Did I kill my drive?

[karlhermann]

My drive completely stopped working--let me give details...

I'm running Win2K, I have a Pioneer A09 drive. I have been using Roxio to burn audio cd's. I had a few problems writing CD-R's (weird error messages but the end CD appeared to have burned fine). I decided to burn a CD-RW first to help troubleshoot that (so I wouldn't make a coaster out of it). I started the burn process, no error messages, disc is burning fine, I thought 'sweet, everythings working out', so I decided to cancel the burn (so I could put a regular CD-R in and write that). I hit cancel, and my computer locks up. I try a few things, task manager etc, the computer is being weird, try to shut down the computer, wait a while at each step, so nothing else to do but a hard reboot. I do a hard reboot. Now--

-there is no power to the drive

-my system is not recognizing the drive at all

I already tried going into the device manager--no hint of the drive.

I restarted the computer again. Still nothing.

What in the world did I do to my drive?

[budz]

Go into your BIOS to see if the Pioneer A109 is recognized. If it isn't there then you may have to open up your pc and check the IDE CABLES. Try unlugging the IDE CABLE then plug it back in. Make sure you unplug your power supply before doing it.

[karlhermann]

How would I do that? Is that going into DOS mode and stuff? I'm willing to try--but I have little experience there. How would I do that?

Also, when I go to windows explorer, the drive isn't visible under "My Computer".

[budz]

How would I do that? Is that going into DOS mode and stuff? I'm willing to try--but I have little experience there. How would I do that?

Also, when I go to windows explorer, the drive isn't visible under "My Computer".

reboot your pc and press the DELETE key on your keyboard....this has to be done quickly before your WINDOWS 2000 screen shows......it should access your BIOS....then look to see under IDE DEVICES if that PIONEER AO9 drive is there....if it is then click on F10 key to save BIOS configuration.....you could do a search on GOOGLE on how to bring up your BIOS.....

[thevoelk]

Your drive is most likely fine. Here's the easiest way to fix it:

Power down your PC. Open the side and disconnect the IDE (flat) cable and the power cable. Power on your PC and go into Windows so it sees the drive is not there. Shut down your PC and reconnect the cables (they only fit one way BTW). Turn on your PC and go into Windows.

Odds are your BIOS is still set correctly, so you shouldn't have to mess with it. If you do, be careful because you could make your problem(s) worse. I had this happen all the time with my old Sony DRU500A and ECDC/Nero. It'a pain in the ass to have to do, but that's usually all I had to do.

[karlhermann]

Alright, went into BIOS, didn't see it there.

Powered down the computer, disconnected IDE cable, restarted PC then shutdown again, reconnected IDE cable, then restarted.

It recognizes the drive!

But still a problem--it will read DVD-R's just fine, but will not read ANY type of CD.

Any ideas now?

[lordsmurf]

What version firmware?

[karlhermann]

What version firmware?

Firmware v 1.50

Thought about reflashing firmware, but I have my doubts that would do anything.

Here's another thought--when the PC crashed, it was in the middle of a CD write. Through the little hole on the front of the drive, I manually ejected the CD. Could that have somehow messed up the laser?

Does the drive use two different lasers for DVD and CD?

If I possibly did screw it up that way, would it be worth my trying to open up the drive and see if it's something easily fixable?

[Denvers Dawgs]

If worse comes to worse you can just buy a new drive cheap $20 for cd or $40 for DL dvd burner.....

[budz]

What version firmware?

Firmware v 1.50

Thought about reflashing firmware, but I have my doubts that would do anything.

Here's another thought--when the PC crashed, it was in the middle of a CD write. Through the little hole on the front of the drive, I manually ejected the CD. Could that have somehow messed up the laser?

Does the drive use two different lasers for DVD and CD?

If I possibly did screw it up that way, would it be worth my trying to open up the drive and see if it's something easily fixable?

By opening up the drive you could void your warranty with Pioneer. I'd suggest you return the drive and let them know the drive just doesn't work correctly. Where did you purchase it from?

