Power Calibration Error Cured

[Richard_G]

Over the last few weeks I had been getting the odd Power Calibration Error with my Pioneer A05 DVD writer. I initially put it down to a bad batch of disks but this didn't quite seem right as I was using the same Datasafe branded Ritek G04 as I have always used (from the same supplier). The problem started during hot weather when the room the pc lives in was getting the sun on it for most of the day and the case temperature was up around 40-45 decrees C. Running a CD lens cleaning disk through it and burning immediately I switched the machine on first thing in the morning when it was cool gave a greater chance of success.

Since then it got to the point where just occasionally I could burn a DVD but mostly I was getting Power Calibration Error, No disk or Internal Target Failure. I contacted Pioneer and told them that I didn't think this was right for a drive that had probably written no more than 300 disks and was less than two years old. They replied that it may be media and suggested I tried some other brands or it could be the drive itself dying. They admitted that prices had dropped so much that it would be cheaper for me to buy a new drive than have mine repaired out of warranty.

Having tried a number of different brands of media, I decided that the time had come to buy a new drive. The choice was between a Pioneer 108 or NEC 3500 and, as this experience had put me off Pioneer slightly, was about to order an NEC (at less than a quarter of the price I originally paid for the A05). Before doing this, I decided to take the A05 apart. I had nothing to lose. Having got it apart I examined the mechanism with a strong magnifying glass. The lens appeared to be covered in a film of grease with dust and a tiny hair stuck to it. I cleaned this off with a cotton bud soaked in iso-alcohol, put the drive back together and immediately did 4 successful burns (1 DVD video, one data backup and 2 iso image writes).

The only thing I can think of is that the high temperatures had melted some of the grease used to lubricate the mechanism and it had somehow got on the lens. The hair I suspect came from my daughters kitten! Obviously my lens cleaning disk wasn't up to the job of cleaning the lens! Anyone know of a disk that is capable of cleaning a lens properly, or do I just take the drive apart every few burns?

This has got to be worth a try for anyone else with a writer that appears to be on it's last legs.

[Capmaster]

Wow. Glad you found it

I've been an advocate of using lens cleaning discs for a while now. Ever since I cured my Power Cal Error problem on my Panny LF-D311 1X burner that way. The little nylon bristles certainly seem robust enough to remove a cat hair .....but when you throw grease into the equation, maybe it just moves it around but doesn't remove it.

Did you remember to also clean your cleaning disc bristles with an alcohol bud or alcohol on a paper towel so you don't redeposit the grease on the lens the next time you clean it?

[Richard_G]

Good point, no I haven't cleaned the cleaning disk, I better do that. I told Pioneer what I had done and the reply seemed to suggest they weren't entirely happy that I'd taken it to pieces, even though I did point out to them that I'm an electronics technician by trade.... I also asked if there was any particular type or brand of lens cleaner that they recommended and they said that they don't recommend them at all. Their reason was that they are either too abrasive or don't do anything. Mine obviously falls in the latter category! I suppose they'd rather we all went out and bought a new drive (even though I didn't intend buying another Pioneer!).

[bigalan2005]

i keep getting intenall error failer at 4x
ive got 2 dvd righters pioneer 4speeds cant copy

but if i put them in a friends pc thgere work fine and copy fine
can someone help me plz
can email me
bigalan20042002@msn.com

[ReSpEcT]

I do not know if any of you can help but I have an
Pioneer A05 which has not burnt a DVD since mid last year. I tried everything. I just purcheased a
new Pioneer 108, removed my 105, and guess what
same problem.

If you get a moment could you look at my post dated 2nd February and see if yon help.

[BobK]

If you get a moment could you look at my post dated 2nd February and see if yon help.

The chance of someone looking at your 2 Feb post would probably increase dramatically if you posted a link to it rather than expecting people to go searching for it.

[handyguy]

I changed media & got rid of this sort of thing.