What is the Superlink?

[roster19]

Hi,
I recently had a problem burning cds/dvds because I used 'superlink' even on slowest writing speeds. My burner gave me a power calibration error.
So I would like to know what the 'superlink' is and why it would cause errors?
thx

[redwudz]

What does 'superlink' refer to? Is it part of your burning software, your burner, your motherboard? At least give us a clue.

Other than that, power calibration errors are usually bad media or a failing burner or a dirty laser lens. The error is generally internal to the DVD burner and not something external like software.

Could also possibly be caused by bad firmware for the burner if you flashed the firmware improperly or with the wrong info.

[bugster]

Superlink is one of several names give to so called 'burn proof' techniques utilsed by many burners. It is where the burner has an on board buffer to store data to help ensure a continual flow of data to the burner, even if the PC pauses during burning. It is supposed to make burning more reliable not less

I have a samsung CDRW with 'superlink' so it may be a samsung trademark, or maybe another manufacturer if samsung simply OEM the drives.

[offline]

Super link is a type of "Burn Proof" technology originally developed by Sanyo from an idea unexplored by Sony.

Early CD burners had to write data continuously to the CD, via a memory buffer. If that memory buffer ran out of data, say because of a busy CPU or a recalibrating hard drive, the resulting "Buffer Under Run" meant the CD was now useless. As the data ran out, the laser could no longer write to the cd and there was no way to go back and start from the last position.

Sony came up with a way to at least recover the data already written to disk, if a such a buffer under run occurred, but the cd could not accept any more data. This was a big problem. The early writable CD's cost between $15 and $30 each, and took between 40 & 80 minutes to write.

Sanyo then invented "Buffer Under RuN-Proof" technology, hence the term "Burn Proof". It works by pre sensing if the buffer is going to run out of data and then suspends the laser while holding the last few seconds of data in memory. It also remembers the exact position of the laser. When the buffer gets new data, it is then linked to the data held in memory. The laser is turned back on, in the right position, and the data is written to the disk as almost nothing ever stopped. I said "almost" because there is always a slight gap, but error correcting technology can deal with this. This also why excessive burn proof episodes can slow down the re-reading of effected CD's and DVD's, and even result in read errors.

Superlink, justlink and other names are just branded terms for the same technology.

A power calibration error could be anything. Just prior to burning, a code is written and then test read to see if the laser is set correctly for the type and quality of media. If this fails you get that error. Unfortunately anything that can effect this process can result in the same error. You need
to provide more info to give us a clue on what to suggest.

At the moment, based on what you have said, it could be a DMA issue. Do a forum search on enabling DMA to check if this is your problem. Otherwise feel free to come back with more info on what software, what process and what media you are using and if this is a new problem or had your setup been working ok before.