Plextor 716A Verification Error

[darkconz]

Hi there,

I purchased a Plextor PX-716A two days ago and I've tried to burn several medias to test the drive. I am currently using Nero 6.6.0.3 as my burning program. However, when I asked the program to verify the burnt content, no matter what media I used (I tried RiTek, Maxell and TDK), they all gave me verification error (sectors on disc does not match data). Those were all DVD-R's I used.

I have also updated to firmware 1.4 as soon as I got the drive. Could it be the program error or something is wrong with my drive? I want to figure this out ASAP because if it is my drive, I need to go exchange it while I still can. Thank you very much in advance.

 

[Wolfshanze]

I have a Plextor 716A as well (had it since 1.1 firmware days). I am currently using 1.4 firmware.

It's more then likely a problem with the media. I noticed some compatability problems with DVD-R discs (certain brands more then others). I have more or less concluded it is simply best to use the Plextor 716A with DVD+R discs rather then DVD-R discs.

I have never ever had a single failed burn from Memorex 8x DVD+R discs (this is what I always use). For DVD+R DL, I have used Verbatim discs.

As mentioned, I stay away from DVD-R discs, because I have had some problems with them in the past.

 

[darkconz]

Thanks for yoru reply, I will go out there and purchase some DVD+R and see if it gives me the same error.

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=1502624&enterthread=y

 

[darkconz]

thx for the link. I also tried another media: Verbatim DVD+R 8X (MCC003) and it gave me the same error. I'll try the suggestion given in that link.

 

[darkconz]

Ok I've tried the following:

-install system ASPI drivers
-reformatted my computer (without updating to HighMAT support)
-Ran SP2 and SP1a (fully patched)
-Used Nero 6.6.0.3 and 6.6.0.6
-The drive is on primary master (My HDD is SATA)
-Used different medias (Verbatim [MCC003], TDK [TDKG02], RiTek [RITEKG04])

None of these helped me. I've made about 10-15 coasters so far... Could this be my drive's problem? But I see many users have the same problem even with RMA'ed drive.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Have you tried a Nero 6.3.x.x version? Something prior to 6.6.x.x ? Some of the newest Nero versions are kind of bugged.

 

[Wolfshanze]

Have you tried burning a DVD using the Roxio EasyMedia7 Basic that CAME with the drive? Perhaps you should try differant burning software like the program that comes with the Plextor.

I have the full version, but the Basic version that comes with the drive should do just fine. Try that instead of Nero and see if it's a software problem!

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
Have you tried burning a DVD using the Roxio EasyMedia7 Basic that CAME with the drive? Perhaps you should try differant burning software like the program that comes with the Plextor.

I have the full version, but the Basic version that comes with the drive should do just fine. Try that instead of Nero and see if it's a software problem!

LOL. Nero will work just fine with any Plextor.

 

[Bozo Galora]

the original 716 drives sucked - they were rushed out
they then changed the insides
Original drives said TLA #0000 on top label ( I bought three of them)
They now ship TLA#0204
02 is HW rev., 04 is FW rev.
make sure you have at least TLA #02XX
Plextor must use 80 conductor cable/master if with another optical and should be run in udma4 (DMA)

 

[Wolfshanze]

LOL. Nero will work just fine with any Plextor.

LOL... not if he is having a software problem! Are you assuming the problem could never in a million years be a software issue? I am trying to be constructive by a process of elimination. One of the first logical steps is to try two differant burning programs, because if it is a software issue, he can make a million changes in the world and it won't matter if he is having an issue with a burning program. Especially if his copy of Nero was OEM to a specific drive prior to the Plextor!

Always try the software that came with the drive to rule out software issues.

Original drives said TLA #0000 on top label ( I bought three of them)
They now ship TLA#0204

Mine is neither... my Plextor 716 is a TLA#0101. I initially had "issues" with DVD-R media and could only reliably burn on DVD+R media. Since the 1.03 firmware update I have had no issues with any media, including DVD-R. I am currently running 1.04 firmware.