[jimmalenko]

Here's another thought--when the PC crashed, it was in the middle of a CD write. Through the little hole on the front of the drive, I manually ejected the CD. Could that have somehow messed up the laser?

Does the drive use two different lasers for DVD and CD?

Yes, the drive does use two different lasers. It sounds to me like you may have cooked your CD laser.


This is OTT a little, but maybe relevant ...

A few years back, I was in the process of ripping my CD collection to MP3s and I'd had it working for about 12 hours when all of a sudden, my PC locked up. Rebooted, and no CD-ROM. Tried everything - disconnected, rebooted, reconnected, rebooted - no cigar. Turns out I'd melted the lens !

[stiltman]

I have been using Roxio

JMHO, That's the main problem right there. Roxio modifies a bunch of stuff in the registry. I hope you didn't try to uninstall it and reinstall it to try to fix the problem? I would go with another burning app if I were you. I did the EasyCD route awhile back and it screwed up my system. I got a couple of their CDs laying around, but I will never install it again

[karlhermann]

What version firmware?

Firmware v 1.50

Thought about reflashing firmware, but I have my doubts that would do anything.

Here's another thought--when the PC crashed, it was in the middle of a CD write. Through the little hole on the front of the drive, I manually ejected the CD. Could that have somehow messed up the laser?

Does the drive use two different lasers for DVD and CD?

If I possibly did screw it up that way, would it be worth my trying to open up the drive and see if it's something easily fixable?

By opening up the drive you could void your warranty with Pioneer. I'd suggest you return the drive and let them know the drive just doesn't work correctly. Where did you purchase it from?

I got it from newegg, and it hasn't been too long, I'll see if I can still return it.

[karlhermann]

I have been using Roxio

JMHO, That's the main problem right there. Roxio modifies a bunch of stuff in the registry. I hope you didn't try to uninstall it and reinstall it to try to fix the problem? I would go with another burning app if I were you. I did the EasyCD route awhile back and it screwed up my system. I got a couple of their CDs laying around, but I will never install it again

Yes, Roxio may be a pain in the butt, but I don't see how that could be screwing me up. No, I didn't try uninstalling it and reinstalling it. And nothing recognizes CD's, not Roxio, nor Windows Explorer, nor Exact Audio Copy. They all say something to the effect of "no cd in drive".

[mazinz]

do you still have the warranty that came with the drive? Pioneer warranties are for one year. I had just purchased the a09xl drive in May. Less than 30 burns later it just died. Burned a last dvd disc fine and then 100 percent unresponsive with anything else right after that. I called pioneer with the number they supplied on the warranty and i sent the drive back to them. I am now awaiting my repaired/new drive to be sent back (it died in late June)

[budz]

I have been using Roxio

JMHO, That's the main problem right there. Roxio modifies a bunch of stuff in the registry. I hope you didn't try to uninstall it and reinstall it to try to fix the problem? I would go with another burning app if I were you. I did the EasyCD route awhile back and it screwed up my system. I got a couple of their CDs laying around, but I will never install it again

Yes, Roxio may be a pain in the butt, but I don't see how that could be screwing me up. No, I didn't try uninstalling it and reinstalling it. And nothing recognizes CD's, not Roxio, nor Windows Explorer, nor Exact Audio Copy. They all say something to the effect of "no cd in drive".

Roxio does cause software conflicts. Try downloading a trial version of NERO BURN. Email or Call Newegg.com on Monday to have them RMA the drive. If it's within the 30 day warranty ask for a refund and buy a BENQ 1620 retail drive that is only $44.99 at this time.

[johns0]

Might be a bad cable,replace it and see what happens.

[karlhermann]

Cool, thanks for the responses.

Now, because I am the kind of person that needs to know this kind of stuff, WHY did the laser die? How?

[mazinz]

who knows really? Look at my case with the drive, it burned one dvd fine and then immediately after it died with no apparent cause. I had NO issues with the drive previously either or anything that might say "ok im going to keep an eye on this". I had a regular rom drive on the same cable and that wroks fine. I hooked in my previous pioneer (dvdr-104) and will be using that until my replacement comes in the mail