XP Pro, SP2.
Gigabyte m/b, Celeron 2.4, 512 ram. 1 x SATA 120gb HDD, 2 x 120GB IDE HDD. DVD is Master on second IDE chain along with a CD ROM as slave.
BTC1008 firmware 0159.
Nero Reload (6.something), Nero Vision Express 3
ASPI - standard XP version - I forget what it was but it was as expected (4.1.72?)

I was having major problems with this drive. It writes CDs fine. When in nero, on starting to write a DVD the tray would pop out and in, and out again just as it started writing the lead in. Having read around at the weekend, I flashed the BIOS (using the tool) to 159. This worked fine and I no longer had the original problem.

However I now get a power calibration error when trying to burn a 4 X DVD, if it gets that far. The media is Datawrite Red V3, which is definitely 4x but it is said to work at 8x too. My neighbour has lent me a couple of his 4x DVDs too - they are called Budget!

However, sometimes it doesn't get that far. If I just open My COmputer I can see a DVD drive. When I put in a blank DVD the system virtually hangs for a few minutes then the DVD is changed to a CD drive. If I take out the DVD again it returns to being a DVD.

If I burn a nasty PCWorld 1 x DVDRW it goes fine (but this won't play back properly on my DVD player).

Since the flash upgrade it will also now burn CDs at 40x, previously the max speed was 12x.

Does the team think I should be trying different media, if so, any suggestions?

Or is something else knackered?

And this morning I took delivery of some o1ne DVD+RW.

Although it seems to see a disc present, when I try to format it absolutely scotts through, no drive lights flashing, and does nothing! I went to the tab to change book type and when I select DVD+RW I get Setting Book Type Failed! Error code: -1006

All help appreciated

PS I just ordered a new drive...

I also have a BTC1008 and have had it hang my system and also got "Power Calibration" errors. I changed the IDE cable to an 80 wire one and re-installed ASPI to v 6.0. XP does not like 4.71 or 4.72 with BTC1008. The power calibration errors are related to the media. I can take the same blank DVD that gets a power calibration error on the BTC1008 and put it in my Pioneer 108 and it burns ok. I also have 8x DVD's that will only burn at 4x on the Pioneer but will burn at 8x on the BTC1008. The media makes the difference. Some burners prefer specific media. Please search the forums for ASPI and try installing 4.6.

Thanks. I was slowly coming to the conclusion that I have media problems...

AFAIK the ASPI is the regular one that comes with XP.

But...progress... I reinstalled my OLD version of Nero (6.0.1) and that works fine with the DVD+RW disc. And next door lent me a DVD-R whuch works fine. So I am almost there - and have cancelled the order for the new drive.

I will look for the ASPI later, thanks again

smokieuk - If you are using NERO, it comes with its own version of ASPI. If you are using other 3rd party burning software, it may be incompatible with the XP version and the forum gurus suggest installing 4.6. Worked like a miracle for me. But if you are only using NERO, then it would not be an issue. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

ASPICHK tells me it's ASPI32.exe is 4.71.2.

I'm going to stick with Nero as until I learn some more it looks about the easiest software to use. I will find the earlier ASPI and d/l it, and bookmark this thread for future reference.

The guy next door is going to swap me my 25 unusable DVD-Rs for 25 of his brand which worked.

So all round, I think I'm now happy. Thanks for your advice.