Pioneer DVR118L Won't Burn CDs

[DarrellS]

I bought a new Pioneer drive right after the first of the year. I hadn't tried to burn anything until a couple of weeks ago when I bought a bunch of TDK CDs. Every single disc that I've tried to burn has been a coaster. Nero buffers and then starts writing the intro and then spits the CD out saying failed.

I have another Pioneer DVR 116D and it burns fine. I read in another thread about DVD burners that said the new Pioneers are junk. I went to their website and clicked support and there is no support at all. Only a page to buy the drive and a link to a two page manual about the drive.

The 118L is set up as the master drive on a brand new IDE cable and the 116D is set up as slave.

[DarrellS]

I switched drives around and made 116D master and 118L slave. Tried again with same result. Here is the log file...

Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: -

NT-SPTI used
Nero Version: 7.8.5.0
Internal Version: 7, 8, 5, 0

Recorder: <PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L>Version: 1.02 - HA 1 TA 1 - 7.8.5.0
Adapter driver: <IDE> HA 1
Drive buffer : 2000kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ?
CD-ROM: <Generic DVD-ROM >Version: 1.0 - HA 1 TA 2 - 7.8.5.0
Adapter driver: <SCSI> HA 1

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 iaStor Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD1001FALS-00E8B0 iaStor Port 0 ID 1 DMA: Off
DiskPeripheral : ST31000333AS iaStor Port 0 ID 2 DMA: Off
DiskPeripheral : MAXTOR STM31000340AS iaStor Port 0 ID 3 DMA: Off
DiskPeripheral : SATA ST316081 JRAID Port 3 ID 0 DMA: Off
DiskPeripheral : SATA WDC WD10 JRAID Port 3 ID 1 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-116D1.08 JRAID Port 3 ID 2 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L1.02 JRAID Port 3 ID 3 DMA: Off
OtherPeripheral : Marvell 91xx Config 1.01 mv91xx Port 4 ID 126DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 d347prt Port 5 ID 0 DMA: Off

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-116D I: CDRom0
Generic DVD-ROM J: CDRom2
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L K: CDRom1
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 2047MB (2097151kB)
Free physical memory: 2047MB (2097151kB)
Memory in use : 15 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

11.4.2011
CD Image
12:02:11 AM #1 Text 0 File SCSIPTICommands.cpp, Line 411
LockMCN - completed sucessfully for IOCTL_STORAGE_MCN_CONTROL

12:02:11 AM #2 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3187
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L
Buffer underrun protection activated

12:02:11 AM #3 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3499
Turn on Disc-At-Once, using CD-R/RW media

12:02:11 AM #4 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 307
Last possible write address on media: 359845 ( 79:59.70)
Last address to be written: 354895 ( 78:53.70)

12:02:11 AM #5 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 319
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)

12:02:11 AM #6 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2949
Recorder: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L;
CDR code: 00 97 26 66; OSJ entry from: CMC Magnetics Corporation
ATIP Data:
Special Info [hex] 1: D0 00 98, 2: 61 1A 42 (LI 97:26.66), 3: 4F 3B 47 (LO 79:59.71)
Additional Info [hex] 1: 00 00 80 (invalid), 2: 00 80 00 (invalid), 3: 00 80 80 (invalid)

12:02:11 AM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 493
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================

12:02:11 AM #8 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 793
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 (2 - CD-ROM Mode 1, Joliet)
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 354896 (354896) = #354896/78:51.71
not relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/not required
-> TRM_ULTRARAW96_MODE1, 2448, config 4, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 354896 blocks [K: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L]
--------------------------------------------------------------

12:02:11 AM #9 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 995
Prepare [K: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L] for write in raw writing
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: ""
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc fixated
Tracks 1 to 1: Idx 0 Idx 1 Next Trk
1: TRM_ULTRARAW96_MODE1, 2448/0x04, FilePos 0 367200 869152608, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
___Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_CtrlAdr_|_____Size_|__ ____NWA_|_RecDep__________
-150 | lead-in | 0 | 0x41 | 0 | 0 | 0x00
-150 | 1 | 0 | 0x41 | 0 | 0 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x41 | 354896 | 354896 | 0x00
354896 | lead-out | 1 | 0x41 | 0 | 0 | 0x00

12:02:11 AM #10 Text 0 File SCSIPTICommands.cpp, Line 209
SPTILockVolume - completed successfully for FCTL_LOCK_VOLUME

12:02:11 AM #11 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4278
Caching options: cache CDRom or Network-Yes, small files-No (<64KB)

12:02:11 AM #12 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1762
Caching of files started

12:02:11 AM #13 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4397
Cache writing successful.

