Erratic Buffer Problem

[miboesch]

I would appreciate any and all advice on how to solve an erratic buffer level in Nero 6.3.0.3. Everything used to work fine. I can't pinpoint when it started doing this, since I don't usually sit and watch my DVD's burn. Only 2 coasters so far, but "used read buffer" continues to fluctuate between 100% and about 4% throughout the burn. "Buffer level" fluctuates as well.

Thanks in advance

[4smiley20]

I've seen this on my computer too. It happens to me when im using another program that uses a lot of cpu and memory. Most commonly when i rar, unrar, or shrink a movie while im burning i'll get the buffer level jumping all over. I haven't had any problems with it causing the burn to fail but i suppose that could happen if a buffer overrun occurs. Check your running processes and cpu usage to see if anything is eating up memory and usage.

[jeremyp969]

Make sure you have your IDE channels set to DMA. That would do it.

[SLK001]

The buffer will act like that when something else is running eating up the cpu cycles (and has a fairly high priority). Check for virii, or even anti-virus software running. Try loggin off the internet.

Also, the DMA suggestion is a good idea, but you said that it used to work. If you recently did any computer upgrades, your IDE setting for the burner could have reverted back to PIO, which would make burning pretty much impossible.

[miboesch]

Thanks for the ideas. Since posting, I've checked the DMA (it was on PIO), and upgraded the firmware. I rarely do anything else while I'm burning, so that's not it, and virus scan comes up empty. All that being said, I've got no movies to back up currently to try it out. Perhaps I'll just do one on an RW so as not to waste another disc.

[miboesch]

Alright, the problem went away, but now it's back. Question about DMA. Do the hard drives have to be set to DMA, or the burner, or both? At a bit of a loss here. Hoping the many smart people here can help.

[offline]

Both should be set to DMA.
I would be checking if your drive(s) need defraging. Nero cache
uses its own drive based virtual memory.