power calibration error???...wtf

[SIRCOOKS]

what the @#$% is a power calibration error, im using nero and i own sony dru 510a, im using princo dvd-r 4x discs, and burning them at 4x speed, and my last three attempts have all ended in power calibrations, what does this mean....holla back

[balabas]

I've had a Panasonic LF-D311 DVD-RAM drive. One day i recieved the very samy error and called to the customer support. They sayd - '...laser in the drive need to be replaced, cost about $200...'. Then i tald them i've bought this drive for $120.
I researched the web and i saw a software for some brands - Power Callibration software. But Panasonic wasn't there...

[disturbed1]

what the @#$% is a power calibration error, im using nero and i own sony dru 510a, im using princo dvd-r 4x discs, and burning them at 4x speed, and my last three attempts have all ended in power calibrations, what does this mean....holla back

Means the laser can not calibrate the needed power to burn the given media at the selected speed.

Reduce your burn speed to 2x.


@balabas
Just eject the media from you D311, then try to burn again. With Ritek media (and some others), the disc can not sit in the drive for that long. This is a bug with all 4 of my D311's.

[lordsmurf]

For me and my Pioneer 103, it always means its time to clean the laser lens. I've got it on the floor right now, gonna do it in a few minutes.

[buzzmadman]

whenever ive had this message it means that the media is bad and even if it has burnt on the second attempt even at 1x its ended up a coaster on my 105

[SIRCOOKS]

well guys, ive cleaned it and let it sit a while then given it another try and it worked...i dont know what caused it, but ill kepp u posted if anything else happens

[pharlap]

had this once just upgrade firmware to version 1.0D

[brushswinger]

How do I clean the laser lens? Can I buy a cleaner? Or, do I have to dismantle the burner? Why should it need cleaning anyhow? It safely wrapped away inside case.

Poster above said he got his on floor ready to clean lens. I'm scared.

Do smoke or alcohol fumes affect the lens? I hope not!

[lordsmurf]

This appeared at firmware-flash.com:

A "Power Calibration Error" is usually associated with a failing laser and starts first to occur at 2x speed. Power supplies have also been known to give this problem.

However, it may be simply just be an accumulation of dust or haze on the laser lens and it may just require cleaning which is quite a simple process. Take out your DVD-R writer.

These instructions are for the Pioneer DVR-A03/103 DVD-R burners. However, it should work just fine on other writers.

1. Unscrew 4 screws on both sides of writer, not the funny looking middle ones !
2. Take of the front mask and the top cover
3. unscrew 4 screw on top of the inside cover.
4. take of the inside cover.
5. Apply a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol to a cotton bud.
6. Clean the laser lens GENTLY with the wet cotton bud.
7. Dry the lens GENTLY with a dry cotton bud
8. Reassemble the drive in the reverse order
9. BURN some MEDIA at 2X

Isopropyl Alcohol is a surgical spirit and is used as a cleaning fluid in the tv and electronics industry it is commonly used in tape head and VHS tape cleaning kits. It is commonly referred to a "rubbing alcohol" and can be bought for mere pennies at your local pharmacy.

Tryt to use a Q-TIP brand cotton bud. Others tend to be more coarse and can scratch your laser eye. The Q-TIP ones also tend to not be furry or leave cotton strings.

[brushswinger]

Can you drink this "rubbing alcohol"?

[wonderuss]

My Panasonic lfd311 used to say this on some types of media, so i just got better media......but when i eventually got rid of the drive for a Pioneer 104 the discs in question were fine and i eventually got use out of them.

[SIRCOOKS]

i guess ill have to regularly clean it, its working fine right now...and yes you can drink the rubbing alchohol

[gmatov]

And, NO, you cannot drink this rubbing alcohol.

Read the container. It is isopropyl alcohol, made catalytically from natural gas or oil, once called "wood alcohol".

The bottle should be marked "Cannot be made non-poisonous."

Can anyone imagine a pint of 140 proof alcohol for 40 cents being drinkable? You're going to poison some dope who is too dumb to read the label.

[tompika]

And, NO, you cannot drink this rubbing alcohol.
Can anyone imagine a pint of 140 proof alcohol for 40 cents being drinkable?

I saw russian soldiers drinking these kind of stuff...

[gmatov]

Tompika,

It's not the 140 proof I'm talking about. It's the equivalent of "denatured" alcohol.

I've seen winos drink Sterno jellied alcohol, and I've seen yoyos who believed the other yoyos who said filter it through a loaf of bread.

Doesn't mean it's safe to drink. Just went to check my own bottle, lost its label, but pretty sure it had skull and bones on it before. Maybe it should have a "Mister Yuck" on it for the youngsters who ask such a silly question.

