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August 17th, 2004 17:00
My CD-ROM R/RW drive writes incomplete CD-R copies
I have a Dell Dimension 2300 desktop computer (1.8 GHz Intel Celeron processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 IDE HDD's) with a Samsung Model SW-240B CD-R/RW drive (40x/10x/40x) and EIDE/ATAPI interface. The CD-ROM drive has been performing without a problem for almost two years but as of late I've been having considerable trouble burning complete CD's.
The drive can read both data and audio CD's (700 MB) from beginning to end, i.e. the read/write head appears to be able to move the full excursion from innermost to outermost tracks.
But the drive does not write complete copies anymore of audio or data CD's or ISO images. In the case of copying ISO's (with verified checksum) in track-at-once mode the drive goes into finalize mode and then ejects the CD after writing only some 50-80% of the content of the original (i.e. some 400-600 MB of data), and the same happens in the case of copying audio CD's in disk-at-once mode when the drive stops writing and simply ejects the CD way before the original has been fully copied. Just how much of the copy gets written before the drive finishes and ejects the CD seems to be somewhat random. The drive has been failing progressively over the past two weeks, and for the past two days I've got nothing but coasters.
This faulty behavior occurs regardless of whether I use Roxio Easy CD Creator with Windows XP or the k3b CD recorder with Mandrakelinux or the Xandros disc burning program with Xandros Linux. It also occurs regardless of whether I use TDK, Sony, Philips, Verbatim or Imation 700 MB/80 min CD-R's rated for 40x to 48x, and regardless of whether I record at 40x, 32x, 24x or 16x speed. A simulated test run fails to produce any error message(s) but the actual write run then fails to produce a successful copy. I have plenty of memory on the hard disk, generally >5 GB.
I don't have any programs open while I'm burning CD's, my screensaver is set to 10 min and doesn't come on during recording, and I don't even move the mouse while burning the CD. Also buffer levels are always between 98% and 100%. I'm using the exact same procedure that I have used successfully to burn dozens of complete CD's in recent months. Except that now I don't get any complete burns anymore.
One additional detail: When I'm burning an ISO image (of say 680 MB), previously the burn trace would be uniform across the disc. Now, I can see two or three annuli on the disc, e.g. a clearly visible section for e.g. the inner half the disc, then a fainter trace e.g. for the outer next third of the disc, and then an unburned section farther out where the drive failed to write anything. Is the laser losing power as the write head is moving out toward the periphery and then failing completely?
What could be the problem? Are there any CD-ROM drive diagnostic programs around that run under Windows XP or Linux?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Robert
The drive can read both data and audio CD's (700 MB) from beginning to end, i.e. the read/write head appears to be able to move the full excursion from innermost to outermost tracks.
But the drive does not write complete copies anymore of audio or data CD's or ISO images. In the case of copying ISO's (with verified checksum) in track-at-once mode the drive goes into finalize mode and then ejects the CD after writing only some 50-80% of the content of the original (i.e. some 400-600 MB of data), and the same happens in the case of copying audio CD's in disk-at-once mode when the drive stops writing and simply ejects the CD way before the original has been fully copied. Just how much of the copy gets written before the drive finishes and ejects the CD seems to be somewhat random. The drive has been failing progressively over the past two weeks, and for the past two days I've got nothing but coasters.
This faulty behavior occurs regardless of whether I use Roxio Easy CD Creator with Windows XP or the k3b CD recorder with Mandrakelinux or the Xandros disc burning program with Xandros Linux. It also occurs regardless of whether I use TDK, Sony, Philips, Verbatim or Imation 700 MB/80 min CD-R's rated for 40x to 48x, and regardless of whether I record at 40x, 32x, 24x or 16x speed. A simulated test run fails to produce any error message(s) but the actual write run then fails to produce a successful copy. I have plenty of memory on the hard disk, generally >5 GB.
I don't have any programs open while I'm burning CD's, my screensaver is set to 10 min and doesn't come on during recording, and I don't even move the mouse while burning the CD. Also buffer levels are always between 98% and 100%. I'm using the exact same procedure that I have used successfully to burn dozens of complete CD's in recent months. Except that now I don't get any complete burns anymore.
One additional detail: When I'm burning an ISO image (of say 680 MB), previously the burn trace would be uniform across the disc. Now, I can see two or three annuli on the disc, e.g. a clearly visible section for e.g. the inner half the disc, then a fainter trace e.g. for the outer next third of the disc, and then an unburned section farther out where the drive failed to write anything. Is the laser losing power as the write head is moving out toward the periphery and then failing completely?
What could be the problem? Are there any CD-ROM drive diagnostic programs around that run under Windows XP or Linux?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Robert
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Predator
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15.3K Posts
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August 17th, 2004 19:00
Hi Robert,
Click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 11, article 9 and see if this Dell diagnostic article is relevant. From all the steps you have tried one would tend to lean toward a hardware issue. Dell does not currently have a firmware update for this drive, I have actually seen a firmware update breath new life into what seemed a failing drive.
Due to Dell policy on providing "hacks" and warranty issues, I cannot post the link on the public board. I hope you understand.
Best Regards
God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.
RFort
6 Posts
0
August 20th, 2004 04:00
I'm almost certain the problem is a hardware failure of the drive which selectively affects the capacity to write to the outer tracks of the CD-R. I took the drive apart, looked around in it, wiggled and moved this and that and gave it a few kicks. The laser lens was immaculately clean. The technology inside is quite amazing. After reinstalling the drive, the problem persisted.
Anyway, I was able to get the same drive in a more recent version (Samsung SW-252S) as OEM stock from Micro Center for $30. It seems to work fine. Aside from the write problem, the other drive is still fine, and I may want to use it as a second read drive.
Robert