Handler Posted July 16, 2010 Posted July 16, 2010 (edited) Howdy, Finally burned my first DVD+R DL disc with a Plextor PX-740A (v1.02) set to x2.4 and it failed almost immediately. Rebooted the computer. The second attempt I changed the speed to MAX and the write completed and verified successfully. That burn looked like this: Not changing the settings, I went to burn an additional disc and while the write completed, the third disc had a verify that failed. Split the difference in write speed and set AWS to 4x and fourth disc failed somewhere around 30 percent into the write. It failed with a "Check Condition" and "Write Error". The error box looked like this: Doing a search here turned up a lot of threads with the single most response being to get Verbatim discs. Well, these are Verbatim discs. Specifically Verbatim P/M 95123 (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) printable discs. While I have every confidence that Verbatim discs are good, that is a 75% failure rate. Even though the Plextor PX-740A is an older drive, it doesn't have a lot of miles on it and has never, until now, burned a DL disc. No issues with single layer discs. However, I suspect that there might be something wrong with the Plextor PX-740A even though it has the latest Firmware. I think the Plextor PX-740A is a rebadge BenQ drive. Would you agree that the Plextor PX-740A is the root cause? And if so, what would you recommend as a ATA drive replacement? Or, would using the BenQ(?) firmware help make a difference? Here is the log: I 13:47:29 ImgBurn Version 2.5.1.0 started! I 13:47:29 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2) I 13:47:29 Total Physical Memory: 2,095,852 KB - Available: 1,476,992 KB I 13:47:29 Initialising SPTI... I 13:47:29 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices... I 13:47:29 -> Drive 1 - Info: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108 1.18 (F:) (ATA) I 13:47:30 -> Drive 2 - Info: PLEXTOR DVDR PX-740A 1.02 (G:) (ATA) I 13:47:30 -> Drive 3 - Info: Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 (H:) (SCSI) I 13:47:30 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 2 DVD±RWs! I 14:13:42 Operation Started! I 14:13:42 Building Image Tree... I 14:13:42 Checking Directory Depth... I 14:13:42 Calculating Totals... I 14:13:42 Preparing Image... I 14:13:50 Using Layer Break LBA: 1963708 -> 1963712 (VTS_01, PGC: 1, Chapter: 11, Cell: 11, Vob/Cell ID: 1/11, Time: 00:53:01, SPLIP: No) I 14:13:50 Checking Path Length... I 14:13:50 Contents: 18 Files, 3 Folders I 14:13:50 Content Type: DVD Video I 14:13:50 Data Type: MODE1/2048 I 14:13:50 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02) I 14:13:50 Volume Label: XXXXXX I 14:13:50 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled I 14:13:50 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 I 14:13:50 TV System: PAL I 14:13:50 Size: 7,412,082,247 bytes I 14:13:50 Sectors: 3,619,184 I 14:13:50 Image Size: 7,412,744,192 bytes I 14:13:50 Image Sectors: 3,619,504 I 14:13:50 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:08 I 14:26:31 Operation Started! I 14:26:31 Building Image Tree... I 14:26:31 Checking Directory Depth... I 14:26:31 Calculating Totals... I 14:26:31 Preparing Image... I 14:26:35 Using Layer Break LBA: 1963708 -> 1963712 (VTS_01, PGC: 1, Chapter: 11, Cell: 11, Vob/Cell ID: 1/11, Time: 00:53:01, SPLIP: No) I 14:26:35 Checking Path Length... I 14:26:35 Contents: 18 Files, 3 Folders I 14:26:35 Content Type: DVD Video I 14:26:35 Data Type: MODE1/2048 I 14:26:35 File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02) I 14:26:35 Volume Label: XXXXXX I 14:26:35 IFO/BUP 32K Padding: Enabled I 14:26:35 Region Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 I 14:26:35 TV System: PAL I 14:26:35 Size: 7,412,082,247 bytes I 14:26:35 Sectors: 3,619,184 I 14:26:35 Image Size: 7,412,744,192 bytes I 14:26:35 Image Sectors: 3,619,504 I 14:26:37 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:05 I 14:26:37 Operation Started! I 14:26:37 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==- I 14:26:37 Source File Sectors: 3,619,504 (MODE1/2048) I 14:26:37 Source File Size: 7,412,744,192 bytes I 14:26:37 Source File Volume Identifier: XXXXXX I 14:26:37 Source File Application Identifier: IMGBURN V2.5.1.0 - THE ULTIMATE IMAGE BURNER! I 14:26:37 Source File Implementation Identifier: ImgBurn I 14:26:37 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, UDF (1.02) I 14:26:37 Destination Device: [3:1:0] PLEXTOR DVDR PX-740A 1.02 (G:) (ATA) I 14:26:37 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x) I 14:26:37 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824 I 14:26:37 Write Mode: DVD I 14:26:37 Write Type: DAO I 14:26:37 Write Speed: 4x I 14:26:37 Link Size: Auto I 14:26:37 Lock Volume: Yes I 14:26:37 Test Mode: No I 14:26:37 OPC: No I 14:26:37 BURN-Proof: Enabled I 14:26:37 Write Speed Successfully Set! - Effective: 5,540 KB/s (4x) I 14:26:37 Book Type Setting: N/A I 14:26:37 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 1,963,712 I 14:26:37 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: IFO Cell Boundary, 'SPLIP' Flag Not Set I 14:26:37 Set L0 Data Zone Capacity Succeeded! I 14:26:37 Filling Buffer... (40 MB) I 14:26:38 Writing LeadIn... I 14:26:47 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 3619503) I 14:26:47 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 3619503) I 14:26:47 Writing Layer 0... (LBA: 0 - 1963711) W 14:35:57 Failed to Write Sectors 1429856 - 1429887 - Reason: Write Error W 14:35:57 Retrying (1 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (2 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (3 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (4 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (5 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (6 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (7 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (8 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (9 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (10 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (11 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (12 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (13 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (14 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (15 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (16 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (17 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (18 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (19 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 14:35:57 Retrying (20 of 20)... W 14:35:57 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write W 15:04:59 Retrying (21)... W 15:04:59 Retry Failed - Reason: Invalid Address For Write E 15:05:04 Failed to Write Sectors 1429856 - 1429887 - Reason: Write Error E 15:05:04 Next Writable Address: 1429552 I 15:05:04 Synchronising Cache... W 15:05:17 User opted to skip the 'Close Track/Session/Disc' functions. E 15:05:17 Failed to Write Image! E 15:05:17 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:38:40 I 15:05:17 Average Write Rate: 1,244 KB/s (0.9x) - Maximum Write Rate: 5,592 KB/s (4.0x) Thanks. Edited July 16, 2010 by Handler
Handler Posted July 17, 2010 Author Posted July 17, 2010 I have a lens cleaner with the little underside brush that I use for CD audio equipment, would this work or would you recommend something different?
Handler Posted July 17, 2010 Author Posted July 17, 2010 (edited) The disc cleaner I have is made by TDK and it's a dry system. After placing the disc in the drive, I used WinAMP to select the necessary audio tracks to clean the lens. This time the Verbatim disc failed at 53 percent, just one percent before the layer break. I'd add a new picture of the error dialog or a ImgBurn log, but the failure is nearly identical as the first post. Failure rate is now 80 percent. Later next week I might try cross-flashing the drive with the BenQ firmware. The BenQ firmware is at least a year newer. Even though the PX-740A hasn't been used a lot, perhaps it's age is showing. Over at Newegg there's a IDE LG-GH22NP20 for 24.99 USD. At this time I know nothing about that LG drive other than it's the most reviewed drive. Since I have 35 more blanks to waste, I might as well see if my laptop can burn a Verbatim disc. Perhaps the Verbatim discs are defective. If you have any other suggestions regarding this issue, please reply. Thanks. Edited July 17, 2010 by Handler
Handler Posted July 21, 2010 Author Posted July 21, 2010 Not only did the laptop burn the same files without error, but the laptop drive reported different information about the discs and never allowed it to burn greater than 2.4x, the same for the verify speed. While it was like watching paint dry, it was successful. So I guess the PX-740A drive is dying of premature old age. So, going back to my unanswered question in my first post, what would you recommend as a ATA drive replacement? Thanks.
