DVD Burning problem - STRESS!

[tonio1]

I regularly have problems successfully burning DVDs when using - r disks, (-rws are ok oddly). Illegal disk error in Nero is the error message (an issue I know you see in lots of forums). Ashampoo burning studio says my DVD burner and media aren't compatible. However I've updated the firmware, changed media (Verbatim, Sony, TDK, Samsung minus and plus r), reduced burning speed, changed burning software down to 4 speed, installed adaptec aspi, even replaced the burner. To no avail. So I'm wondering if it's something concerning my pc hardware or drivers..... In part of the Nero log below, note that the drive is not recognised, but is then autodected.

I don't really have a clue what is causing this but the specific issue I'm presently wondering may be affecting it is this: I have 2 SATA hard disks (set as master and slave respectively) connected to the SATA motherboard ports (a Dell Dimension 5100 desktop.). The DVD/CD burner (Dell OEM: HLDS GSA H21N) is connected to the optical IDE channel on the motherboard and operates as a master on that channel, whether the jumper is set as master or cable select. That is the only IDE connecter on the motherboard. The Burner is the only device on that IDE cable/connecter.

In device manager, I have two intel ata/atapi controllers and two primary channels. There are no secondary channels. There used to be two but on installing the chipset drivers (following a reinstall of the operating system), they no longer appeared.

HOWEVER, from Nero information tool, which displays the system configuration, it shows my DVD burner as master on the primary IDE channel, and the 2 hard drives as master and slave respectively but on the secondary IDE channel. I believe a more normal configuration is the reverse whereby the burner is the secondary master and the 2 hard drives should be master and slave but on the primary channel. I'm wondering if this reversal of the norm is causing my problems? Could be a red herring but I've checked so many things trying to troubleshoot this to no success.

The configuration shown in the Nero burn log is:

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
CdRomPeripheral : HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H21N atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral : ST3300822AS atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral : ST3160023AS atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: On

Error message being:
#20 SPTI -1066 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 179
CdRom0: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1066)
Sense Key: 0x05 (KEY_ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
Sense Code: 0x24
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0xAC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 64 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 00 24
Buffer x062793c0: Len x648

Other details:

Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: -

NT-SPTI used
Nero Version: 7.10.1.0
Internal Version: 7, 10, 1, 0
(Nero Express)
Recorder: <HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H21N>Version: B109 - HA 1 TA 0 - 7.10.1.0
Adapter driver: <IDE> HA 1
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : via Inquiry data (1) -> ATAPI, detected: ?
Connected to MMC as unknown drive with class-nr : 1
Drive is autodetected - recorder class: Std. MMC recorder
CD-ROM: <HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H21N>Version: B109 - HA 1 TA 0 - 7.10.1.0
Adapter driver: <IDE> HA 1


I'm quite confused as a) there's no method in the Dell bios that I can see to alter which of the hard disks and burner occupy the primary and secondary channels (only to disable or enable them) and b) I don't understand how the hard drives are linked to a primary channel as I thought that referred only to IDE/PATA drives. Does this particular point matter? If so can the configuration be altered? V.grateful for any pointers generally.

[redwudz]

SATA drives really don't care about 'master-slave'. That sounds like a motherboard designation. I wouldn't worry about that.

The problem seems to point more to your burner. That Nero error is a communication error. But with your setup, it could mean a lot of things. It sounds like you have tried different media, so if you rule that out, then it comes down to the burner software or the burner. If ImgBurn doesn't work, that leaves the burner.

I might consider a new burner. I only say that as burners are fairly cheap at present. I'm not sure what burner Dell put in there, but that may be the problem.

[hech54]

If you've got the extra discs...test different burning programs.
ImgBurn - free and brilliant. Burning an .ISO image would be the easiest
and fastest test even though it can also "build" one for you.

Prassi Ones - 30 day fully functioning free trial.

[oldandinthe way]

I believe your drive configuration to be a distraction and irrelevant.

Your drive is a Dell OEM version of an LG drive with a Matsushita chip set. The commercial version of this drive has had problems which were corrected by LG's firmware, LG does not supply firmware updates for OEM drives so there is a chance that Dell did not incorporate all of the fixes in their firmware updates.

Check the LG burner forum at www.cdfreaks.com for potential information.

[tonio1]

Thanks very much for the info and help. Am glad not to need to be further concerned about which is primary and secondary etc.

I've tried ImgBurn today and it has verified without errors in 3 out of 4 cases. Is it possible to do a test burn and verification without an actual burn or can a verification only be against an actual burn?

I think I'll get a new Pioneer burner anyway. Cheers.

[borax]

Verification can only be against an actual burn.

[tonio1]

Just wanted to give the conclusion to this: I got a replacement drive from Dell (a Philips) and initial testing shows it works fine, no illegal error. PHEW!

Funny thing was they initially sent another Hitachi/LG and that came up with the same illegal disk error. Would seem that my pc did not work with that burner. No idea why that would be really.

Thanks for the help