My DVD burner suddenly stopped working. Is it a hardware or software issue?

April 12, 2006 3:15 PM

My DVD burner suddenly stopped working. Is it a hardware or software issue? Very long Error log inside.

I bought a DVD burner from newegg.com a few months ago and I backed up about 20 DVD's and made a few data DVD's with no problem. A few days ago, I tried to back up another DVD and got a burn error. It has since happened every time I've tried to back up a DVD since.

The data from the source DVD is copied fine, and the DVD is even burned. At the end (or nearly at the end anyway), it says that the burn process was not successful. Here is the DVD Shrink error log. I can't make heads or tails of it; is it possible to determine what's going wrong from the error log? Hopefully there isn't any personal information in it...

1C80-4099-8182-0000-1909-3490-4848

Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: -
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Core\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.74, size=164112 bytes, created 11/2/2004 1:54:32 PM

NT-SPTI used
Nero API version: 7.0.1.4
Using interface version: 6.3.1.4
Installed in: C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Core\
Application: ahead\Nero - Burning Rom
Internal Version: 7, 0, 1, 4

Recorder: < _nec dvd_rw nd-3550a> Version: 1.05 - HA 1 TA 1 - 7.0.1.4
Adapter driver: HA 1
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ?

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : IC35L090AVV207-0 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4480B atapi Port 3 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A atapi Port 3 ID 1 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 d347prt Port 4 ID 0 DMA: Off

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4480B D: CDRom0
_NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A E: CDRom1
Generic DVD-ROM F: CDRom2
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 766MB (785404kB)
Free physical memory: 184MB (189376kB)
Memory in use : 75 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

11.4.2006
NeroAPI
10:04:37 PM #1 Phase 112 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
DVD-Video files reallocation started

10:04:37 PM #2 Phase 114 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
DVD-Video files reallocation completed (no file modified)

10:04:37 PM #3 Phase 111 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
DVD-Video files sorted

10:04:37 PM #4 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 6597
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

10:04:37 PM #5 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 6597
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

10:04:37 PM #6 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 525
ReadBuffer-Pipe got 262144KB of Memory

10:04:37 PM #7 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 124
Reader running

10:04:37 PM #8 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 113
Writer E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A running

10:04:37 PM #9 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 842
DRM: StartDrmRecording(RealRec:1, ImageRec:0, Copies:1)
DRM: Beginning burn process.

10:04:37 PM #10 ISO9660GEN -11 File Geniso.cpp, Line 3312
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

10:04:37 PM #11 ISO9660GEN -11 File Geniso.cpp, Line 3312
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

10:04:37 PM #12 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3342
Turn on Disc-At-Once, using DVD media

10:04:37 PM #13 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 279
Last possible write address on media: 2298495 (510:46.45, 4489MB)
Last address to be written: 2286095 (508:01.20, 4465MB)

10:04:37 PM #14 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 291
Write in overburning mode: NO

10:04:37 PM #15 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2578
Recorder: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A, Media type: DVD-R
Disc Manufacturer: CMC MA - G. AE1
Disc Application Code: 64, Disc Physical Code: 193

10:04:37 PM #16 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 458
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: < =10:04:37 pm #17 text 0 file threadedtransferinterface.cpp, line 847 setup items (after recorder preparation) 0: trm_data_mode1 () 2 indices, index0 (150) not provided original disc pos #0 + 2286096 (2286096)=#2286096/508:1.21 relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos -> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 2286096 blocks [E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A]
--------------------------------------------------------------

10:04:37 PM #18 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1059
Prepare recorder [E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A] 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 4681924608, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
__Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_CtrlAdr_|_RecDep__________
0 | lead-in | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00
2286096 | lead-out | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00

10:04:37 PM #19 Text 0 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 36
SPTILockVolume - completed successfully for FCTL_LOCK_VOLUME

10:04:37 PM #20 Phase 24 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
Caching of files started

10:04:37 PM #21 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4176
Cache writing successful.

10:04:37 PM #22 Phase 25 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
Caching of files completed

10:04:37 PM #23 Phase 36 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
Burn process started at 8x (11,080 KB/s)

10:04:37 PM #24 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2685
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

10:04:37 PM #25 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2580
Recording mode: Sequential Recording Mode

10:04:38 PM #26 Text 0 File MMC.cpp, Line 21611
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON

10:04:38 PM #27 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2735
Start write address at LBA 0
DVD high compatibility mode: Yes