Handler Posted July 23, 2010 Author Posted July 23, 2010 Does anyone know what would be a good ATA replacement?
mmalves Posted July 23, 2010 Posted July 23, 2010 Parallel ATA is being phased out and the current options (e.g. Samsung SH-S222x, LG GH22NP20, Liteon iHAPxxx, Pioneer DVR-118, etc) aren't all that good compared to their newer SATA equivalents. You don't have any SATA port available? What about a PCI slot for putting a SATA card?
Handler Posted July 23, 2010 Author Posted July 23, 2010 (edited) The Motherboard is a ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe and both ICH5R SATA ports are currently being used for two Western Digital 1TB RE3 drives. The other two SATA ports are for RAID on the Promise controller and are not being used, but also can't be used in this situation. The on-board PATA controllers consist of the boot drive, Plextor PX-740A and Pioneer DVR-108. I bought a Promise SATA300-TX4 SATA four port PCI card over a year ago, but never installed it. IIRC, there were two reasons I didn't install it. One, ASUS and other available sources at the time said that it was highly doubtful that a 1TB drive would work on the on-board SATA controller. As it turned out, they work fine. Two, since the SATA300-TX4 wasn't needed and after installing the new GFX card, I decided to leave a couple PCI slots empty to allow it to better breathe. So, I do have a unused Promise SATA300-TX4 card I could throw in there. While inside I could remove the old 57K MODEM, since we no longer have a phone line. Maybe move the sound card down a slot and then put the SATA300-TX4 in the old sound card slot. That would still give the GFX card some space. Okay, you sold me on the idea. Under this scenario, what would be a good SATA burner? P.S. The information in your reply is priceless and much appreciated. Without it, I might have purchased a less than stellar burner and would likely have been back asking more questions. Thank you. Edited July 23, 2010 by Handler
mmalves Posted July 24, 2010 Posted July 24, 2010 I'd definitely go for an Optiarc AD-7240S burner. If you can't find that specific model then the AD-5240S / AD-7241S / AD-7243S models are just as good.
Cynthia Posted July 24, 2010 Posted July 24, 2010 Usually the AD-52xxS series are a bit cheaper and if you don't write to DVD-RAM discs they are nice. Just avoid the the 7220 serie as they are rebadged Lite-Ons.
bigsleep Posted July 24, 2010 Posted July 24, 2010 I purchased a couple Plextor SATA drives - PX-880SA and have had no issues burning DL DVDs, though I've only burned a few. For one computer I had no available SATA slot, it's a P4P-800E, so I bought an adapter that connects on to the back of the drive. No problems with it - but I haven't burned any DL discs on it.
Handler Posted July 25, 2010 Author Posted July 25, 2010 Thanks for the suggestions. However, Sony's reputation and my recent experience with Plextor has dampened my willingness to purchase those brands. Sorry, I should have made that clearer before asking.
Handler Posted July 27, 2010 Author Posted July 27, 2010 Since I only purchase Taiyo Yuden Single Layer DVD-R and Verbatim Double Layer DVD+R printable discs, if you had a choice between the ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS and the Lite-On iHAS424-98, which one would be considered the better burner?
LIGHTNING UK! Posted July 27, 2010 Posted July 27, 2010 They're basically the same drive. You can crossflash the Asus to that same model LiteOn. LiteOn has more toys (advanced settings) to play with, the Optiarcs produce better burns.
Handler Posted July 28, 2010 Author Posted July 28, 2010 (edited) I guess if three distinguished people are saying Sony, maybe there's something to it. Looking over at the Egg, they have the AD-7260S-0B and the AD-7261S-0B. Specification wise, can't really tell the difference other than the 7260 has more reviews and the 7261 appears to be disliked more. Both are rated 4 out of 5 eggs. Naturally I'm concerned about the very low reviews compared to the ASUS and Lite-On models previously mentioned. Is there a preference between the 7260 and the 7261? Thanks. Edited July 28, 2010 by Handler
Cynthia Posted July 28, 2010 Posted July 28, 2010 The 7261 is the same drive as the 7260. Only difference is that the 7261 has light scribe and also usually costs a bit more for that feature. Same goes for the 5260 that is the 7260 except DVD-RAM burning support. Usually the cheapest model.
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