Hi all,

I've just put to rest my Pioneer DVR-106D and got in place a brand new DW1640. And the problems started...

I tried to burn 4 DVDs, all got bad sectors (Nero data verification failed, binary compare with the source failed).
The media is Memorex 8x DVD-R, CMC MAG AE1, which worked flawlessly with the Pioneed drive.
Tried to write at 8x, tried at 4x, tried with BSKB, tried with BSLB, no matter what I tried the bad sectors kept appearing.
I doubt it's the Memorex batch fault, because I've already burned about 60 from a 100 pack with NO problems on the Pioneer.
The system setup has not changed, the drive is in an external enclosure, connected through Firewire, as it was the Pioneer.
I've read that Benq likes +R more than -R but I didn't believe it could be such a problem. And I still have 30+ dvds. I'd just hate to throw them away.

Does anybody have any ideea of what might be the problem?

Thanx.

Have you updated the firmware to BSKB or even BSLB ?
Have you cleaned the registry of all refs to the Pioneer ?
Are you able to try a few different types of disk ? I know you say they worked with the Pioneer but personally I have never been able to get Memorex or CMC to work properly - just a question of compatability ?

I updated first to BSLB. After 2 bad dvds I changed to BSKB, the same problems appeared.

From this dvd batch I already burned more than 60 without problems and since I bought the Pioneer 1.5 years ago I wrote about 500 dvds, most of them Memorex 4x and 8x DVD-R. I haven't got problems with them (about 10 coasters in 500, but no bad sectors discs, all written at 4x).

The problems appear after the 3Gb limit. Up to 3Gb the disc is ok. After that limit the bad sectors start to appear, randomly.
The disc is read by the benq drive, but the content is not correct (I've done a binary compare). The disc is not read however on a LG DVD/CDRW combo.

I'll try to search again the registry, maybe I missed some key left from Pioneer...

Thanx.

Are sure your BenQ 1640 is being set at a proper setting (e.g. Primary Slave, Secondery Master or Secondery Slave) in your system?.

The 1640 is in an external enclosure (1394/USB2), conected through FireWire. The drive is set as master.
Btw, I tried with is connected through USB2, still no good.

Thanx.

Are those data or movie dvd?
I wouldn't rely on Nero data verification.
It might also be that your external enclosure does not work well with the BenQ. What's the brand and chipset?

Data dvds.
I copied the content and did a binary compare also and the source and destination were different.
Also, the dvds are readable on the Benq but on a LG DVD/CDRW I have read errors.
The enclosure's chipset is a Prolific 3507 High Speed 1394/USB2. I got errors writing using both USB2 & 1394.
Never had any problems with the enclosure (1.5 years) and I used it with 2 HDD drives and the Pioneer DVR.

Maybe it's just the incompatibility with the CMC MAG AE1. I'll try with other media to see how it works...

Thanx.

Use better DVD MEDIA....CMC isn't good media....just my 2 cents.

+1

I would have to agree also, I once bought a 5 pack and only one of the discs ended up burning and after a week if began to get pauses in it. No more cmc for me.

I would agree with everyone else that CMCMAG media is not the best. However you should be able to burn it without problem @8x or less.Lets try some test. Download Nero CD Speed and do quality scan test on CMCMAGAE1 burned with DW1640 and another one burned with our Pioneer drive. Please post the scans here.

I tried yesterday different DVD brands, +R and -R, and on all, without exception, I got the errors. I put back the Pioneer and worked ok.
I attached the scans for the CMCMAGAE1 burned with Pioneer and DW1640.

Anway, I think I might found the problem. It seems the burner does not like the external encolsure. I burned 2 CMC-s after I put it in my computer and seemed to work ok. I'll do some more tests.

The enclosure has a Prolific 3507 Hi Speed chip (USB2 & 1394) - maybe it helps others that might have similar problems.
I tried to flash it, but it's a 3507A chip so it's not possible, also I tried with the max128k filter for W2k, still no go. It seems to be an incompatibility between the DW1640 and the chip.


Thanx all for help.