What happens when a writer ages ?

[ujjwal]

Hi, My Sony CDwriter has started behaving strangely. I want to know whether it is time to buy a new writer or may be it is problem with my Windows 98.
One day my writer suddenly seemed to stop half way in between (50-70%) runing my CDs. I didn't burn anything for few days and it started working well again.
Then now a days when I try to burn through ULEAD, it just doesn't start writing and gives some buffer error. But if I choose the option 'test burn first' it burns the CD perfectly (though taking double the time).
It is very possible that may be the problems are due to windows installed on my machine.
Just want to know friends, when a writer starts to die, what are the symptoms ? How did your writers died ?

[SaSi]

I threw away my first CD writer some 8 years ago (a Ricoh 2x model) because it never worked ok.

I then (1999) bought a Yamaha 4x2x6x model. One day, using bad media, I thought it was dead. I bought a new one, (2000) and some additional media while I was at it, and discovered I now had two CD writers. Both are in storage now (decommissioned )

I then (2001) bought a 24x10x40 because it was cheap and the other was slow. It now is used on my backup PC (why throw it away).

I then (2003) bought a Sony DVD recorder which has troubled me with compatibility with media and s/w and promiced to buy a new, non-sony one the day it dies. It still won't die on me .

Seriously, if you have your burner for more than 2 years, throw it away and get a new one. Will save you time more than it costs. CD recorders are $30 cheap now. If it gives you trouble, it's not worth it.