Power Calibration Error

[kyrcy]

Eery time I try to burn on Verbatim DVR-R 16X media (MCC 03RG20) using a Pioneer DVR-108 (latest firmware) at max speed I get a power calibration error message. Burning on DVD-RW media works with no errors. Anyone else came across with this problem?

[Snakebyte1]

It could be a sign that your burner is going kaput, but it could just be that it doesn't like the media. Try a different brand or batch.

I had this on a batch of Verbatim's a few years ago. They would burn fine on every other burner except this one, so I thought it was the burner. But I tried a different brand and they worked and I have not had any problems with that burner since - and that was 2 or 3 years ago.

[handyguy]

You're writing too fast.

Btw, there must be 100's of PCE messages in the forum that you can read up on.

[redwudz]

A note from Nero's site on 'Power Calibration Errors': http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/eng/FAQs_Error_Messages.html#9

They left out cleaning the laser lens, but if it works alright with RW, that is likely not the problem.

[kyrcy]

If I burn at 12x and not 16x everything seems to be working fine. I wonder why?

[jameshgross]

From: http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/faqs/faq_22.html

What is Power Calibration error.


A power calibration error is caused by the inability of a DVD-RW drive to use a DVD-R or DVD-RW disk.


DVD-R and DVD-RW disks themselves have information written on them, within this Media ID code there is information that the drive uses to calibrate itself to the disk, when a drive first starts to write to a disk it will burn a small amount of data to a calibration area on the disc, using the calibration information in the Media ID code, and then try to read back the data that it has written. If it cannot be read, then disk will be ejected and fail with a power calibration error.

A power calibration error is normally caused by problems with the media. Should you be experiencing problems with your drive or the media, we recommend that a disk from a good quality manufacturer be used to test it.

For fault finding purposes we recommend the use of a disk of a known high quality, we recommend disks from:


Pioneer Video Corporation
TDK Corporation
Hitachi Maxell
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Verbatim)
Taiyo-Yuden Co. LTD
Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co.,LTD (Panasonic)
Sony Corporation

[redwudz]

I usually suspect the media first, but if the laser is a little weak, then the higher speed might be a problem. The faster it burns, the more laser power that is needed. This could also be a power supply issue. If you wanted to test that, unplug the other drives or anything that draws power that you don't immediately need for a burn and try it again.

[OneSickPup]

If I burn at 12x and not 16x everything seems to be working fine. I wonder why?

As stated above there are numerous factors that can potentially be involved here. Most common is bad media but you have a known to be good media. Burn MCC 03RG20 at 12x on a 108 anyway - burn time will actually be the same or close (at least it is on mine using 1.20 firmware). Power supplies can cause these errors in some cases. Who knows - but if they work at 12x - you'll most likely get a better burn with that drive anyway. Good luck.