Ritek G04 Only Burns at 2X

[Catman209]

I know Ive posted this before but I did a little research on this and want some opinions. Im using a Sony DRU510A and I have always burned Ritek at 4x with no problems. Recently I bought 3 batches from 3 different stores and all 3 batches will only burn at 2x. They burn the lead in at 4x but as soon as it starts burning files, it drops down to 2x. I bought them Memorex 4x media and they burned no problem at 4x so Im thinking it must be the media. I gave one of my Riteks to my friend to try in his Cendyne burner and it burned at 4x just fine so now Im not sure where to turn. My drive is under a year old, do you think Sony will do anything for me or just blow me off? Something has to be wrong. I have updated the firmware many times, I just don't get it. Any opinions? Im selling these discs to my friend as I just found the Epson R-300 at Stapels so now I need printable media anyway. I would appreciate any opinons on what I should do about this. I think im going to contact Sony. Thanks.

Catman

[Leoslocks]

What software are you using to burn with?

Dynamic Write Speed off

"It modifies Nero so that the speeds supported by the recorder can no longer be calculated dynamically but is derived from a table in the burner's firmware."

[Ol Bob]

I have the same burner, same discs and same problem. I don't think it's the discs though, because I have tried other discs. Interesting.

Bob

[Catman209]

Bob, have you ever been able to burn at 4x? I used to be able too. And Im using Nero 6.3. I will check on what you posted. Thanks.

[Catman209]

The patch did not help but it does show what the burning speed is. It burns at around 1.9. Its taking me 30 minutes to burn a 4x dvd. Im waiting to hear back from Sony.

[Catman209]

I just found out something that is quite interesting. When I use Nero Burning Rom, my 4x dvd's burn at 2x but when I use the Nero Express, they burn at 4x. What gives?? Isnt it the same software??

[garryward]

Ive got the same Problem with my Sony .works at *4 with other types of disks

[FulciLives]

I just found out something that is quite interesting. When I use Nero Burning Rom, my 4x dvd's burn at 2x but when I use the Nero Express, they burn at 4x. What gives?? Isnt it the same software??

Sounds like NERO up to it's bag of tricks (bugs galore).

Try another burning application and see what speed they burn at.

I would try DVD Decrypter. It will only burn from an ISO IMAGE FILE but you can make that using the CLASSIC VERSION of ImgTools

Nice thing is both programs are FREEWARE

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[axolotls]

Strange.. I am getting around 2X on the G04's from Newegg. The other ones in the same pack of 50 burned at 4X yesterday.

The buffer levels are going crazy.. I dumped 3 of them thinking something was fishy with the O/S. Now I am gonna let this last one go all the way...

Odd.

[Catman209]

A batch of mine came from new egg also. But my friend burned on of them on his cendyne burner at 4x.

[axolotls]

I think I am having some XP issues with cache and my ATI card (judging by some net searching)

Cartman: are you using XP Pro?

[sammie]

I got a couple of spindles of Ritek 4x about a month and a half ago. No problem getting the Sony 500 to start burning them at 4x, but the burn would error out somewhere around half through most of the time. Did ok at 2x and since they were replacements for a couple of spindles that wouldn't burn at all, I just used them.

[tetsuwan]

Sony 510, burns those Riteks at 4x using Record Now and Nero 5.5.10, one coaster out of 15 burns (no coasters using TDK +r)

[ktnwin]

I am using G04 Ritek 4X and burn them at 4X, no coaster at all.
My burner is Pionner A05.

[Catman209]

I am using XP pro.

[axolotls]

I THINK I just found out my problem with burning G04 at 1X instead of 4X.

I am XP Pro and just discovered that for some reason XP changed my Mode to PIO!!! even though I had USE DMA IF POSSIBLE checked in the IDE CHANNEL.

I tried to force it back to Ultra DMA Mode 2 and it didn't work.

So I uninstalled the DVD Writer from the BIOS and uninstalled it from the Control Panel and let XP PRO reinstall it on the next boot up

So... I am trying some burning now and think that was the problem.

I read that XP -if- some errors occur, will change your drive to PIO

[bluerazor]

In XP, if you go into the device manager and uninstall both your primary and secondary IDE controllers, and then reboot, then let XP reinstall them, it will fix this problem. I had the same issue after installing windvd5.

Credit goes to rdgrimes for posting this fix awhile back.

[axolotls]

Yeah. I figured that one out myself after pulling my hair out.

XP sucks, since you wouldn't know it switched to PIO unless you looked in your devices -> properties for the IDE config.

Mine is working fine again, and whatever error pushed it to PIO most likely came from all those 20 - 30 GB video files I am converting

[Catman209]

I just received a batch of Ritek 4x white printables. First time I have used them. The first one burned at 4x and the next two at 2x. So frustrating. Im going to try the uninstall-reinstall drive thing and see what happens.

[axolotls]

cartman:

don't uninstall the drives from the control panel

just uninstall the primary and secondary IDE channels.

They are (for me) called:

Primary IDE Channel
Secondary IDE Channel

Uninstall those!

Then after it finds them again after rebooting, go into the properties and
make sure you pick "Choose DMA" then reboot again

[Catman209]

That did not work. The funny thing is that every so often it burns one at 4x. It used to burn all the Ritek at 4x. I don't get it!

[fairtomiddlin]

I have the same Sony burner as catman and am experiencing the same problem with Ritek G04's that I bought from newegg. Some will burn at 4x, whereas others from the same pack will only burn at 2x. I've never had this happen with any other 4x-rated media. The slower burn speed seems to happen on my system more frequently with Elby CloneDVD than with Nero. Go figure.

[fairtomiddlin]

I have the same Sony burner as catman and am experiencing the same problem with Ritek G04's that I bought from newegg. Some will burn at 4x, whereas others from the same pack will only burn at 2x. I've never had this happen with any other 4x-rated media. The slower burn speed seems to happen on my system more frequently with Elby CloneDVD than with Nero. Go figure.

[Gazorgan]

I had this exact same problem on an NEC 1300a.

Conclusion: The drive was overheating. Ideally you won't have anything above and below the unit (not the typical installation). Changing my arrangement immediately cleared up the problem.

[Catman209]

I have a slot to try that and maybe this weekend I will. I will let you know if it worked although I am skeptical! Catman