My CD writer is failing to copy cd's. Run time error message came up when burning at 16/20 speed. When running at 8x overrun error was shown. Re-installed software (Nero) and cleaned both drives. On first burn the following message was shown


Can anyone tell me how to solve this IDE problem. I am running Windows ME

Mike

 

That's just an information message. It should actually stop it burning unless the IDE channel is so restricted that it can't keep up with the burn process i.e. the burner needs to wait for the IDE disc/cd to sort itself out.

Is the message accurate to your config? do you have the burner on the same channel as a faster disc?

Stefan

 

Stefan

Dismissed message and tried a burn but failed after 50% with overrun error. How do I check channel,IDE etc?

Mike

 

What CD-RW drive do you have? Is it Burn Proof?

To check in Nero, click on Recorder, then Choose Recorder.

 

Chris

It is Atapi CD-R/RW 20x10
Overburn: Supported

Mike

 

Interesting then.

If you start a burn going at minimum speed and leave the PC alone so burning is the only thing it's doing, does it work?

 

Did it at 8x and burnt 50% at 20x burnt 3% Could try 4x but think I have to change IDE whatever that is. Read FAQ and that suggests defrag (90% fragmented at the mo)

Mike

 

90% is bag - defragging that will take all night!

Has it worked fine before?

 

Worked fine for 6 months, troublesome for last month, now won't burn. Put troublesome period down to cheap CD's. Now using Sony ones bought today

Mike

 

Ok, what that dialog message means is that both the CD reader and writer are on the same IDE device. This basically means both are plugged in to the same cable. This issue being that you're using the same data channel for both devices, which reduces the bandwidth per device (when reading and writing at the same time)

This is usually not a problem if the devices are in DMA mode (check your device settings - not sure how on WinME). If they're in PIO mode - then you can get buffer underrun problem. Which means data can't get shovelled to the cd writer fast enough.

However, you're getting overrun errors which means the CD writer can't write the data fast enough as its arriving too fast.

Two things to try anyway

1) Move the cd reader or writer to the other IDE channel - most likley the same one that your hardrive is on. Would suggest you move the device you least use. Then see what happens. Might help

2) Check the jumper settings on the cd writer and reader to make sure one is master and one is slave. Try swapping master and slave round and see what happens too.

 

james

DMA mode is off on writer, on on CD. Shall I switch DMA on?

How do I change IDE?

Mike

 

As its the CD Writer that's on PIO mode this looks like the most likely reason for buffer overrun. So switch it to DMA mode in the driver settings (I guess you managed to find the setting). That should work then.

Changing the IDE cable means physically opening the case and unplugging the cd writer or reader and plugging it on the same cable as your harddrive (ie, the other similar looking cable). But don't do this until you see if changing to DMA mode works.