Is my Lite-On CD-RW dead?

[XMan]

Whatever I try to burn, be it data, or audio, the drive will do the following.

1. Sometimes when I insert a blank CD it will say "media read error". When I change CD's, it will usually read the next. I am using Imation media.
2. The burn process will begin (using Nero 5.5.9.9), the read buffer will fill up to 100%, and the write buffer will move to 4, 5, or 6%, then stop. From then on, the drive will spin up, then spin down. Spin up, then spin down. Nothing happening on the Nero screen except for the clock incrementing. Eventually it will lock up with a "power error" or "burn process failed".

I'm using:

Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
Lite-On 32123S, firmware XSOX. This is a brand new drive, just got the rebate the other actually.
Drive is using DMA.
Drive is using a rounded ATA/66 cable from 2cooltek.
Drive is the only device on secondary IDE chain two, burning files from the RAID array on the Highpoint controller.

I'm going to Wal-Mart right now to try some other media; that's the only thing I can think of. Any other ideas?

 

[WTT0001]

Just guessing here but have you tried swapping it to a "non-raid" channel???

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: WTT0001
Just guessing here but have you tried swapping it to a "non-raid" channel???

No, no, it's not on a RAID channel. 😉

Primary IDE master: Sony CD-reader on single-device rounded cable
Secondary IDE master: Lite-On CD-RW on single-device rounded cable
RAID 1: WD800JB on single-device rounded cable
RAID 2: WD800JB on single-device rounded cable

I went and bought some 40X-certified TDK CD-Rs at Wal-Mart, and it worked, at least for an audio CD. My concern is that it took just over 6 minutes to burn 682MB to a CD. Shouldn't 32X take about two and a half minutes?

 

[ssanches]

Shouldn't 32X take about two and a half minutes?

No. I feel it should take around 3 and half minutes to burn a 700MB audio CD at 32X. The reason is because it's ZCLV, and not 32X throughout the burn process... It'll probably start at 16X, then proceed to 20X, 24X and then 32X for about half of the CD.

Still, 6 minutes is a little too long...

Edit: "the read buffer will fill up to 100%, and the write buffer will move to 4, 5, or 6%, then stop. From then on, the drive will spin up, then spin down. "

This is a sign that DMA isn't enabled. Make sure that it's enabled, and DMA is actually being used. Also enable DMA/ IDE busmaster in the BIOS setup. If you're getting a high CPU utilization, or 100% CPU utilization during the burn, then DMA isn't being used. For me, I get under 40% CPU utilization when I burn an audioCD from MP3's @24X on my LG burner (AXP1600/WinXPPro/Roxio CDCreator) and the process takes under 4 minutes for a 700MB audioCD

 

[LED]

6 mins is not that long if you have the Burner set to Simulate, Varify or put Data on to the HD and then copy.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: ssanches

Shouldn't 32X take about two and a half minutes?

Edit: "the read buffer will fill up to 100%, and the write buffer will move to 4, 5, or 6%, then stop. From then on, the drive will spin up, then spin down. "

This is a sign that DMA isn't enabled. Make sure that it's enabled, and DMA is actually being used. Also enable DMA/ IDE busmaster in the BIOS setup. If you're getting a high CPU utilization, or 100% CPU utilization during the burn, then DMA isn't being used. For me, I get under 40% CPU utilization when I burn an audioCD from MP3's @24X on my LG burner (AXP1600/WinXPPro/Roxio CDCreator) and the process takes under 4 minutes for a 700MB audioCD

Well, the spin-up, spin-down thing was what it was doing when it wouldn't work at all. It doesn't do that with the TDK media.

DMA is enabled both in Windows and in BIOS. It's Windows 2000, so it's of course set to "DMA if available", but current transfer rate is listed as Ultra DMA.