10:04:38 PM #28 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 8411
---- DVD Structure: Physical Format Information (00h) ----
Layer: 0, Address: 0 (0 h), AGID: 0; Length: 2050
Book Type: DVD-R (2), Part Version: 2.0x (5), Extended Part Version: 0.0 (0)
Disc Size: 120 mm, Maximum Rate: (F h)
Number of Layers: 1, Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP), Layer Type: recordable
Linear Density: 0,267 um/bit, Track Density: 0,74 um/track
Starting Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 30000 h (DVD-ROM, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW)
End Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 26127F h
End Sector Number in Layer 0: 0 h (LBN: FFFD0000 h, 4193920 MB)
Data in Burst Cutting Area (BCA) does not exist
Start sector number of the current Border-Out: 2FE10 h
Start sector number of the next Border-In: 2FFA0 h
Media Specific [16..63]:
00 30 00 10 20 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .0..............
00 02 FE 10 00 02 FF A0 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

10:04:50 PM #29 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1197
22:04:50.984 - E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A : Queue again later

10:33:41 PM #30 SPTI -1093 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
E: CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1093)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x02
Sense Qual: 0x00
CDB Data: 0x2A 00 00 19 B0 E0 00 00 20 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 03 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 02
Buffer x00bd0000: Len x10000
0x00 00 01 BA 44 09 C5 F6 55 23 01 89 C3 F8 00 00
0x01 BD 07 EC 81 80 05 21 02 71 D3 A7 83 03 01 21
0x1B 36 D1 AE 37 92 69 9A 2A B3 5E 10 5B 4C 06 46

10:33:41 PM #31 CDR -1093 File Writer.cpp, Line 302
No seek complete
E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A

10:33:41 PM #32 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 228
all writers idle, stopping conversion

10:33:41 PM #33 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 222
conversion idle, stopping reader

10:33:41 PM #34 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2978
EndDAO: Last written address was 1683679

10:33:41 PM #35 Phase 38 File APIProgress.cpp, Line 278
Burn process failed at 8x (11,080 KB/s)

10:33:41 PM #36 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 867
DRM: DRM burn session terminated.

10:33:41 PM #37 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 896
DRM: Closing entire DRM handling. Bye.

10:33:44 PM #38 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 6597
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

10:33:44 PM #39 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 6597
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2


Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\CDRALW2K.SYS': Ver=5.3.4.21, size=23436 bytes, created 12/17/2002 1:32:46 PM

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

posted by Paul KC to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Not much to go on in that log, for me at least. Seems like it just arbitrarily stops writing at some point. Things to look consider:

- Try different media
- Look for new firmware for your drive
- Look for an update to Nero
posted by knave at 3:27 PM on April 12, 2006

The KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR caught my eye.

According to here, the actual error code is 03/02/00 which is

The disc you tried might be wrong.

1. Try again with recommended media. Another lot or a brand listed as recommended is better.
2. Review your system. Look here.
3. If this does not help, consult your distributor.
4. If an error message with a [*]mark appears, check also to see if the media is capable of the speed you tried.

It's odd that it used to work fine - I'm assuming that you're using the same media.

Have you tried burning at 4x instead of max speed? Otherwise, try a firmware update. Maybe from here. It looks like the new version is 1.06 and you're currently 1.05.

Also, how fragmented is your drive? Instead of telling DVD shrink to burn using nero right away, maybe defrag your drive first, then try burning again.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 4:00 PM on April 12, 2006

Given that it's a medium error, you can pretty much rule out the usual software-related suspects (fragmentation, timing etc). You're looking at a disagreement between the drive and the disc, not the computer and the drive.

Things to try:

- lower the burn speed
- try a different brand of media
- update the drive firmware

If none of those work, you've probably either got something nasty wedged in the optics or some other drive fault. If it's only a few months old, you should be able to get it replaced under warranty.
posted by flabdablet at 4:47 PM on April 12, 2006

Response by poster: PurplePorpoise
Thanks for the suggestions. My HDD doesn't need defragmenting, but I will try it anyway. I have also tried burning at 4x and got the same error message.

I downloaded the firmwear upgrade but before installing it, I read the ReadMe. In it, it says:

This Update works only with NEC ND-3550A (retail & bulk) drives, not with OEM releases. OEM means part of a full PC package or external USB or FireWire variant of this burner. For OEM products contact directly your dealer, distributor or manufacturer of PC- or USB/ Firewire- package for service, support and firmwareupdates.

I am not sure if my drive is OEM. I bought it from Newegg.com, and it came with just the drive and nothing else (which I thought is the definition of OEM). It not external USB or FireWire, however.

On Preview:
flabdablet
I just don't think it's a problem with the media, as it has worked fine many times before using the same DVD-R discs. Maybe I will check out newegg.com's website for their warrenty information.
posted by Paul KC at 4:49 PM on April 12, 2006

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer, and an OEM drive is one supplied to such a manufacturer for inclusion in some other product. Sometimes those whole-product manufacturers order customized drives from the drive manufacturer and/or install their own firmware, which is why NEC wants you to talk to the whole-product manufacturer even for component upgrades.

If you bought the drive as an NEC drive, and as a thing-in-itself and not part of something else, then it's not an OEM variant and you should be fine to upgrade the firmware yourself.
posted by flabdablet at 5:23 PM on April 12, 2006