Power calibration error?

**Theinfamousone** · June 30th, 2003, 04:35 PM

I've got my oh so problematic Sony DRU-500a here. Newest firmware. I'm using the newest version of Nero, and it gets a "power calibration error" when I try erasing DVD+RWs, anyone know what that could mean?

**notbob** · June 30th, 2003, 04:49 PM

it's like a buffer underrun error

i get them every once in a while--could be bad media, running too much crap while burning, or hardware trouble

if it always happens, i'd return the burner

**Krell** · June 30th, 2003, 04:51 PM

Yah, it means stop fiddling with your settings and firmware.

Did you by chance use Clone CD?

**phalkon30** · June 30th, 2003, 04:54 PM

I trashed my philips burner by checking that option without knowing what it was in CloneCD. It seemed to make less errors for a while, then it just died.

**Power Penguin** · June 30th, 2003, 04:54 PM

That's twice tonight I disagree.

Yah, it means stop fiddling with your settings and firmware.

You should always have the most recent firmware in your DVD-RW. Try buying one.

Firmware Update Information
Version: 1.30
Posted 19/3/2003

DVD-R/RW Writability Improvement (further improved from V1.21)
DVD-R/RW Playability Improvement (further improved from V1.21)
CD-R/RW Writability Improvement (further improved from V1.21)
CD-R/RW Playability Improvement
Supports 2X writing on New Prodisc DVD-R Media
Please note that this firmware update is not compatible with
the current "LASER" brand of 1x DVD-R media.
This may only apply in Australia where the LASER brand is currently sold
and may change with the release of new "LASER" DVD-R media that is compatible.

Anyway, sorry I can't help. Try a brand approved by Sony. If it still does it, return to place of purchase as "defective".

**Krell** · June 30th, 2003, 05:19 PM

You can disagree all you want, but people who tweak are the ones with the most problems.

Unplug your IDE cable, and short out all the pins on the CD burner with foil, ground them all out, then plug the power and IDE cable back in, and see if you can burn a CD.

**notbob** · June 30th, 2003, 05:22 PM

i get a real charge out of that idea

i find the level of detail shocking

my favorite futurama character is zap brannigan

a fried dvd is fried indeed

**Krell** · June 30th, 2003, 05:39 PM

I'm sure you do, as to my knowledge you do not have an EE background, never the less, I get free stuff from people who screw up their stuff all the time, and I have salvaged two CD burners that others couldnt get working on multiple PCs.

Now what's the more plausible thing to do, try to return it, or try what I did that worked? I mentioned the Clone CD for a reason.

**Theinfamousone** · June 30th, 2003, 06:09 PM

Well, it works with the Sony disc that it came with, but not with the Ritek discs I bought. They used to work though. This drive is very strange. I have discs that it will read one minute and not the next, and discs that it will write to one minute and not the next.

Sometimes everything goes ok during burning but it's never able to read the disc it made.

CloneCD? I installed it a couple weeks ago to copy a CD. I haven't tried burning since I installed it, so that could be the problem.

Also, it likes to make very LOUD clicking noises when it starts winding up and then everything goes haywire, ie, Windows will freeze, or it just will stop reading the disc.

So, should I Zap Brannigan it?

**cpugeniusmv** · June 30th, 2003, 06:09 PM

I had this problem on an old cd burner of mine, and i upgraded to the latest firmware to fix it...however, it seems you've already done that.

would it be worthwhile to reinstall the firmware?