Techie computer help needed!

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:57 pm

I've got a problem with my DVD burner, can anyone recommmend a forum to post my cry for help on? I found one at ask.metafilter.com but they want a $5 donation, which I'd be happy to pay, but won't let you post a question until a week after joining! Fuck that!

by **The Fourth Norseman** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:57 pm

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:09 pm

by **Atom** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:10 pm

terrorizer wrote:n0b

BURN!

Last.fm · by **Craig** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:14 pm

Post it here (or PM me if you don't want the crap ripped out of you :lol:

) and I'll do what I can, or you can email me or add me to MSN - craig@cwatson.org

I'm studying Computer Science at uni and I worked for a year at my old school as a hardware tech, and believe me, I've had to deal with some complete n00bs, so don't worry about it being a stupid question lol.

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:25 pm

Thank you, I'll post it here because it's not a simple "I can't get the door open" problem so I won't look too stupid and you'll look like a god if you fix it!

I am running XP/Nero Express 6 and have a HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N burner which until a few days ago was working okay, doing a full DVD in 15 mins at 4x but now it takes about 40 minutes even at 8x. The only difference I can see is that the buffer keep emptying and having to be refilled (this is the buffer between the PC and the drive, not the Used Read Buffer), before it ran at about 98% all the time, so I guess this is why it takes it's time.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Last.fm · by **Craig** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:37 pm

terrorizer wrote:Thank you, I'll post it here because it's not a simple "I can't get the door open" problem so I won't look too stupid and you'll look like a god if you fix it!

I am running XP/Nero Express 6 and have a HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N burner which until a few days ago was working okay, doing a full DVD in 15 mins at 4x but now it takes about 40 minutes even at 8x. The only difference I can see is that the buffer keep emptying and having to be refilled (this is the buffer between the PC and the drive, not the Used Read Buffer), before it ran at about 98% all the time, so I guess this is why it takes it's time.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hmmm, it's a bit of a wide problem, try changing the disc you're copying and the discs you're writing to. Basically what's happening is that the hard drive (or the source DVD drive if you're copying disc-to-disc) can't get the data to the recorder fast enough, so it "underruns".

If that doesn't solve it, run a Disk Defrag:

Go to My Computer, right-click on your hard drive, go to Properties. Click on the Tools tab, then on the Disk Defragmentation (I forget what it's called on XP - I'm running Vista). Also, try dropping the speed back down to 4x and see if it makes any difference.

How much RAM and free drive space does the PC have?

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:44 pm

1GB RAM, acres of HD space. Doesn't need Defragging. Problem occurred halfway through a pack of discs, so I doubt it's that. Could it be related to DMA/PIO mode?

by **The Fourth Norseman** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:49 pm

i have this all the time.

some discs take like 3 mins to burm, others 35.

it's cos computers are designed for annoyance

Last.fm · by **Craig** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:50 pm

terrorizer wrote:1GB RAM, acres of HD space. Doesn't need Defragging. Problem occurred halfway through a pack of discs, so I doubt it's that. Could it be related to DMA/PIO mode?

Could be, you should always use DMA where possible - it gives the fastest transfer rates between the PC and the drive.

Also, is Nero reporting that the burn fails each time, or is it just a speed problem?

// Edit - just found this thread, might be some help

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic316817.html#1625759

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:51 pm

Just a speed problem. See it's not a n00b question!

by **terrorizer** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:40 pm

Looked at that thread thanks. The IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers has;

Primary IDE Channel
Secondary IDE Channel
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller

Advanced Setting on Primary has Transfer Mode: DMA if available, Current Transfer Mode: Ultra DMA Mode 6 for Device 0 and 1

Advanced Setting on Secondary has Transfer Mode: DMA if available, Current Transfer Mode: PIO Mode on Device 0, Device 1 is Transfer Mode: DMA if available, Current Transfer Mode: Not applicable.

How do I force it into DMA?

Last.fm · by **Craig** on Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:13 pm

Just booted my laptop into XP, you should be able to select DMA in the drop-down menu on the Advanced Settings tab. If not, go back to the Device Manager, highlight the Secondary IDE Channel, hit the Delete key and confirm. Then reboot your PC, and go back to the Device Manager again and check the settings.

by **terrorizer** on Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:56 am

DVD burner now working fine thanks, however my Secondary IDE was not recognised on a reboot and is now an Unknown device. However everything seems to be working fine, would it hurt to simply disable it?

Last.fm · by **Craig** on Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:09 pm

Hmmm, it should have been recognised, and by the looks of things, there's something attached to the channel, maybe a second hard drive or a second DVD drive?

The drivers should be generic enough, so try updating the drivers on the Unknown Device with no special options set. That'll just search the standard locations - e.g. System folders etc.

How many drives have you got (including hard drives) and do you know how they're are connected up (ie if they're on the primary or secondary IDE and if they're slave or master on the channel)?