Plextor12/10/32A = hell on earth, for the love of God help!!!

[Leo V]

This problem persisted from the start, and nothing solved it! ARGH!

I'm using:
* Win98SE fresh install
* Completely non-overclocked Celery300A system on Abit BH6
* Plextor 12/10/32A ATA33 w/latest firmware, DMA enabled, lone master of 2nd IDE channel
* Latest, freshly downloaded version of Nero

The Plextor Menace:
When I try to burn anything, regardless of CDR or CDRW, the hardware queue suddenly drops to zero, when 5-50% through the burn. Nero flails in its ignorance, then proudly announces after 2 minutes: SCSI/IDE error! Thank you, O Wize Nero! :| Then the drive locks, and I have to reboot.

Will somebody please have the compassion to explain what I'm doing wrong here?

 

[Leo V]

More joy: I've disabled all power-saving features in the BIOS, now Win98SE won't even recognize my @#!! Plextor at all! What have I done to deserve this???

 

[CalebTG]

sounds like you got a bad drive
contact plextor for a replacement

 

[Dragoon42]

don't know but mine is working fine, I dont know what the requirements are but maybe your system isn't handled for it?

 

[Leo V]

OK, I got the power-saving features disabled and the system running again. Same problem.

This from Plextor? Is nothing holy in this world? :Q

 

[discombob]

We all know Plextor makes great SCSI drives, but their latest IDE offering is a small stack of SH!T shaped into a 5 1/4 drive bay space. I've known way too many people who have had to return their drive because it was defective, me included. Mine had an improperly calibrated laser that would write but couldn't read anything - I sat in the devil's lap for several days trying to troubleshoot it and finally gave up. It really threw me off too because I was in denial for the longest time: "gee, it couldn't possibly suck AND have a belt-powered tray *AND* flimsy drive door button because it's from PLEXTOR... RIGHT??!?!?"

I was wrong and their reputation has fallen badly from my viewpoint because of this offering. People who got working drives the first time continue to worship Plextor, but I didn't have much fun. I can't say for sure if your drive is DOA, but I have a BH6 (1.01) too and doing the RMA (which took a month and a half to cross-ship from Mwave.com - curse their wretched souls! brought me a working drive that continues to be a decent writer, though the read perf. could probably be a little better for a 32x rated drive too.

Just know that I sympathize with you and hope you get one that works if you do an exchange.

 

[Leo V]

discombob, a hearty thanks for the inspiring insight I'll contact Plextor tomorrow and demand a replacement (hmm...via Buy.com? they better have it in-stock.)

It seems that SCSI equipment automatically gets priority in the quality department. Plextor probably figured, "those poor saps with IDE shouldn't notice a defect or two anyway". *sigh*

It's nice to know that others had problems, too. At first I anticipated a lynching for befouling the sacred Plextor trademark

 

[PC Freak]

Do you only have this problem when using Nero or does it also presist when using Plexmanager or something else?
Have you tried slowing down the burns? 8, 4, 2x instead of 12x
And finally are we sure Nero supposts this new drive. maybe we need to wait on an update?

 

[Leo V]

PC_Freak, the latest Nero absolutely supports the 12/10/32A, and even Plextor lists it amongst the supported software.

I've tried just about everything; my media is top-quality Plextor-endorsed. There is just NO reason for the drive to randomly stop burning. Only one thing that can be faulty: the Plextor itself

 

[PC Freak]

Can you burn using other burning programs (PlextorManager)?

 

[tboo]

No problems at all with my Plextor IDE 12/10/32--has worked fine since day one(both on CloneCD and Nero). My friend has an IDE model as well-his also works perfectly. Im willing to bet not all IDE Plextor owners are willing to jump on the "IDE is S*IT" bandwagon.

 

[Leo V]

This reminds me...when I first got DSL in 1998, my $325 ADSL modem/bridge (subsidized by BellAtlantic) came in defective. I couldn't believe such an expensive piece of equipment could be, until the replacement arrived and made 'er go.

(On a side note, BellAtlantic used FedEx Overnight Courier to ship the replacement. Watch and learn, ye customer support flunkies!

 

[Bleep]

Disable DMA. It will porbably work fine.
Bleep

 

[Leo V]

I haven't used other software, and neither do I intend to. My last-ditch attempt (tomorrow) is moving the Plextor into my main rig. That will ascertain its mediocrity, and forever stain Plextor's reputation. (Or if it works, my own sysadmin capacities

 

[Leo V]

Bleep, every Plextor document I ran across explicitly stated, "Be sure to enable DMA!!" and "If you're having problems, it's probably because you didn't enable DMA!" Who am I to believe?

 

[randypj]

discombob--You're correct, other people have had problems with this IDE burner. I've had no problems with my SCSI, nor a g/f's IDE. Both using only Nero and CloneCD. I didn't even load Plextor Manger on the g/f's.

Leo V--A couple things. In Nero, did you play with the setting that allows you to set some of your RAM as buffer (yes, I know it shouldn't matter)?

I imagine you have tried a new ribbon, and have tried it as slave by itself?

It does sound like it possibly could be a bad buffer? Heck, I may even have to change my sig.

Leo V--LOL....those poor saps with IDE should be glad that they even have a burner with a Plex faceplate....that should be good enough.
--Randy