Unreadable CD (L-EC Uncorrectable Error), only in burner

[Eric123]

Hi guys,

 

I had something a bit weird happen to me yesterday...I burned a CD (using a blank Verbatim DataLifePlus Premium AZO Blue 1X-16X CD-R) at 8X speed (so technically half of its maximum certified speed). The burn went fine and no errors were reported. Then, I checked the CD for unreadable sectors in Verify mode, and sure enough, the process wouldn't complete because there were indeed unreadable sectors. So I tried to play the file the bad sector(s) mapped to (it was an mp3 CD) and it would take it forever to start playing because my CD/DVD drive would struggle to read it. However, I tried playing the same file (and a few of the preceding and following ones) in my stereo as well as in my set top DVD player, and in both cases the songs played perfectly fine, it didn't even skip.

 

Now, I tried verifying the disc again today, and it fails at the exact same spot. Why in the world would an "unreadable" CD play just fine in every other device but the one it was recorded on? I don't want to waste blank discs for nothing (especially such good ones) but on the other hand, I don't want to lose my files either so if I have to re-burn it, I will. Has anyone ever had the same experience? Should I re-burn the disc or is this just an instance of my burner having issues with that specific type of media? Thanks so much for your help!

 

I copied and pasted the log below if that can help:

 

; //****************************************\\

; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log

; Sunday, 08 August 2010, 23:37:57

; \\****************************************//

;

;

I 23:33:09 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!

I 23:33:09 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 23:33:09 Total Physical Memory: 3,406,252 KB - Available: 2,326,188 KB

I 23:33:09 Initialising SPTI...

I 23:33:09 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 23:33:09 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 23:33:12 Operation Started!

I 23:33:12 Source Device: [2:0:0] TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223Q SB03 (D:) (ATA)

I 23:33:12 Source Media Type: CD-R (Disc ID: 97m34s21f) (Speeds: 8x, 16x)

I 23:33:12 Source Media Sectors: 330,080

I 23:33:12 Source Media Size: 676,003,840 bytes

I 23:33:12 Verify Against Image File: No

I 23:33:12 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX

I 23:33:14 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 330079)

I 23:33:14 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 330079)

E 23:37:47 Failed to Read Sector 254723 - Reason: L-EC Uncorrectable Error

E 23:37:47 Sector 254723 maps to File: \Mixes\03 - This Is It (Remix).mp3

E 23:37:47 Failed to Verify Sectors!

I 23:37:47 Exporting Graph Data...

I 23:37:47 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_CDDVDW_SH-S223Q_SB03_AUGUST-8-2010_11-33_PM_97m34s21f.ibg

I 23:37:47 Export Successfully Completed!

E 23:37:47 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:04:35

I 23:37:47 Average Verify Rate: 1,872 KB/s (12.5x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 3,101 KB/s (20.7x)

I 23:37:57 Close Request Acknowledged

I 23:37:57 Closing Down...

I 23:37:57 Shutting down SPTI...

I 23:37:57 ImgBurn closed!

[mmalves]

Update ImgBurn.

 

Try burning with Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs, or at least with Sony 52x rated CD-Rs (I've had good burns with them myself).

[Eric123]

Update ImgBurn.

 

Try burning with Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs, or at least with Sony 52x rated CD-Rs (I've had good burns with them myself).

 

Are you implying Verbatim DataLifePlus Premium AZO Blue's are crappy CD-Rs? Personally, I've never really had any problems with them and I've found them to be some of the best quality media I've ever used. I burned a few of them before with that same burner and same version of ImgBurn. The thing here is that I've even used cheapo Ritek (Maxell) and CMC (the 'bad' TDKs) discs and never had any issues. I've gotten perfect burns and no problems reading them either. So I doubt the issue here is with the disc or with ImgBurn, especially since the Verbatim could be read without a hitch in 2 other devices. I was thinking this was more of a case of my burner not liking Verbatims but then again, I've been wrong before. I'll try the disc in another computer's CD/DVD drive and see if the same thing happens...if it doesn't, then I guess the problem is what I just mentioned.

 

Any other ideas?

[mmalves]

Yes, Verbatim CD-Rs are crap, but don't take my word for it, have a look around with Google and you'll see. The burn relies on the burner/firmware/media combination: your burner is new so that shouldn't be a problem; your firmware is the latest version, so nothing to do there; what is left is the media you're using. What speed did you burn that media at? The burn log would be useful.

 

Also newer ImgBurn versions aren't just bug fixing, but they also add new features, so please install the latest version and preferably leave enabled the check for updates feature.