Hope that original ? wasn't one of those tongue in cheeks; next place you see this might be in "Report this post....Can't he tell when someone's funnin' around, I'm not that dumb....."

Don't you think if it was drinkable all the governments would be putting their booze taxes on it? "Wow!!! My whole dorm could go an a bender for only 40 cents!"

Cheers,

George

* Signs and symptoms of exposure

1. Acute exposure: Acute exposure to isopropyl alcohol causes eye and mucous membrane irritation and may cause incoordination and narcosis. Ingestion causes gastrointestinal pain, nausea, vomiting, and may cause coma and death.

So, there!!

[lordsmurf]

About 95% of the writing on my bottle says do not drink, not grain or ethyl, call 911 if ingested, etc etc.

Cleaned mine this morning, works great again.

[tompika]

Just went to check my own bottle, lost its label, but pretty sure it had skull and bones on it before

Be aware of stuffs with no labels:

" I would think any adhesive product would have a warning right on the tube "

[gmatov]

That's a good one, Tom, if it's not labled, don't drink it.

Found another while I was in the garage I don't know how long I've had it, but it was a KMart price sticker, 3 for a buck.. At that price, guess they had to cut costs somewhere, and the bottle was it, no printing and bad glue.

[balabas]

Guys, i was in Russian army. We've drunk a lot Medicine or Tech Spirit which is almost 200% proof. We've drunk a lot windshield liquid (nice blue color). We've ate some stuff, but if it says on the bottle - ...DO NOT SWALLOW... SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION... WILL BLIND YOU or something else, why would we kill ourselves.
Someone wanted to try 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. But just FYI info - "100% Hydrogen Peroxide is a common Rocket Fuel"

[Elisa L.]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Lord Smurf!

I had the dreaded (and mysterious) power calibration error (a/k/a Error -10 at sector 624- disk read error-command:2A Sense:03 ASC:73 ASCQ:03) with my A-03 burner. It only happened when burning DVDs, CDs burned without a problem.

I tried forums and Pioneer Support, I wracked my brain over DMA vs. PIO (not great to switch if you use Avid, as I do) and was ready to throw the burner out of the window.

I tried cleaning the lens as you suggested, INTENSELY skeptical.

IT WORKED!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!!

Thanks!

[johnnyz]

DO I really should to clean my lens? I bougt my dru 500ax just 3 mounth and burned about 70 DVD-Rs . I don't think it needs to be cleaned.
I'm using a 250W power suply, if I change it to a 300W suply, anybody know will it do some help?

Oh, I'm using SONY DRU-500AX + 2.0H firmware+nero 6.3.0.2, I'm waiting for the next firmware because I think the problem is the firmware.or..or maybe it's NERO, I've no idea....I still don't believe it's
a physical problem.

[Elisa L.]

Well, it's hard to say about lens cleaning- all it takes is a spec of well-placed dust. I tried lens cleaning before anything else because all I needed to do it was Q-tips and alcohol and a little time. I figured it couldn't hurt.

Other power calibration problems that I read about on the web were cleared up by regulating power supply and enabling/disabling DMA.

Personally, I say go for the lens cleaning first. It's the simplest solution and it may work.

Of course, it is up to you.

Good luck!

[johnnyz]

can you tell me what's the difference before and after you cleaned the lens? Before you clean it can you see the dusts?
I'm using Cyberstore数码多 4X media, about one power calibration error every 4 DVD-Rs.And when it's no error, it will take 2~3 minutes to do a "power caliberation" process before start to write data.

[Elisa L.]

No, I couldn't see anything on the lens- but it was obviously there.

The difference for me is that before I couldn't burn DVDs- only CDs. I USED to be able to burn DVDs, it just stopped working one day with this mysterious message.

Before trying anything else, try different media. Cyberstore media isn't on the "premium" list and may be the problem. Pioneer, Sony, TDK, etc. are recommended. (Any name brands) This is a common problem that causes this error.

I would recommend trying (in this order):

- premium media
- cleaning the laser
- stablizing power supply

Remember that I'm not a DVD repair professional- I'm just speaking from my experience. Be careful when cleaning to avoid damaging your burner.

Good luck!

[Gazorgan]

I'd like to point out for the record that a lot of 'rubbing alchohals' contain glycerine, which will FUBAR your drive. I believe you actually want isotonic alchohal, which is much harder to find.

Me personally, I use rubbing alchohal, but a really cheap brand that is just wood alchohal and water.

Don't use anything that's not clear. The 'green' stuff usually has additives for massage.