Plextor PX-708A dead

[fmctm1sw]

This couldn't have happened at a worse time. In the middle of a write to a CD-RW it craps out. It refuses to read ANY CD media. Burned or pressed, it makes no difference. I did the diagnostic and found that it will work with DVDs but not CDs. Now it's time to see how Plextor's support is...

[budz]

Ack to your 708A dying out....I only called Plextor tech support once and they were very helpful....good luck and keep us posted....you might want to post your problem of the cdrw burning at the PLEXTOR FORUM at cdfreaks.com. There have been others with the same problem you have. Does your drive have the latest firmware?

[fmctm1sw]

Ack to your 708A dying out....I only called Plextor tech support once and they were very helpful....good luck and keep us posted....you might want to post your problem of the cdrw burning at the PLEXTOR FORUM at cdfreaks.com. There have been others with the same problem you have. Does your drive have the latest firmware?

I think I was at 1.02. I upgraded to 1.06 but it didn't help. They saw my email address and told me to contact the office in Tokyo. Not exactly what I was looking for. Good tip on the cdfreaks thing...

[fmctm1sw]

Follow up: About two days ago I forwarded the email response to from Plextor USA to the email address in Japan they told me to use. I havn't gotten a response. I havn't checked today, but if I don't hear anything, I'm going to email Plextor USA again.

[axolotls]

This couldn't have happened at a worse time. In the middle of a write to a CD-RW it craps out. It refuses to read ANY CD media. Burned or pressed, it makes no difference. I did the diagnostic and found that it will work with DVDs but not CDs. Now it's time to see how Plextor's support is...

Don't feel too bad. I am on my 3rd one. Had to return the first one after3 weeks then the one they sent me died a few weeks later. For some act of GOD, this 3rd one is working.

708A can go to hell. They are so inconsistent. When they work, they work beautifully.

Do yourself a favor. Get a replacement then go buy an NEC or Pioneer.

[fmctm1sw]

Oh, this is bad. Look at this email chain between me and Plextor "support." Start at the bottom. Do I really have to tell this guy that Fuji CD-Rs ARE on the compatible media list for this drive? I am truly disappointed. Read on.....


Since the Taiyo Yuden media works fine, it looks like just a media issue with your drive. Please be sure to use Plextor tested media.

http://plextor.com/english/support/support_compatability.html

Appendix A in your PlexWriter manual usually has media recommendations, too.


For info on media quality please check out: http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_quality.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/05/06/disc.rot.ap/index.html


Plextor America Support Team - Jack



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 6:41 PM
To: Plextor Support Team
Subject: Re: Defective PX-708A (won't read CDs)


I tried canned air, it made no difference. I never received a response from Plextor Japan reagrding my drive. This doesn't surprise me; They probably cannot read anything in that email. I am an Acitve Duty Seviceman stationed in Japan. I bought my drive in the USA. Shipping costs are no more to me in Japan that it is to southern California.

----- Original Message -----
From: Plextor Support Team
To:
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 2:11 AM
Subject: RE: Defective PX-708A (won't read CDs)


Please clean your laser lens with a blast of 'canned air'. You can use the 'straw' that comes with the can to direct the blast into the slot of the drive when the tray is extended. This will usually dislodge any dirt on the lens itself that can cause improper reads and writes.


Thank you for your interest in Plextor products.

You have contacted the Support department of Plextor America, but it appears you are a customer from another part of the world that Plextor America doesn't support.


To better serve you, please contact the Plextor office that is closest to you.

Plextor software bundles are different in different parts of the world, so the support group in your area will be able to assist you best.



If you are in Europe, please direct your inquires to our European Office in Belgium. All requests for assistance in Europe will be handled from there.

Excelsiorlaan 9
B-1930 Zaventem, Belgium
Phone: 32.2.725.5522
FAX: 32.2.725.9495

http://www.plextor.be/technicalservices/support/contact_support.asp?choice=Contact%20support



In Asia & Oceania (e.g. Hong Kong, Korea, India, Australia, NZ land), MT & A Corp. is the exclusive distributor. Please contact them for more information about your drive.

MT&A Corp.
Park Side House 5F
2, Ichiban-cho
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan 102-0082

Tel: 011-813-5214-5591
Fax: 011-813-5214-6660
Email: support@mta.co.jp



In Japan, please contact Plextor Japan.

Kyohdou Building (Tokyo Ekimae), 8th Floor
4-21 Yaesu 1 chome, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 103, Japan
Phone: 81.3.3517.8061
FAX: 81.3.3517.8065
Website: www.plextor.co.jp
General Information: cd-rom@plextor.co.jp


http://www.plextor.co.jp



In China, please contact Plextor China.
Support and general information: khayashi@plextor.com.cn



http://www.plextor.com.cn/index0.asp



Thank you for your inquiry and your patience.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 6:05 AM
To: support@plextor.com
Subject: Defective PX-708A (won't read CDs)


Until yesterday, my PX-708A burned and read everything placed into it. This morning, in the middle of a write to a CD-RW disk, it had write errors. I ran the diagnostic with a (numerous) Fuji CD-R, and it kicked it each back out. I tried the diagnostics with the Plextor brand (Taiyo Yuden) that came with the drive and it worked. I downloaded a newer (1.06 I think) firmware version. I've determined that the drive will not read ANY CD media. I tried home made VCD's and computer games and none worked. All of them flash amber twice after you put them in. DVDs are another story. Generally they work. A JVC DVD-RW and a incredibly cheap Admeco branded DVD I bought here locally. Both took a long time to load though and I saw the amber light blink before it turned green. [/code]

[lenti_75]

just get a NEC or PIONEER.....as somebody else sugessted. everythung else is garbage...

