Plextor708A can't read/write CDs, but DVDs OK

[chicola]

My Plextor 708A started to not recognize CDs (even audio CDs) and not being able to burn CD-Rs.

Everything is OK with the DVD burning/reading capability!

Has anybody experienced this situation

I've tried PlexTools but it can't detect the CD-R so I'm unable to preform a writing test or a reading test. It looks like the drive can't detect the CD type, etc... and, consequently, doesn't detect the CD.

I've cleaned/reinstalled Nero and used it to burn a DVD+R in ISO mode and all was correct but the same app can't do a burn in a CD-R!

Any help would be appreciated.

[FOO]

Did you re-flash the drive ?

[chicola]

Yep! Re-flashed it yesterday to 1.04.

The problem persists!

I also have done an uninstall in Control Panel and rebooted so the system autodetect it. And the drive is in UDMA mode.

[budz]

Check these forum sites for some help.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=66bf2e0a607f74b7fabaa4e18e0263a5

http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=43
Good Luck!

[FOO]

What I meant was .... did you reflash right before your problem started ?

[chicola]

No, i had reflashed 1.03 a few weeks ago and everything was working fine since then.

I just reflashed again (now, with 1.04) after discovering the problem.

[sidewinder33625]

I had the same thing happen with my home DVD player while back ago. It used to play audio CD/R fine but one day it stopped playing them. It still played DVD/R fine. Luckily I found a used model for cheap and I swapped out the drive mechanism inside and worked fine. Sounds to me like a hardware problem.

I would be curious how many discs have you burned with it?

[chicola]

Some 10 CDs burned and aprox. 80 DVD+Rs. The DVD capability continues to work perfectly.

Nevertheless, it definitely looks like a hardware problem so I contacted PLEXTOR by email describing the problem and already got the RMA. I'm gonna ship them the drive today.

Let's wait and see.

[Hardcoreruss]

I remember reading a post on here before about dvd players having seperate lasers. One for cd's and one for dvd's could it be that the cd one has failed but the dvd one has not ?

[jgandara]

Got warranty?

The only thing i can think off, is to clean the laser. There is a special CD with a little brush. See if that works, otherwise, you should send it to repair.

[Hardcoreruss]

All plextors come with two years no questions ask collect and replace.

[chicola]

I sent it on Wednesday (DHL). Received a new on Friday!!!!!!

I would by Plextor anytime!!!!!!!

[chicola]

I meant "BUY PLEXTOR".

[Hardcoreruss]

Your right they are the best expensive but they rarely break and when the do their after sales service is incredible.