault and is causing a system conflict to trigger the issue ... you need to figure out which one ... that's correct ... a device in conflict dose NOT need to report this error to the os , so the os say's all is ok , even when it's wrong .

If all this fail's , your unit has coughed it's last breath as far as dvd burning is concerned ... unless by some miracle it decide's to start working ... which I highly doubt .

Miracle test : Place unit flat on one hand , and bring the other down flat on top in a slapping method 3 time's ... not so hard you dint it ... that's going too far , and retest ... it's been known to work ... a fluke more than a miracle .

[bevills1]

Do you mean 40 wire flat cable instead of 40 way flat cable? That's likely a problem if you do. Most newer drives including the 111D may experience problems unless 80 wire cable is used. Switch to 80 wire cable if using 40 wire which should fix the problem.

[budz]

Your ide cable is fine since the drive reports UDMA 4 MODE. If it was in UDMA 2 then the ide cable would need to be changed to a 80 wire ide cable.

It sounds like the laser for dvd burning is dead. Try removing the drive and install it in another pc. The new PIONEER 112 drive is now available should you need a new one.

[Baj]

Gosh! A bit overwhelmed by all your answers.

To Bjs: 1,2 & 3 - yes; 4 - no; 5 - no; 6 - removed Zip drive, no difference.
The rest of your suggestions I'll think about. Less effort to buy a new drive.
Thanks very much for your answer.

To bevills1 and budz: Thanks for your comments about the IDE cable; I never bothered using an 80 wire cable as I do not need fast burning speeds. I'll investigate the DVR-112.

Thanks again

Baj

[bendixG15]

I got a 111d....no problems
Just updated firmware last week.
When was last time you updated ?

[ButchX]

I had a 111d also and had the same problem..it wouldn't write -R discs but had no problem with +R discs..i prefer -R so i changed burners..

[edDV]

My first 111D was DOA for writing. The replacement does fine with +R and -R so far.

Firmware version 1.23

[Baj]

Hi,

I'm the OP of this thread. Often final solutions to problems are not reported. Here's how I eventually found a resolution.
I mentioned a strange pop-up window when using PowerDvd5, asking me to confirm my region number. I decided to remove PowerDvd and see what happened.
I uninstalled PD5; I searched for and deleted all folders and files which were connected with Cyberlink and/or PowerDvd (why do uninstalls always leave so much rubbish?); I cleaned my Registry using Registry Mechanic.

And the result was that my Pioneer 111 now works perfectly!!!!

I was never very happy with PowerDvd so instead I installed AVS DVD Player (free, no spyware and the latest release has resolved the high CPU usage of previous versions). It plays as far as I can tell all video and audio formats (without requiring additional codecs), has a friendly interface and can be controlled completely from the KB using single key presses (no stupid requirements for alt+ or control+ or shift+ ).

I have no hesitation in recommending AVS DVD Player.

Baj

P.S. To bendixG15:- 11 days ago, read OP.

[Ron B]

When I got the 111D, I had some playback issues until I manually set the region code. I thought that the code would automatically be set when the first DVD was played, but it didn't play correctly(sound problems), until the region code was entered manually.

[bevills1]

Do you know if it's necessary to uninstall Power DVD to install AVS DVD? I currently have Power DVD installed with no problems thus far.

[Baj]

@ Ron B:- I tried setting the region code manually, but it made no difference.

@ bevills1:- Sorry I don't know; my aim was to rid my computer of PD. After this cured my problem with the 111, and as I didn't actually like PD, I never even contemplated reinstalling PD.