CD-Writers in Notebook and Desktop recording slow

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

My CD-writer in both my desktop and notebook computer is only writing at half-speed. It doesn't matter what files I burn. I'm using 24x Imation-brand CD-Rs, but my desktop is only writing at 11x while my notebook at 8x. Below are system specs.

Desktop
AMD Athlon 1.4 GHz
512MB DDR RAM
27GB and 120GB WD HDs
Audigy soundcard
Sony DRU-500a DVD/CD-writer (24x CD-R write speed)

Notebook
Toshiba 1955-s801
Desktop P4 2.2 GHz
512MB DDR RAM
40GB HD
16x CD-writer

Both computers are running the latest update of Windows XP as well as the latest version of Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum, and Virtual CD 4. I closed all programs and process on both computers, but CD-Rs still write at half-speed. I used to get the full 24x on my desktop and 16x on my notebook, but now I only get half of that.

I even tried uninstalling Virtual CD 4 from my desktop, but that did not fix it.

Please help!

microAmp · Feb 2, 2003

Is DMA enabled on that?

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

I can't figure out where that is for my drive. I'm pretty-sure it would still be at the default because I didn't change any of it recently.

microAmp · Feb 2, 2003

Originally posted by: 8thNote
I can't figure out where that is for my drive. I'm pretty-sure it would still be at the default because I didn't change any of it recently.

Control Panel ---- System ---- Hardware tab ---- Device Manager ---- IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller

Choose Primary or Secondary IDE Channel then go to the tab Advanced Settings. You can change it there.

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

Ah! My desktop's Sony DRU-500a is set to "PIO only" in there. How should it be set?

RemyCanad · Feb 2, 2003

Set transfer mode to ---> DMA if available.

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

Interestingly, I changed the setting to "DMA if available" but even after restarting, it show the current write method to be PIO mode (DMA is still selected). My notebook PC is on DMA, but it's still writing slow.

Something else that's interesting: If I tell CD Creator to write at only 20x instead of 24x, the CD only writes at 8x-9x. The same goes for my notebook. If I lower the speed, the actual speed is less than half the selected.

RemyCanad · Feb 2, 2003

Just a quick thought but you are writing to CD-Rs and not CD-RWs right?

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

Yes, I'm using CD-Rs from the same 24x-rated Imation package that yielded average write speeds of 23x on my desktop before.

dude · Feb 2, 2003

Maybe it's something wrong with EZCD Creator? That program is kinda crappy and slowwwww...

Anyways, go to nero.com and get nero a shot. I'm sure it's just a program error.
As for the drive showing up as PIO mode, try disconnecting it and booting back into windows. Then shut down, and hook the drive back up and boot back into windows.

RemyCanad · Feb 2, 2003

Also when your looking at the DMA settings make sure your HD is set to DMA. And you do have the newest chipset drivers right?

8thNote · Feb 2, 2003

I have a DFI AK76-SN mainboard. Via recommends downloading chipset drivers from DFI because it has AMD and Via chipsets. I used to use Nero, but switched to Roxio ECD 5 because I didn't like Nero's interface. But I'll still try it.

The big point to all this is that I *didn't* have this "problem" a few weeks ago. My last CD-R writing "party" (archiving data) was on Jan. 9. All those CDs wrote at 24x.

I will also try the unplug thing.

RemyCanad · Feb 2, 2003

Well what has changed since that time?

8thNote · Feb 3, 2003

What has changed? The only thing I can remember is installing CuteFTP and upgrading to version 10 of Hash Inc. Animation:Master 2003. But those are both applications and wouldn't seem to affect ECD.

I just tried Veritas RecordNOW (came with the DVD drive) and I achieved full 24x speed. Thus, the problem seems to be ECD. I'll try uninstalling it and re-installing, and I will also try Nero once it finishes downloading.

8thNote · Feb 4, 2003

Okay. I tried the latest version of Nero Burning ROM. It seemed to write faster on my notebook, but didn't seem right on my desktop. Nero doesn't show you actual write speed so I just timed it.

It took my desktop 24x 7:11 to write a full 700-meg CD. I remember the last time I made CDs, it only took 3.5 minutes! But RecordNow (came with the Sony drive) can write a CD in 4 minutes.

What's wrong?

RemyCanad · Feb 4, 2003

Hmm that is strange.

Nero should say up at the top what speed it started burning at. Did it start at 24x?

I found this at the roxio site. It might be of some help.

Advanced troubleshooting for Easy CD Creator under Windows XP:

System Environment:

These steps are used to clean other problems that can occur with Easy CD Creator:

1) You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk.

a) Open "My Computer" and then select the local disk you want to check

b) On the "File" menu, click "Properties"

c) On the "Tools" tab, under "Error-checking", click "Check Now?"

d) Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

2) Defragment your hard disks by using Microsoft's "Disk Defragmenter" or some comparable program.

a) Open "My Computer" and then select the local disk you want to check

b) On the "File" menu, click "Properties"

c) On the "Tools" tab, under "Defragmentation", click "Defragment Now?"

d) Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

3) Update the driver for your video card (also called display adapter). Check with the manufacturer for details on how to check your current version and how to upgrade if necessary. If you are having problems using the current driver from the manufacturer, then try using the "Standard VGA" driver provided by Microsoft.

4) Update the CMOS / BIOS of your motherboard to the current version. Check with the manufacturer for details on how to check your current version and how to upgrade if necessary.

5) You should clean up ghosts for controllers (IDE, SCSI, USB, Firewire, and/or Parallel Ports) depending on how the CD-ROM/R/RW or DVD/R/-RW/+RW/RAM connects. Also you should clean up any ghosts of these devices as well (CD's, DVD's). It has also been found that ghosts of the Sound Card installed and Voice Modems interfere with Sound Stream's Spin Doctor.

Some Ghosts (Phantom devices) can't be seen even though you select "Show hidden devices" in "Device Manager". To work around this behavior and display devices when you click "Show hidden devices":

(A) Click "Start", point to "All Programs", point to "Accessories", and then click "Command Prompt"

(B) Type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

(C) Type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER (where %SystemRoot% is the folder in which Windows XP is installed):
cd %SystemRoot% \system32

(D) Type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER: start devmgmt.msc

(E) Click "Show hidden devices" on the "View" menu in "Device Manager"

(F) Troubleshoot the devices and drivers in Device Manager (Ghosts appear dimmer than installed devices)

(G) When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager.

(H) Type exit at the command prompt. Note that when you close the command prompt window, Window clears the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 variable that you set in Step 2 and prevents ghosted devices from being displayed when you click Show hidden devices. For more information see Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the Windows XP-Based Computer (Q315539)

8thNote · Feb 5, 2003

Thanks for finding that!

I discovered a firmware update for my Sony DVD-writer and when installed, WinXP recognized it as new hardware, change the write mode to Ultra DMA 2 (I think), and wrote CDs at full 24x.

The odd thing about Nero when it didn't work is that eventhough it says it started at 24x speed, it wrote a CD only as fast as my old 12x.

Now to work on my notebook PC. I'll try the troubleshooting you posted.

RemyCanad · Feb 5, 2003

No problem I hope it helps some.

Hmm firmware update. I went to sonys site but could not find any tech support knowledge base. Did you find one? If so could you post the link?

8thNote · Feb 5, 2003

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/index.htm

I think the firmware upgrade makes my drive virtually the same as the new version, the 500ax. It adds 4x DVD+R writing capability. Cool!

My notebook PC is still burning at only half-speed in Roxio. :-(

CD-Writers in Notebook and Desktop recording slow

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