I have burned hundreds of DVDs on my drive and haven't flashed it lately but it seems to be croaking. First Ulead Movie Factory was giving an error trying to burn then Nero was having failures. When it works the scans are still good but it fails at least 10% of the time with various media. I mostly burn 16x media at 8x. Also a couple of times it seems to have misaligned or something because it left a semicircle type scratch just off center on the plastic of a DVD. Anyone know what's going on?

Nero log of a failure
Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: File 'Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=4.71 (0002), size=45056 bytes, created 7/16/2002 8:20:56 PM
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Ahead\nero\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.74, size=164112 bytes, created 10/26/2004 5:35:34 PM
Nero Version: 6.6.0.8 (Nero Express)
Recorder: Version: G7V9 - HA 1 TA 0 - 6.6.0.8
Adapter driver: HA 1
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ATAPI
CD-ROM: Version: G7V9 - HA 1 TA 0 - 6.6.0.8
Adapter driver: HA 1

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD800BB-75CAA0 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD1200JB-00EVA0 atapi Port 0 ID 1 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16 atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : LITEON DVD-ROM LTD163 atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: Off

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16 E: CDRom0
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 74448896 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 510MB (523056kB)
Free physical memory: 186MB (191004kB)
Memory in use : 63 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

23.12.2005
UDF/ISO compilation
8:38:21 PM #1 Phase 112 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
DVD-Video files reallocation started

8:38:21 PM #2 Text 0 File DVDVideoCompilation.cpp, Line 549
Content of VTS_01_0.IFO has been modified

8:38:21 PM #3 Text 0 File DVDVideoCompilation.cpp, Line 549
Content of VTS_01_0.BUP has been modified

8:38:21 PM #4 Phase 113 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
DVD-Video files reallocation completed

8:38:21 PM #5 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6172
Iso document burn settings
------------------------------------------
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : TRUE
Multisession : FALSE
Burning mode : DAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet :FALSE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : FALSE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : FALSE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE

8:38:21 PM #6 Phase 111 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
DVD-Video files sorted

8:38:21 PM #7 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 127
Reader running

8:38:21 PM #8 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 122
Writer ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16 running

8:38:21 PM #9 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3293
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

8:38:21 PM #10 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3293
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

8:38:21 PM #11 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3153
Turn on Disc-At-Once, using DVD media

8:38:22 PM #12 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 259
Last possible write address on media: 2295103 (510:01.28, 4482MB)
Last address to be written: 2171135 (482:28.35, 4240MB)

8:38:22 PM #13 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 271
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)

8:38:22 PM #14 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2316
Recorder: ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16, Media type: DVD+R

8:38:22 PM #15 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 433
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================

8:38:22 PM #16 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 830
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 ()
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 2171136 (2171136) = #2171136/482:28.36
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 2171136 blocks [ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16]
--------------------------------------------------------------

8:38:22 PM #17 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1043
Prepare recorder [ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16] for write in CUE-sheet-DAO
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: ""
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc fixated
Tracks 1 to 1:
1: TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048/0x00, FilePos 0 0 4446486528, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
__Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_CtrlAdr_|_RecDep__________
0 | lead-in | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00
2171136 | lead-out | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00

8:38:22 PM #18 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Caching of files started

8:38:22 PM #19 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4040
Cache writing successful.

8:38:22 PM #20 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Caching of files completed

8:38:22 PM #21 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Burn process started at 8x (11,080 KB/s)

8:38:22 PM #22 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2609
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

8:38:22 PM #23 SCSI -1066 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1181
SCSI Exec, HA 1, TA 0, LUN 0, buffer 0x03855600
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x05 (KEY_ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
Sense Code: 0x24
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0xAD 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x08 0x04 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x70 0x00 0x05 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x12
0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x24 0x00

8:38:22 PM #24 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5747
Drive: ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16
Book Type request [gen]: DVD-ROM, write to EEPROM
Changing the Book Type was finished successfully, return code 0

8:38:22 PM #25 CDR -1211 File DVDR.cpp, Line 4924
Book Type set to: DVD-ROM

8:38:22 PM #26 Text 0 File DVDPlusRW.cpp, Line 638
Start write address at LBA 0
DVD high compatibility mode: Yes

8:38:42 PM #27 SCSI -1135 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1435
SCSI Exec, HA 1, TA 0, LUN 0, buffer 0x0B330000
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x0C
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0x2A 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x1A 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x71 0x00 0x03 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x12
0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0C 0x00

8:38:42 PM #28 CDR -1135 File Writer.cpp, Line 311
Write error

8:38:42 PM #29 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 228
all writers idle, stopping conversion

8:38:42 PM #30 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 222
conversion idle, stopping reader

8:38:43 PM #31 Phase 127 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Generating DVD high compatibility borders

8:39:45 PM #32 Phase 129 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Generating DVD borders completed successfully

8:39:45 PM #33 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5747
Drive: ATAPI DVD DD 2X16X4X16
Book Type request [gen]: DVD-ROM, write to EEPROM
Changing the Book Type was finished successfully, return code 0

8:39:45 PM #34 Phase 38 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Burn process failed at 8x (11,080 KB/s)


Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\ASPI32.SYS': Ver=4.71 (0002), size=16877 bytes, created 7/16/2002 7:53:02 PM
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=2.02.62a, size=20016 bytes, created 10/28/2003 5:02:00 AM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)
File 'Drivers\atapi.sys': Ver=5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), size=95360 bytes, created 8/4/2004 12:59:42 AM (Adapter driver for rec)

Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

If I'm reading this correctly, your firmware is G7V9
which is OEM fw for the BenQ 1620, not the 1640.

crossflash your drive by the way is not a BENQ 1640 but a BENQ 1620. do a search on crossflashing your drive to the official "B" firmware.

Why are people so eager to promote crossflashing to what is essentially the same firmware? AFAICS the only thing that'll accomplish is voiding the warranty... I don't have a 1620 myself, but from what I've read W9 wasn't a huge improvement over V9 by any means. Please correct me if I'm wrong... G7V9 is identical to B7V9.

W9 finally got rid of those speed drops every so many MB's during a scan. In my drive it also improved quality of burns (on MCC 003 @12x).
I believe later 1620's were being released with the B fw even in OEM drives.

Hmm ok I thought I had crossflashed it before but I just flashed it from G7K9 to G7V9. I am nervous about crossflashing it with all of this erratic behavior.

Try removing the Adaptec ASPI layer.