Is My Drive Dying?

[Gildor57]

I have a Pioneer 111D drive using the latest firmware. It has given great service for the past year, but now I fear it is on its last legs.

It is writing really slow, no better than 2X. Using ImgBurn, it even will sometimes fail in the middle with an I/O error. It also is ripping (RipIt4Me) at no better than 2x. I have done a lot of burning over the past year, so I wonder if it is just giving out. When it writes, the amount of data in the Device Buffer is constantly going up and down. It has only recently started writing at less than full speed.

I use TY discs and tried both the white, printable discs and the silver ones. Identical behavior.

It seems to be the drive, but I thought I'd check here before I got a new drive.

Anything else I should check before I retire this drive?

TIA!

[budz]

check to make sure your PIONEER 111D is set in UDMA 4 mode.
use this link to check if DMA is enabled.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7625

if your drive is in UDMA 4 mode then your drive is probably dying. you could try a new 80 wire ide cable first before buying a new dvd burner. i'd suggest getting a PIONEER 112D or SATA PIONEER 212 drive if you need a new dvd burner.

[Gildor57]

Thanks Budz. Yes, its set to UDMA 4. Oh well, I guess its time for that new drive. Pioneer 112D, here I come...

[Gildor57]

Apparently, that was the problem, Installed a new 112D and the speeds are back up again.

[budz]

Apparently, that was the problem, Installed a new 112D and the speeds are back up again.

Good to hear all is well with a new PIONEER 112D drive.

[[_chef_]]

Is your 111 really toast?

I have 2 here and they still burn like h3ll!

[Gildor57]

]Is your 111 really toast?

I have 2 here and they still burn like h3ll!

Certainly, I am no expert so I don't know if a slowdown of read/write speeds are a failure mode of DVD burners. I do know a new drive fixed the problem for me.

Its good to know your 111's are still blazing away happily.