Power Calibration Failure

[cyme5]

I own a NEC DVD_RW ND 3500AG and up until now I have had no problems burning files to DVD+R. Last night I burnt some files onto a DVD RW without any problems, but when I tried burning to a blank DVD+R I got power calibration error. I retried with another brand of blank DVD+R and still got the error. How come it worked fine on DVDRW and not DVD+R? Do I need to take my computer to the store where we bought it? Please Help!!!

Going Insane,

ME:)

[blutach]

Hi cyme5. Welcome.

I presume you are using Nero (poor you). Check this (http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45942) out.

Essentially, "in some cases, the firmware is unable to produce reliable burning with a particular disc brand, and rejects the disc as having a "power calibration error" or "illegal disc" or a similar error. This error is generally not related to disc quality issues, but is simply a result of the drive not having the latest firmware in it that lists the particular disc brand."

Since your PC is new, you prob don't have latest firmware. Update it here (http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=23).

You might even like to try The Dangerous Bros "region free" firmware (you'll see that under Beta - RPC1 on that link). Get the windows one - it will be easier. Either way, read the readme carefully, OK?

Finally, always use good media. I use Ritek R03 and haven't made a coaster yet! I also burn at 4X max.

Regards

[cyme5]

My problem of this power calibration error also occured when I used Sonic MyDVDd to burn. I did update Nero, but I still wonder why I would have problems with using Sonic. As far as the firmware goes, I'm a little nervous about updating after all as the webpage says 'know what you are doing'. Maybe if you could look at my log from this morning I can understand a little better?

Thank you for your time and patience!

Melissa

PS. My husband has burned disc to disc perfectly with the same brands Sony and Traxdata that I used yesterday and today.

[Paulcat]

Hmm, I had this a few times as well with Nero 6.6.0.1, and not after 6.6.0.3, I looked all over for some help on the issue and basically got nowhere. I found that brand name dvd's seem to work more reliably than the bulk pack ones (I generally use Memorex, the only ones I've found in my area that are 8x burnable, and I've had little trouble with them)

The only error I get occasionally now is a Device I/O Error, although when I turn verification on in Nero, it shows tons and tons of errors and yet every dvd plays just fine (?!)

[cyme5]

Hmmm,

So Paulcat, you think the issue is really the DVDRs I use? I have updated Nero to the current version, but since I get the power calibration error whilst using Sonic MyDVD it really makes me wonder if it could be the firmware as suggested in the second post.

Well, thanks for posting!

ME:)

[blutach]

Hi Melissa.

1. PLEASE EDIT YOUR POST AND TAKE OUT YOUR NERO SERIAL NUMBER. IT WILL GET PIRATED.

DO THIS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


2. Update your firmware.

See this?
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x73
Sense Qual: 0x03
CDB Data: 0x2A 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x70 0x00 0x03 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0A
0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x73 0x03 Your media isn't being recognised. It's not that hard - just be a bit careful. Thousands of ppl do this every day. Just download the firmware update, make sure nothing is using (or is in) the DVD drive and run the executable. Reboot immediately after it's finished.

3. Turn on DMA on your ROM drive. See here (http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44808) for how to do it.

4. As an aside (cos this is a +R disk), NEVER try to set the booktype on a DVD-R. Only on a +R.

5. Never use "on-the-fly" copying (copying from one DVD reader/burner to another DVD burner) - it's too prone to a little glitch, which can empty your buffer and screw up the burn. Always drop a copy to your hard drive then copy from there. Copy as image is best.

6. Lastly, you are burning all the way to the edge - 4,482MB (I know this time it's a straight disk copy, so there's nothing you can do unless it's a movie, in which case you can use DVD Shrink to shrink it a bit - say 1%). Most people leave a bit to spare, because this is where blanks are at their most vulnerable. I burn up to 4,477MB on my Ritek's (which are very dependable media).

Regards

[blutach]

LOL cyme

You didn't need to edit out the whole log, just the S/N.

Good luck Melissa.

Regards