Pioneer A03 Wont Read Disks Anymore

[pglenn]

I have a computer DVD-drive model A03 that will no longer recognise any disks placed in it. I purchased the drive in January. It has been working fine, and then today it will no longer recognise any disks, it will just flash the yellow/orange light continuously.

I am running Win-XP, p4-2.4gig, self built system, 512meg ram.

I ran a test and got the following info
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PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-103
Current Revision : 2.00
Release Date : 02/12/12
Model : Pioneer or Generic 3rd party model
Serial Number : AKDL085700WL

This firmware is already latest version.
This firmware does not need to be updated.
-----------------

I hadnt used my drive for reading or writing for a couple weeks. I had been installed several AVI/WMV encoders for testing but I dont believe any of them would have fried my drive.

I have just read that putting "unsupported" 4x disks in for writing would harm my drive, but I hope that isnt my problem. I did place a disk in for writing when I noticed the problem, disk details as follows:
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MediaPro 1x-4x DVD-R
DVD01X0091
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I have uninstalled/re-installed the driver several times to no avail.

[disturbed1]

Using 4x discs can burn out the A03 and A04, if you attempt to burn one of these discs before upgrading to the newest firmware. 2.0 is the newest for the A03.


Since the drive did work before, what media did you use before, and does it still work.

Try to read a pressed CD and/or DVD.

If the disc is bad, the A03 will just keep blinking, meaning it doesn't know what the disc is.

How long did you allow the drive to attempt to read the disc? On some media it can take a full 30-40 seconds for the disc to read.

If you've installed, or uninstalled any burning apps, this can screw up your APSI layer, update it.

Did you change your BIOS settings? Or DMA settings for the A03? Some A03's can only be connected in PIO mode 4 with DMA turned off. Others will work with DMA on.

[pglenn]

Well, I updated the ASPI to Adaptec ASPI 4.7 (from 4.6) and no difference

I have used various media in the past, and I have tried store-bought CD's, burned CD's, program CD's, store-bought DVD's, and burned DVD's, all of which worked in the drive previously, and all failed to load.

BIOS settings have not changed (to my knowledge, and I know I didnt change any)

[Don2050]

To add my experience with my A04... I had mine for 3 months and it worked flawlessly, then it just stopped reading discs. Same thing, light came on but wouldnt read them... not DVD's or CD's. And this was before 4x media and burners were out. I ended up sending mine back and they sent me a new one and it has worked fine ever since. which was around over a year ago...so, it may just be the drive is defective.

[burna3000]

Pglenn- if you ask me- its the disc that done it- I'm in exactly the same situation, except i know that it was the media that did it ( well, i didn't know then... ) and there seems little i can do appart from buying a new drive.

The best thing i can advise, is what the others have said, get in contact with pioneer, theres a good help section on there site, and they may replace it, as long as its still in its warranty. Mine wasn't...

[chaseru]

Before you give up on the AO3 try opening the drive and clean the laser lens directly. It's not hard to open the drive. I can't remember which screws you remove, but there are instructions, if you search for them. I used a Q-Tip and some alcohol to clean the lens. Give the lens a good thorough cleaning; I had to open the drive twice becuase I was a whimp the first time I cleaned it.

I was about to give up on my A03 becuase it wasn't reading discs and making coasters. But after a good cleaning it works as good as new.