12:02:11 AM #14 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1762
Caching of files completed

12:02:11 AM #15 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1762
Burn process started at 40x (6,000 KB/s)

12:02:11 AM #16 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2721
Verifying disc position of item 0 (not relocatable, no disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

12:02:11 AM #17 Text 0 File MMC.cpp, Line 17654
StartDAO : CD-Text - Off

12:02:11 AM #18 Text 0 File MMC.cpp, Line 22344
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON

12:02:11 AM #19 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 269
Pipe memory size 83836800

12:02:12 AM #20 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1338
00:02:12.953 - K: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L : Queue again later

12:02:23 AM #21 SPTI -1106 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 179
CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1106)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x73
Sense Qual: 0x03
CDB Data: 0x2A 00 FF FF D2 A8 00 00 1A 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x71 00 03 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 73 03
Buffer x062bc700: Len xf8a0
0x00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 96 A7 17 61
0x00 28 00 1E 80 08 60 06 A8 02 FE 81 80 60 60 28
0x28 1E 9E 88 68 66 AE AA FC 7F 01 E0 00 48 00 36

12:02:23 AM #22 CDR -1106 File Writer.cpp, Line 303
Power calibration error
K: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L

12:02:23 AM #23 Phase 38 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1762
Burn process failed at 40x (6,000 KB/s)

12:02:23 AM #24 Text 0 File SCSIPTICommands.cpp, Line 254
SPTIDismountVolume - completed successfully for FSCTL_DISMOUNT_VOLUME

12:02:27 AM #25 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 11214
DriveLocker: UnLockVolume completed

12:02:27 AM #26 Text 0 File SCSIPTICommands.cpp, Line 411
UnLockMCN - completed sucessfully for IOCTL_STORAGE_MCN_CONTROL


Existing drivers:

Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

[hech54]

I detest TDK stuff. And it says the burn failed @40X. Slow it down.....or better yet....use ImgBurn.

[DarrellS]

Imgburn is no help. It is not a disc or software problem. The other drive burns just fine. The drive surges like something is dragging it down. It won't run full speed. It will spin up and slow down four or five times and then spit the disc out.

Imgburn gave a warning about a SPTD driver so I googled and found that Daemon tools installed the driver so I uninstalled Daemon tools. That didn't help since the driver was still there so I googled some more and found a file that removed the driver. Ran Imgburn again and the driver warning was gone but the same thing happened with the drive.

Here is the Imgburn log...