 

[Dennis Travis]

I have an interesting one for you. I have one of the Few TLA #0000 drives that works great. Never a problem reading or writing and the speed at pushing say a 4x to 8x or more went up with each update. Most that I have heard about with TLA #0000 have problems, some won't even read a DVD out of the box. So since mine works this well I bet there are others of the first batch that do, but I think I was lucky. I saw the drive the day it was released at Best Buy and grabbed it, took it home and it worked but then I started to read all the bad reports and freeked out! But after say 50 DVD burns and many CDR burns not a problem. Strange! Glad I did get one that worked as I hate to rip stuff out of my system and RMA it.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze

LOL. Nero will work just fine with any Plextor.

LOL... not if he is having a software problem! Are you assuming the problem could never in a million years be a software issue? I am trying to be constructive by a process of elimination.

Not at all... I'm just mocking the way in which you said it:

"Have you tried burning a DVD using the Roxio EasyMedia7 Basic that CAME with the drive?"

The fact that Roxio came with the drive is rather pointless.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Dennis Travis
I have an interesting one for you. I have one of the Few TLA #0000 drives that works great.

Have you actually done error-count scans on the discs that you've burned in that drive, and compared then to scans of discs that were burned in a different drive? That's the only way to say for certain, really.

 

[Wolfshanze]

There are some issues with Nero. Have you tried the burner with EasyCD7 that came with the burner? Always rule out a software error by using more then one burning program if it's an option, and for you, it's an option. See if you have the same error with EasyCD7 then you can determine if your problem lies with Nero or not.

 

[tiap]

From the plextor site download plextools v2.19. This is for plextor drives only and has many options in it to test the drive and media.
In fact this is the only burning program I use for all plextor drives including the older scsi drives.
I would suggest uninstalling all other burning progs and also cleaning registry of them as well.
As others have pointed out, you can make sure you have a good aspi layer installed as well although in xp it shouldn't be necessary. Download aspichk and forceaspi. This version works well and check with aspichk to make sure you only have the correct version installed.
Forgotthis. Make sure windows cd burn is unchecked in your drives properties, this can also cause problems with most other software.

 

[darkconz]

ok I think I found the problem but now I have other issues:

The drive wont write CDs properly if I am using UDMA4 mode. UDMA2 has a little improvement but when I lowered it down to Multi-word DMA 2, everything is perfect. I have the latest driver for my IDE and SATA channels. Also I flashed my mobo to the latest BIOS (1003). I also tried swapping out the 80pin IDE cable and use a 40pin instead. That didnt work. I have tried the following as of today:

-Used SP2 fully patched
-Used/using SP1a fully patched
-With and without HIGHMAT support
-UDMA 4 mode
-UDMA 2 mode
-40pin cable
-80pin cable
EDIT
-MS driver
-nVidia driver

None of the configs in any combination worked for me. However when I lowered the setting down to Multi-word DMA 2 (bursts at 13MB/s), with any of the above it worked! But now I found the issue... this only allows me to go at a maximum of 13MB/s which is not even 12X of the speed! I need at least UDMA 2 (33MB/s) to get 16X of the drive speed.

Anyone have any other suggestions? All of the configs were tested using Nero 6.6.0.6. I don't think its a software's problem because if it is, then Multi-word DMA 2 shouldn't work either. Also, I have the latest firmware (1.04 for the drive) and the latest PlexTools.

Summary:
Other than using Multi-word DMA 2 mode, nothing else works. No CDs can be burnt using any other mode (CDs cant be read with any other drive if they were burnt with any other mode).

 

[darkconz]

bump

 

[Bozo Galora]

you still havent mentioned what the TLA # of your drive is (on top)

 

[darkconz]

I tried UDMA1 and I got 1 good burn. I am going to give it another shot to see if it actually works.