[budz]

try flashing the drive back to firmware 1.03 then flash it to firmware 1.04. there are some who have had the same problems and flashed the drive back to 1.04. what software are you using to burn cds & dvds? upgrade to the latest nero burn. or if you can get a older version like 5.5.10.42 that works great on my 708a. i still use firmware 1.04 on my 708a drive.

just get a NEC or PIONEER.....as somebody else sugessted. everythung else is garbage...

NEC & PIONEER have their share of problems as well. just take a look at cdfreaks.com in their respective forum sites. every brand of dvd burners has their pros and cons.

[axolotls]

It's dead. Get an RMA from Plextor and send it back

[budz]

It's dead. Get an RMA from Plextor and send it back

before you can even get a RMA, you're going to have to do the self diagnostic test on the drive. tech support will ask if you tested it before they issue a RMA. take a look at the manual and it instructs you on how to do the self diagnositc test.

[fmctm1sw]

I did that day 1. Now these guys are telling me since it worked with a DVD, then it can read and write fine and to check my media. I even put in my subject line "Won't read CDs." I've decided to make a MPEG file of my drive not working and mail it to them. That's the only way I'm going to get through to them I guess...

[fmctm1sw]

try flashing the drive back to firmware 1.03 then flash it to firmware 1.04. there are some who have had the same problems and flashed the drive back to 1.04. what software are you using to burn cds & dvds? upgrade to the latest nero burn. or if you can get a older version like 5.5.10.42 that works great on my 708a. i still use firmware 1.04 on my 708a drive.

just get a NEC or PIONEER.....as somebody else sugessted. everythung else is garbage...

NEC & PIONEER have their share of problems as well. just take a look at cdfreaks.com in their respective forum sites. every brand of dvd burners has their pros and cons.

Thanks budz. I'll give the firmware a shot. I am using an even older version of Nero than you. I thnk I'm at 5.5.10.35 or so. I broke down and made a WMV file of me putting a (compatible according to their site) blank CD-R in the drive and running the diagnostic. That's what I've been reduced to...

[ViRaL1]

I remember back in the days when "tech support" did all the testing and only you had to do was send in the bad product (with the proper forms) and wait for a replacement.

[axolotls]

PLEXTOR is aware of the problem with not being able read/write CDs but able to read/write DVDs. It's a very common problem with 708A and clones.

They are pulling your chain. This happened to me twice.

The tech on the phone did admit that it's a power calibration error due to something flaky in the drive.

[fmctm1sw]

PLEXTOR is aware of the problem with not being able read/write CDs but able to read/write DVDs. It's a very common problem with 708A and clones.

They are pulling your chain. This happened to me twice.

The tech on the phone did admit that it's a power calibration error due to something flaky in the drive.

I was just about to give an update on the situation, thanks for the info. I just dodn't know what to do to make these guys believe the drive is malfunctioning. I actually made a wmv of me putting a blank Fuji CD into it and running the diagnostic. Three days later, I sent another email asking them if they saw the video and they said they cannot view wmv files. So I told them that the diagnotic will fail with a blank CD. I don't know how else to say it. Given that this is a fairly common issue with this drive, I have no idea why it has taken so long to get a RMA (I still don't have one). I'll see what kind of response I get form them today.

[Ph4se]

You can add my name to the list of unsatisfied customers. I bought the PX708-A about 6 months ago for $180 because it was the fastest on the market at the time and I respected Plextor for making superior drives that would stand the test of time. It seems that this drive has certainly proven that even Plextor can have quality control issues. My drive is also unable to burn or read any cd, although the dvd functions still appear to be intact. I contacted Plextor by phone and they set up my RMA without an issue. My advice, call them on the phone, don't resort to email...their email techs seem to give you the run around, but if you make it clear to them over the phone that you mean business, they will give you the RMA.

[fmctm1sw]

My advice, call them on the phone, don't resort to email...their email techs seem to give you the run around, but if you make it clear to them over the phone that you mean business, they will give you the RMA.

I'll agree. Phone calls are awful expensive for me here in Japan though. I finally got my RMA on the 16th I believe. I've said it before, everyone is entitled to a dud. All manufacturers have their issues. BUT, from my research at CDfreaks, I am not the first person this happened to. Why it took so long to convince them that my drive was messed up like many others, I'll never know. Gosh, I would have hated to be the fist guy that had a drive that would read CDs...

[axolotls]

My advice, call them on the phone, don't resort to email...their email techs seem to give you the run around, but if you make it clear to them over the phone that you mean business, they will give you the RMA.

I'll agree. Phone calls are awful expensive for me here in Japan though. I finally got my RMA on the 16th I believe. I've said it before, everyone is entitled to a dud. All manufacturers have their issues. BUT, from my research at CDfreaks, I am not the first person this happened to. Why it took so long to convince them that my drive was messed up like many others, I'll never know. Gosh, I would have hated to be the fist guy that had a drive that would read CDs...

This is reason why I WILL NEVER BUY A PLEXTOR PRODUCT ever again.


Glad you finally convinced them.

This is reason why I WILL NEVER BUY A PLEXTOR PRODUCT ever again.

Now, on the flip side, my five month old printer had a minor annoyance recently. I called them this morning and I explained what was going on, they took my information down and said they are sending a replacement one by air today! That is customer service for you. Something PLEXTOR should take a hint from.

This is reason why I WILL NEVER BUY A PLEXTOR PRODUCT ever again.

BTW, my Plextor is still running fine to date, but it's a damn shame that I actually expect it to die on me everytime I feed it.

[fmctm1sw]

Got drive back today. Its manufacture date is December 2003 and TLA is 0107. Now to look that stuff up on cdfreaks....