; //****************************************\\
; ImgBurn Version 2.5.5.0 - Log
; Monday, 11 April 2011, 01:49:55
; \\****************************************//
;
;
I 01:48:49 ImgBurn Version 2.5.5.0 started!
I 01:48:49 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)
I 01:48:49 Total Physical Memory: 3,668,388 KB - Available: 3,038,884 KB
I 01:48:49 Initialising SPTI...
I 01:48:49 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 01:48:50 -> Drive 1 - Info: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-116D 1.08 (L (SCSI)
I 01:48:50 -> Drive 2 - Info: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L 1.02 (M (SCSI)
I 01:48:50 Found 1 DVD±RW and 1 DVD±RW/RAM!
I 01:48:59 Operation Started!
I 01:48:59 Source File: F:\Temp\Programs\ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386.iso
I 01:48:59 Source File Sectors: 354,896 (MODE1/2048)
I 01:48:59 Source File Size: 726,827,008 bytes
I 01:48:59 Source File Volume Identifier: Ubuntu 10.10 i38
I 01:48:59 Source File Application Identifier: GENISOIMAGE ISO 9660/HFS FILESYSTEM CREATOR (C) 1993 E.YOUNGDALE (C) 1997-2006 J.PEARSON/J.SCHILLING (C) 2006-2007 CDRKIT TEAM
I 01:48:59 Source File File System(s): ISO9660 (Bootable), Joliet
I 01:48:59 Destination Device: [3:3:0] PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L 1.02 (M (SCSI)
I 01:48:59 Destination Media Type: CD-R (Disc ID: 97m26s66f, CMC Magnetics Corp.) (Speeds: 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x)
I 01:48:59 Destination Media Sectors: 359,844
I 01:48:59 Write Mode: CD
I 01:48:59 Write Type: SAO
I 01:48:59 Write Speed: MAX
I 01:48:59 Lock Volume: Yes
I 01:48:59 Test Mode: No
I 01:48:59 OPC: No
I 01:48:59 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 01:49:01 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 7,056 KB/s (40x)
I 01:49:01 Advanced Settings - Optimal Writing Speed: No
I 01:49:01 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)
I 01:49:02 Writing LeadIn...
W 01:49:22 Failed to Write Sectors 64 - 95 - Reason: Write Error
W 01:49:22 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (2 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (3 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (4 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (5 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (6 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (7 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (8 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (9 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (10 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (11 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (12 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (13 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (14 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (15 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (16 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (17 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (18 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (19 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
W 01:49:22 Retrying (20 of 20)...
W 01:49:22 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write
E 01:49:49 Failed to Write Sectors 64 - 95 - Reason: Write Error
E 01:49:49 Next Writable Address: 4294967151
I 01:49:49 Synchronising Cache...
W 01:49:53 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions.
E 01:49:53 Failed to Write Image!
E 01:49:53 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:00:53
I 01:49:53 Average Write Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 0 KB/s (0.0x)
I 01:49:55 Close Request Acknowledged
I 01:49:55 Closing Down...
I 01:49:55 Shutting down SPTI...
I 01:49:55 ImgBurn closed!

I burned a DVD with no problem but it refuses to burn a CD.

[hech54]

I burned a DVD with no problem but it refuses to burn a CD.

Does the other drive burn this very same ISO image?

[jman98]

Imgburn is no help. It is not a disc or software problem.

Since you know what it is not, why do you need help? Giving to suggestions to someone like you is a waste of time.

[hech54]

Here is an entry on the ImgBurn message board concerning the same exact(?) thing:
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=16035
It seems you are not the only one having problems burning that GENISOIMAGE ISO - Ubuntu(?) thing.

[DarrellS]

I am able to burn the ISO with the 116D drive.

[DarrellS]

To show Jman that it is not the media or the drive speed (which I shouldn't have if he would've read the next line where I stated that the other drive burned the same discs at the same speed with no problem), I went and wasted $15 on a 50 pack of Memorex CDs (Memorex and TDK are the only two brands I can buy without ordering online) and lowered the burn speed to as low as 4x and it still burned coasters. I've only had a problem once with CD media and that was a 50 pack of Sony CDs and I've used anywhere from Imation and Office Depot discs to Memorex and TDK (which is mostly all I ever buy).

Since they don't have a firmware update for this model to see if it fixes the problem then I'm going to have to get in contact with Pioneer about getting another drive. I'd rather get my money back and get a Samsung or Liteon but that ain't gonna happen. When I bought this drive, I was after a Samsung but they were sold out when I got to the store and the Liteon was $10 more.

[classfour]

DarrelS: Maybe the drive is dead/dying. If you could get your hands on TY or Verbatims - and use a different image - and get the same results....you may have your answer. You do have the latest (imgburn, nero) version of burning software installed. If you've had any reading problems it may point to a dying laser. If it only pukes on the one image - move on, go to the next project; the drive didn't like that one.

Good luck on finding an IDE drive to replace that one, they're getting scarce.

I haven't had the time to test out IDE to SATA converters inside a machine, so I couldn't advise on that.

[DarrellS]

No, this is a brand new drive (well, I bought it in January). I haven't had any read problems and it burns DVDs just fine.

.


I took the drive out and put in an HP DVD Writer in it's place and it burns fine. I took the Pioneer 118L and put it in my other XP machine and it burns CDs just fine. When I went to burn the audio CD with MMJB, it said that if I had a CD drive in my computer that I needed to restart my PC so it must've had to install a driver or something.

I have a feeling that it is the Jmicron controller on the Gigabyte board that is not compatible with this new drive (the older 116D works fine on the same controller. The other machine is an Intel DG965WH.

I do have a PCIe add in card with 2 SATA III and 1 IDE connectors in this machine. I don't know if I can hook a DVD drive to this controller though.

