Bandito

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I didn't see anything specifically like this. I just got a Plextor 12X10X32 and it has a few bugs. First the Adaptec EasyCD seems to lock during a cd burn. I have been getting Kernal errors, and now my sound is crackling. I use a PIII 600EB and Win98SE on a VA6 board, using the stock built in sound card--I know I need to upgrade the sound, but I tried that already and the mobo didn't seem to appreciate that so I have been content with the built on one. Reinstalling DX8 fixed the crackling, but it still can't burn a cd fully without getting kernal32 errors (blue screens).

I think I may have bad media too--but have had trouble with 3 different brands. On the suspected bad media (from Outpost 12X) it got 1/2 way and then began ejecting the cd midway? Does that mean bad cdr?

Is it worth just removing all the Adaptec software and getting Nero? I believe most of the trouble is with the software that came with the burner.

Any help/advice is appreciated.

LPMiller

couple of things:

1)Update the plextor with the most current firmware, which you can get at their site.
2)Update the motherboard with the most current Via-4 in 1 drivers, which you can get at Viahardware.com. Via has kind of crappy cdrom drivers, which could be part of the problem
3)yeah, try getting rid of easy CD and going with nero. The Media shouldn't be causing kernal32 errors.

For other tips, go to http://www.ping.be/satcp/

the man is a master of burning.

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Bandito

Thanks LPN

hapoo

yeah, thanks LPN


Personally i hate EZ-CD Creator. I recommend everyone switch over to Nero. And after they do that everyone should give me all their belongings

Dave_7

Yeah, Nero works great with that drive. In an unprecedented move... I just may pay for the Nero shareware. It's that good... very intuitive. It even supports the BurnProof.



Dave.

Bandito

Well, I upgraded anything that could be upgraded with the Plextor. Still blue screens and coasters.

I uninstalled the Adaptec software and installed Nero shareware... and guess what. Locked up and made a coaster.

I wonder if it is this stupid VIA chipset. This is one of the early 133 bus ones.

I am going to try Microsoft now, and maybe if I am really desperate wipe and reinstall windows.

Dave_7

Interesting... I am running on the P3V4X. Not that it's mattered for me yet, but have you tried using a "Certified 12X" CD-R in your drive? Also, ever since I installed (and since uninstalled) that Adaptec software, my system has become less stable. More blue screens than ever. Another reason why they are on my "list."




Dave.

Bandito

I just replaced the cable (long shot)removed the plextor software completely and tried Nero again, but no good.

I used the certified 16X cdr that came with the plextor--coaster now.

I forgot that I had my disk caching set to use Cacheman so I disabled that and set the computer to network server. I got out an old box of certified 4X and tried burning it with Nero at 4X--coaster.

So far I have tested about 25 changes and made 25 coasters with about the same result.

It leads me to think it is neither Nero or Adaptec, but more likely Windows of VIA drivers problem.

One strange thing is when I removed the Adaptec software when I rebooted it auto-detected one of my nic's??? That was a clue maybe. Also I use a wireless network card (on top of the 2 nic's) so maybe there is a conflict with Intel Anypoint software too... so that makes at least three more things to check before assuming it is hardware related.

Good thing I bought those 50 packs of media.

Any ideas floating around out there??

Dave_7

Do you have DMA enabled for the Plex?



Dave.

Bandito

I disabled DMA on the drive too.

One thing that may help in the meantime is I found that you can just run the TEST, and not actually burn anything.

At least now I won't keep making coasters until I figure out what is causing this.

I have 4 other pc's. I am thinking about moving it to my wifes computer anyway. That way I can still do most other things and I bet it will work fine in hers.

--but I am out of time until Monday maybe so I won't be able to try anything until then...

keep those ideas coming! thanks again

Dave_7

They do suggest that you ENABLE the DMA to help achieve the high burn speeds.

Have you tried it with the DMA yet, or no?

I have mine enabled, and no costers. Cheap media (the cheapest... really), too. This is really puzzling, man.




Dave.

Bandito

SUCCESS!

I found time to get up really early and try something. I reloaded Windows, repatched everything, ran the newest VIA 4-in-1 (again) w/DMA off by the way.

So when it reloaded windows it cached as a desktop computer--so I am still going to experiment with Cacheman to see if it improves the speed at all.

Also the DMA thing. I will test with it on too.

Thanks Dave for bearing with me.

Dave_7

Ha! No problem. Congrats, man!




Dave.

revil

I'll do that anyways...

hapoo

woohoo

Have your people call my people.

Blackbart

I had the same problem and this worked for me.


VIA advises you not use their EIDE drivers, but use the Microsoft EIDE controller drivers instead.

Please try installing the Microsoft EIDE controller driver:

In Device Manager, select your Hard Disk controller, then the Driver tab, then the Update Driver button. Select a list of All drivers, then Standard hard disk drivers, then Standard Bus Mastering IDE hard disk controller or the Standard Dual PCI EIDE Controller.

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Bandito

Thanks Blackbart, I switched to standard dual pci controller and it seems to run ok. I am going to run some tests later this week but so far it seems to work.

I was still having the occasional problem so maybe this is just the fix it needed.

Now the question is on some of the cd's we own we want to make back up copies--not to copywrite infringe mind you, just to have the back up. I have been having problems with my old drive destroying cd's so I am at the point to back some cd's. Maybe part of it was the via drivers... I always suspected them of being part of the culprit. One thing that has me thinking is I blamed the old drive of being faulty, but the new plextor seemed to have the same things happening (spin up continually and never get a good read, even a directory read).

Now with switching to standard dual pci controller it seems to be working good, so maybe the old drive would work good as well...

Blackbart

I'm glad to see that helped :p