Is My DVD Burner finished???

[phil.a1]

Hi All,

I have recently posted 2 other questions in the forums on the subject of burning problems - see the following links as they describe what has been happening: -

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=229628&highlight=

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=230114&highlight=


However, I suspect that my burner (Iomega Dual -/+ R/RW) may be at fault? An error log mentioned a Power Calibration Error. I have read through many postings on the site about this and many of the problems are associated with poor media.

HOWEVER, I suspect this isn't the case for me for 2 reasons: -

1) I'm using media that I didn't have a problem with before.

2) I'm getting the "black screen" (power still on both to the desktop & moniter but can't see or do anything so have to reboot) not only when writing, but also when READING the disc (DVD or Playstation 2 game) - either to the hard drive or for a direct copy.

Does anybody else have experience of this? Anybody know how to rectify or diagnose it? Any software I can use to check the drive/power supply?

I suspect it is the drive - perhaps I need to buy a new one?

Thanks.

Phil.

[handyguy]

Write at 1x & work from there. That should handle those PCE's

[phil.a1]

Thanks but I've tried that.

However, as I said, it all goes black when just reading, let alone trying to write. Having said that, it's temperamental i.e., sometimes it reads ok and then goes wrong when burning, sometimes it goes wrong when reading. Whichever it does, it's at random times i.e., sometimes at the beginning of reading/writing, sometimes near the end & sometimes anywhere it chooses!

Phil.

[grossjamesh]

phil.a1,

PCEs are generally caused by bad media. Even if the brand you used in past worked well there is no guarantee it will work with a different batch from the supplier.

There are possible other causes of your problem - such as viruses, spyware, interference from new software. If you have a ghost image made before you started having problem try restoring it and see if it helps.

[phil.a1]

The media I am using is from the same batch as before i.e., the remaining discs in a spindle tub of 50. The fact that the system basically dies also when reading a disc to back up seems to suggest it can't be the media used.

I formatted my drive a couple of days ago as I thought I may have had a virus. However, surely wiping the hard drive would have eliminated any virus or trojan? I have clean installed all software and have run Norton AV with up to date definitions - nothing found. However, I was interested to see you mentioned a possible virus as the cause. But other than scan for one, what else can I do if there is one? Spyware? I did wonder about this and so disconnected from the net before trying again - same outcome I'm afraid. Is there any good Spyware/trojan detection software around, preferably freeware?

As the problem seems to have existed before AND after formatting the hard drive, it again seems to suggest the drive?

DO I go ahead & buy a new one, hoping it is indeed the current one being faulty?

Phil.

[budz]

use this site to do a free virus scan: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

it seems to find trojan viruses much better than NORTONS. If the link doesn't work just go to www.trendmicro.com to use the free virus scanner.

use spybot search for spyware. you can download it at cnet.com it's a freeware.

[johns0]

Try swapping the dvdr to the other ide and set as master or slave,also blackouts and crashes could be from bad ram or power supply,if all fails try the dvdr in another computer and see it acts up there.

[phil.a1]

Thanks Budz,

I ran a scan using Trendmicro and it found 3 trojans on my system! They were all the same & had been downloaded in a file from Kazaa. I hardly use Kazaa nowadays due to the virus problems, these ones being downloaded last week (first time I'd used it in ages - doh!). Norton AV hadn't detected it so it makes you wonder how good it is?

As for the Spybot, I tried that too and found a few things. Got rid of them but one keeps coming back as when I rescan, it's always there. Doesn't seem to be malicious though.

Johns0 - The drive is currently set as a master on the secondary ide controller. This is correct according to the installation manual. However, I may well have a play around tomorrow and see what happens.

As for the RAM & PSU, I have downloaded a nifty program which checks all sorts of things about your system. I have run it many times & it tells me that the RAM is fine - no errors or failures. I have also been running some labour intensive apps this afternoon to see if I could get it to crash. Nope, so the RAM seems ok. As for the PSU, how can I test that?

I have an ageing pc available, running Windows 98, but I don't know if it will be suitable for trying out the drive. However, I'll give it a go tomorrow & see what happens.

What I have tried is a variety of discs in the drive. As mentioned, I have a LG DVD-ROM drive & the Iomega Dual DVD -/+ R/RW drive, plus a CD-RW drive. I have problems with both DVD drives, but not the CD-RW drive.

Using the same program that I used to check the RAM, I have placed different types of discs in each DVD drive with similar results. It's very baffling to me, especially as one runs on the secondary IDE controller on the main board & the other via a ATA133 (PCI) IDE controller?

Here were the READING (NOT WRITING, just READING) results (all media, apart from commercial ones, were burnt prior to having problems): -


Iomega DVD Burner

Data on CD-R Read
MP3's on CD-R Read
Data on DVD-R Read
MP3's on DVD-R Read
Video on 2 different DVD-R's (note 1) Read
2 x PS2's (DVD-ROM Disc) (note 2) Didn't Read
Video on 2 different DVD-ROM (note 3) Didn't Read
2 x Standalone DVD-R Video (note 4) Didn't Read


LG DVD-ROM

Data on CD-R Read
MP3's on CD-R Read
Data on DVD-R Didn't Read
MP3's on DVD-R Didn't Read
Video on 2 different DVD-R's (note 1) Didn't Read
2 x PS2's (DVD-ROM Disc) (note 2) Didn't Read
Video on 2 different DVD-ROM (note 3) Didn't Read
2 x Standalone DVD-R Video (note 4) Didn't Read


Note 1: These were back up's I made (DVD-R) of commercial region free discs a few months ago. Read fine on the Iomega burner, not on the LG DVD-ROM.