[Eric123]

Yes, Verbatim CD-Rs are crap, but don't take my word for it, have a look around with Google and you'll see. The burn relies on the burner/firmware/media combination: your burner is new so that shouldn't be a problem; your firmware is the latest version, so nothing to do there; what is left is the media you're using. What speed did you burn that media at? The burn log would be useful.

 

Well, I've already read a lot of stuff about Verbatim CD-Rs, most of it positive. I did read that regular Verbatim CD-Rs were crap, but that the DataLifePlus were good so I'm not totally sure how true that was but personally I've generally had good luck with them.

 

And, as I mentioned earlier, I burned that CD at 8x even though it was 16x certified so I doubt the burn speed is the cause of the problem. The one thing I would like to know though is...if the problem is with the CD-R, then why is it that it can be read in my stereo and my DVD player? I don't think it's a failed burn, otherwise it would be completely unreadable. Anyway, I'll try it in another CD/DVD burner tomorrow and see if it

 

And, since you asked, here's the burn log:

 

; //****************************************\\

; ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 - Log

; Sunday, 08 August 2010, 21:10:21

; \\****************************************//

;

;

I 20:51:32 ImgBurn Version 2.4.2.0 started!

I 20:51:32 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)

I 20:51:32 Total Physical Memory: 3,406,252 KB - Available: 2,538,564 KB

I 20:51:32 Initialising SPTI...

I 20:51:32 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...

I 20:51:32 Found 1 DVD±RW/RAM!

I 20:52:34 Operation Started!

I 20:52:34 Building Image Tree...

I 20:52:34 Checking Directory Depth...

I 20:52:34 Calculating Totals...

I 20:52:34 Preparing Image...

I 20:52:34 Checking Path Length...

I 20:52:34 Contents: 115 Files, 9 Folders

I 20:52:34 Size: 675,793,689 bytes

I 20:52:34 Sectors: 330,031

I 20:52:34 Image Size: 676,003,840 bytes

I 20:52:34 Image Sectors: 330,080

I 20:52:34 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:00

I 20:53:56 Operation Started!

I 20:53:57 Building Image Tree...

I 20:53:57 Checking Directory Depth...

I 20:53:57 Calculating Totals...

I 20:53:57 Preparing Image...

I 20:53:57 Checking Path Length...

I 20:53:57 Contents: 115 Files, 9 Folders

I 20:53:57 Size: 675,793,689 bytes

I 20:53:57 Sectors: 330,031

I 20:53:57 Image Size: 676,003,840 bytes

I 20:53:57 Image Sectors: 330,080

I 20:53:58 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:00:01

I 20:53:58 Operation Started!

I 20:53:58 Source File: -==/\/[bUILD IMAGE]\/\==-

I 20:53:58 Source File Sectors: 330,080 (MODE1/2048)

I 20:53:58 Source File Size: 676,003,840 bytes

I 20:53:58 Source File Volume Identifier: MUSICIII

I 20:53:58 Source File Application Identifier: ImgBurn v2.4.2.0 - The Ultimate Image Burner!

I 20:53:58 Source File File System(s): ISO9660, Joliet

I 20:53:58 Destination Device: [2:0:0] TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223Q SB03 (D:) (ATA)

I 20:53:58 Destination Media Type: CD-R (Disc ID: 97m34s21f) (Speeds: 8x, 16x)

I 20:53:58 Destination Media Sectors: 359,847

I 20:53:58 Write Mode: CD

I 20:53:58 Write Type: SAO

I 20:53:58 Write Speed: 8x

I 20:53:58 Test Mode: No

I 20:53:58 OPC: No

I 20:53:58 BURN-Proof: Enabled

I 20:53:59 Filling Buffer... (40 MB)

I 20:54:01 Writing LeadIn...

I 20:54:33 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 330079)

I 20:54:33 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 330079)

I 21:03:41 Synchronising Cache...

I 21:03:57 Exporting Graph Data...

I 21:03:57 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TSSTcorp_CDDVDW_SH-S223Q_SB03_AUGUST-8-2010_8-53_PM_97m34s21f_8x.ibg

I 21:03:57 Export Successfully Completed!

I 21:03:57 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:09:58

I 21:03:57 Average Write Rate: 1,206 KB/s (8.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 1,230 KB/s (8.2x)

I 21:10:21 Close Request Acknowledged

I 21:10:21 Closing Down...

I 21:10:21 Shutting down SPTI...

I 21:10:21 ImgBurn closed!

[Eric123]

Alright, so I tested the CD in another computer's drive, and ImgBurn game me the same error message about the same faulty sectors...the file(s) the sectors mapped to were also unreadable so this is not an isolated incident. So I'll re-burn the CD, if only to be on the safe side...although I'm still confused as to why two different CD/DVD-RW drives weren't able to read the disc and 2 other devices read it just fine.

 

Either way, thanks for your help!