djuk

Have just purchased an apparently "working" pioneer A05 drive from ebay which seems to be having problems writing with disc errors every time. I am using "Ritek Tango Overprint (4x) DVD-R" as reccommended by blankdiscshop for this type of drive but having no luck.

Is there anything I can try before giving up and going back to the seller?

cheers

David

judgejules

David,

What version of the firmware are you running on it and what software are you using to burn?

Jules

djuk

Have the latest firmware installed and have tried both nero and PrimoDVD - nero reports a "power calibration error" and primo reports a "disc read error"

lightning101

Is it on a "master" part of the IDE cable with DMA ticked ?


On the Instructions it says never to use anything but master - this is not stricly true as I have two and one is a slave and still work fine, but has to be worth a mention.

judgejules

Hmm, some places on the net say it could be a dirty lens (try blowing inside a few times). Other say its media related:

HTH

Jules

djuk

Yep set up as master, even took the other drive out completely just to make sure nothing was conflicting.

Pongo555

Power calibration error i caused when the laser in the burner has to work harder then normal to burn the disc i have not had this prblem but a friend of mine did looked it up on the internet and this was the fault changed to different brand of disc and all A ok i have the same burner as you and i use Datawrite discs and have had no probs trust me try another brand of disc before going back to seller.


Pongo555

*Sonic*

I have this all the time on my Pioneer A04 DVD-RW

Never have found a fix for it, tried different media, which it tends to burn about 3 discs, then burns no more, unless I unplug it, and dont use it for a few months

Scooby Dooby Blue

Power calibration errors signify either:

1) The laser is on it's way out. CD-R burning should be no problem but DVD burning is unlikely.

2) Poor quality media.

(2) definately holds true in this instance but that doesn't rule out (1) as the drive is at least a year old.
The 'tango' overprints are naff. Bottom of the barrel Ritek.

A DVD writer is not something you should buy second hand unless you know the person you're getting it from. Chances are the majority of drives for sale on ebay have been hardcore'd then flogged on at the end of their life. The drives conveniently work if left for a week or two but soon pack in again after a couple of burns.

You can get 106 & 107's around the £60 now and you know what you're getting for that money.

If you can still send the drive back, i would. If you get no joy from the seller, leave a bad ref.

*Sonic*

SDB thanks for the info, thats exactly what mine does, and get the same errors on CDR burning with it too, guess I have urnt mine out now (can be ok if left for a few weeks tho, so ebay here I come LOL, only a joke by the way)

I have ordered a brand new 107 today, and I get it tomorrow, 57 quid for the full boxed retail version