[classfour]

IDE can be iffy at times - depending on the board. You may try uninstalling it in control panel, reconnecting and seeing if a fresh driver install would fix it.

If you can rule out a problem with the disc. You can download and install DVDFAB virtual drive and mount the image on it - although if it's an image of a Linux OS disc I wouldn't.

Just FYI: The only discs that I use Nero to burn are track by track audio CDs - all other burning is with imgburn.

I use TY, JVC, Verbatim for discs that I plan to keep. Tossers (one-play discs) are RiData, Verbatims from Sams, TDKs bought offline for $16 per 100. It all burns fine at 12X - I NEVER use MAX for any burn; even CDs I burn at 16X.

I haven't seen problems like you are - with matched OptiArcs (Sony, NEC) that cost $40 for the pair last year.

The only failure that I've had related to my own creation - too many processes running during a burn - since I built this machine.

[DarrellS]

What's weird is the Pioneer 116D and the HP DVD Writer drives that I have working in this machine now are two drives that wouldn't work on my friend's PCs that he gave to me to see if I could get them to work. He had the HP on a Gigabyte G43 board an the Pioneer on a Gigabyte X58 board. Both of these drives were pretty new drives. He replaced them with Samsung drives and hasn't had any problems since. All his drives are now Samsung. He six Samsungs. Three in each machine.

I thought I read somewhere a few years back that either two Pioneers would not work on the same controller or that both drives had to be set to master. Something weird like that.

I'll leave them the way they are for now since they seem to be working fine where they're at.

[classfour]

All of mine are Optiarcs for basically the same reason. I used to buy Plextor until they subbed out the manufacturing process.

I still have an external U drive with a PX712A retrofitted to it. It was a great external in it's day - but that day has passed (the original PX716A died - and the 712 was all I had to shove back in). It'll still burn at 16X - not certain why, as it's 712A based, but not all day long.

I only have one drive that's questionable at the moment: NEC 3520A. Unfortunately it's one of three housed in my duplicator, and I can't get it to mess up again to locate the problem.

You might as well check the cable, flip bays, uninstall, reinstall and so on until you can prove it's the drive. Also, if you have an external enclosure: Mount the drive and see if you get a good burn.

My old rule of thumb: Burn at half-speed until you get a machine sorted (or drive); i.e. 8X for a 16X. My existing setup has two 24X burners - hence the 12X speed. They'll burn at 24X, but the result isn't acceptable to me. Oddly, burning at 8X makes it worse with these, so slower isn't always the solution. I typically use Nero's FREE CD Speed and run a disc quality scan - just for a quick reference.

As before: I use imgburn religiosly - Nero only for CDs with tracks (Nero 9 since switching to a Vista machine).

I do switch off on the drives when doing back to back burns - so having two of the same makes it more reliable.

[DarrellS]

I did try switching bays and switching master and slave but it did not help. I'm using the HP on the same cable that the 118L was on (in the same position) and it works fine so it's not the cable. Musicmatch Jukebox is set to 4x by default so I did try burning at low speed to no avail.

I do have an external enclosure so I'll try that later and see if it works. I know the drive is fine since it plays on the other PC but trying the external route would tell if it's a controller issue on this PC.

[DarrellS]

Hooked up the Pioneer 118L to the external enclosure and Windows installed a driver and rebooted. I thought everything was going to work since it installed a driver. Went to burn an audio CD and it spit it out. Remembered that none of the hard drives were jumpered for master and slave so I pulled the jumper off of the drive and tried again. The burn was a success.

I guess next is to put the drive back in and try again. Not sure whether to leave it unjumpered or set it to master or cable select.

[budz]

you need to buy a new 80 WIRE IDE cable.....set the Pioneer 118 to master and see if that works...if it doesn't then the CD laser in the drive is dead....buy a new dvd burner since they're so damn cheap these days.....IMHO don't buy Pioneer.....their drives are crappy now which actually started from the 118 series which uses Mediatek chipset now.....they used to use NEC chipset.....the 118 is a rebadged LITEON drive....

[DarrellS]

I guess that hooking up the 118L externally and loading the driver fixed the problem. I put it back in as master and made the 116D slave and both drives are burning with no errors. Not sure why the driver never loaded correctly when I first installed the drive. To be honest, I didn't think you had to install a driver for a DVD drive to work. All the Liteons that I've owned were plug and play.

Thanks for the help.