TLA#: 0202 I believe this is the newest one cuz I havent see any 030# in the market yet.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Not familiar with your mobo bios, but if you have it, you could set CDROM or that IDE channel to udma instead of auto in settings

Plextor has a lot of crap feature stuff you can turn off in Nero by inputting Plextor drive in dialogue window, then clicking on recorder icon on right, then advanced.

also you migh want to check your 4D36e..... settings in registry

quote:
1.Open regedt32 (ALWAYS BACK-UP before modifying !!!)

2.Browse to : HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class

3.Locate the ATA/ATAPI IDE controler key, mine is "{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

4.OK here we are: just beside you're able to find your specific adapter (intel, via, promise, cmd or whatever, it's the same way), see the REG_SZ"DriverDesc" value to identify the right subkey to modify.

5.Locate the subkey for First or Secondary ATA Adapter IDE Channel, concerning where is located your reluctant U-DMA unit.

6.Under the subkey, proceed with cautious modifying either the master or slave device timing mode:

EXEMPLE: assuming the reluctant unit is set as MASTER on the Secondary Channel.

Set REG_DWORD"MasterDeviceTimingModeAllowed" to "ffffffff"(hexadecimal) or "4294967295"(decimal) to enable U-DMA mode, for current device.
Set REG_DWORD"MasterDeviceTimingMode" to "1010"(hexadecimal) for U-DMA 1, to "2010"(hexadecimal) for U-DMA 2.

ATTENTION:
Make sure for ROM-reader/writer units that the concerned

"UserMasterDeviceTimingModeAllowed" subkey is set to "ffffffff"(hexadecimal) or "4294967295"(decimal) to enable U-DMA mode (or "UserSlaveDeviceTimingModeAllowed" subkey IF your device is slave of course !).

7.When done, close regedt32 and reboot to modifications to make effect. Verify the job's done by opening device manager, your unit is know and definitly detected as U-DMA capable.

(unquote)

also note this guys registry settings for udma2

http://www.ntcompatible.com/thread18783-1.html

I would delete in safe mode all cdroms dvds showing in dev manager and reboot - redetect
I would then also refresh IDE controller drivers

Another guy here fixed his prob by disabling Windows internal burner.

 

[Wolfshanze]

Hmmm... so you won't even TRY a differant burn program for one burn to see if it's the software or not?!?! You have another program available that came with the drive and you won't even see if that's a possible workaround?

You need to try every possible solution instead of assuming what is and isn't working.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hmm. There were some Plextor drives in the past, that had firmware-level problems with some UDMA modes.. I thought that they had them fixed, but perhaps a similar problem has crept up again?

 

[darkconz]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
Hmmm... so you won't even TRY a differant burn program for one burn to see if it's the software or not?!?! You have another program available that came with the drive and you won't even see if that's a possible workaround?

You need to try every possible solution instead of assuming what is and isn't working.

I would try other programs but Nero works as long as I have it under UDMA2 (anything that is UDMA 1 or lower works, gives me a perfect burn). How could it be the program error when the only setting I changed was the interface?

 

[Airlink231]

In reply to darkconz,

I had the same problems you did, but they were solved by switching from UDMA4 to UDMA2. I think I know why this is, and I think the reason for this might solve your problem as well (even tho you're still having problems with UDMA2).

Are you using round IDE cables? if so, this is an issue. Because apparently, the Plextor 716A's IDE I/O system (not the entire drive itself) is poor in reception tolerance compared to most UDMA4 or UDMA5 drives out there

the drive requires 80-conductor IDE cable, which has 40 signal lines, and the other lines are shield lines in between the signal lines in order to prevent crosstalk. Round IDE cables are usually made up of a ribbon twisted and folded onto itself, which means that you have some adjacent signal lines running right next to each other, so you'll get some crosstalk (this is the reason why they twist wires in long data transmission cables instead of running them in parallel)

Try using the 80-conductor ribbon that came with the drive instead, or use a good quality, short, and shielded round IDE cable.

If this doesnt solve your problem, then I suggest you exchange that drive with a SATA drive, where there are no major crosstalk issues with the standard cables used at the standard 150MB/s rate.