Note 2: 2 x Original PS2 discs. Iomega read with some errors, LG could read nothing at all!

Note 3: 2 Commercial original DVD's (D*sn*y films) (PAL). Iomega read with errors, LG found nothing!!

Note 4: These were DVD-R's I burnt a week or so ago on my standalone Liteon 5005 DVD Writer (backed up home videos). Again, Iomega read with problems but LG just didn't want to know at all!

Having looked at the error logs, the following describes the faults: -

LG DVD-ROM

The help files that come with the scanning software state that an "Error while searching for files on data CD/DVD" could "be the result of a blank CD/DVD"?

Iomega Burner

"Error while reading from the disk"

"The test file created on the disk can no longer be read. This could indicate a hardware error or a problem within windows."

I'm not so bothered about the LG Drive (although I'm puzzled as to why both are having problems with DVD), but the Iomega is more important. Having checked the error log more closely, I note that every error has been when reading the start of a VOB file, although on one occasion it failed on a BUP file.

Why on earth does the Iomega read a region free back up ok but not a PS2 game, a commercial D*sn*y DVD or a DVD-R burnt in my standalone? Just to complicate things more, these results were from running a utility check as described above. Put the discs in the Iomega and play them normally and they all play fine? It surely can't be the media it's reading (or not reading as it happens) as two of the types (2 PS2 games & 2 D*sn*y DVD's) are commercially produced!

Again, these 2 drives are not on the same controller so what on earth is going on!!!

Any techie experts, those who like a challenge or anybody with simply nothing better to do like to have a stab at what the problem may be???

Thanks guys,

Phil.

[johns0]

Simple solution is to buy a new dvd burner,no guru or tech will come up with a magical answer since every other reply has suggested everything that can be done besides just replacing it.

[phil.a1]

Yes, I was considering another burner as it's clearly the easiest way!

However, what nags me is if I put in a new burner, will the problems persist? I suppose there's only one way to find out! The Iomega does read some discs fine so it's not completely finished?

What also concerns me is that the LG DVD-ROM has also packed up? For both to do so at about the same time makes you think there is something else to it?

I think I'll bite the bullet and get a new burner - the Pioneer A07 looks good.

Thanks.

Phil.

[Burning Zombie]

As retarded as this may sound.... Something as simple as an Aging IDE cable can wreak mucho havoc on your system.

Most recently I was attending a local computer show and decided to purchase some of the newer rounded IDE cables for my computer. Since i had bought a new case (see through) I figured why not have some nifty cables to go along with it.


just before purchasing the cables for a week + prior, my system was constantly giving me problems.... Slow Boot up, die out on restart, Hang ups, you name it I had it.

I was swapping parts, running tests, Nothing was coming up.

After I purchased the cables, I decided to pop them in, Sure enough When I disconnected the HDD IDE, I found the cable seperated from the plug, and judging from the age, it looks to have been this way for sometime. My HDD was booting up, but like I said I was having massive errors... similar to your problem too.

Once I replaced the cables... Problem gone.


Also, Try cleaning your registry out as well. There is a great program called Easy Cleaner, and I run it once a day to keep my registry from getting crowded with invalid entries... When I go on a Burning spree.. I clean it out after every 3rd burn.

Just some tips that might help you out!

[budz]

It's very baffling to me, especially as one runs on the secondary IDE controller on the main board & the other via a ATA133 (PCI) IDE controller?

Ah! The problem could be the ATA 133 PCI IDE CONTROLLER CARD. For some reason some CONTROLLER CARDS don't like optical drives. I have a PENT 933 pc that will only work with the HARD DRIVES connected to the ATA100 MAXTOR IDE PCI CONTROLLER CARD. Connecting a optical drive to the ATA 100 the drive would not work. But yet on my PENT 4 2.4 pc the ATA133 CONTROLLER CARD works with the Plextor CDRW drive. Go figure.

I would suggest you try hooking up the DVD BURNER on SECONDARY PRIMARY & the DVD-ROM on SECONDARY SLAVE. Also as mentioned try changing the IDE CABLES. How is your optical drives set up? For example mine is:

PRIMARY MASTER- 60 gb hard drive
PRIMARY SLAVE- 120 gb hard drive
SECONDARY MASTER- Plextor 708A DVD BURNER
SECONDARY SLAVE- Toshiba 1612 DVD-ROM
ATA 133 MAXTOR PCI CONTROLLER CARD- Plextor 40x12x40 CDRW

If you've tried changing the connections around and still the same problem then it could be some software you're using or the brand of media. I don't think purchasing a new burner will solve the problem. What software do you use to backup dvds? What brands of dvd media are you using? If you're doing on the fly copying that could also be a problem. Because if both drives are connected to the same IDE, on the fly copying will most likely fail.