DVD Burning Problem

[hubmub]

I have recently installed an NEC 1300A burner. When I try to burn a DVD (data) on cheap CompUSA -R media, the computer will spontaneously shut off (or restart) at some point during the burn. Nero 5.5 is burning at 2X, so the drive recognizes the media. I have updated the firmware to 1.09 (the latest of which I'm aware) and have just updated Nero to 5.5.10.54.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

what are the rest of the specs of your computer?

os?

[implexant]

You might try a Ritek media (-R), I've heard they work well with that drive. You can get them at newegg in 4x media.

-Chris

[Bovon]

I have read several posts where a better PSU will fix that. Burners consume a lot of power..much moreso than a reader. I suspect a DVD burner will consume more power than a CD RW.

The problem could partially be a bad batch of disks, but this usually only leads to coasters..not shutting the machine down.

The Nero version you have..I assume it is an upgrade from the Ahead site?.. was the original a registered version or came bundled with a burner?.. the Nero soft that comes bundled with certain burners are assigned a key serial that only works with that particular burner...Nero must be registered and assigned a registered serial key for it to recognize all burners (or at least all that Ahead has written into the software).

Still..even that should not cause a reboot.. I still suggest checking out a better PSU.

[hubmub]

Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry about having two threads, I realized I had not included system information shortly after the first one, and so I started a new thread, not realizing I could have easily edited my original.

I am running Windows XP Home.

It may well be a power supply issue, this is an old system that has been upgraded little bits at a time. I'll replace the P/S and try that. Yes, this Nero came with a CD burner originally and has been upgraded through downloads. I do not have a UPS.

Any other thoughts will be appreciated until I get a chance to upgrade the power supply.

[Bovon]

To "kinda" test the bad PSU theory...disconnect everything possible that you can in the system...disconnect case fans, remove sound cards..anything you can possibly get along without for a test..even disconnect other drives..leaving only the DVD burner. Boot into Windows and try a burn. If it now burns without a reboot..that will pretty well nail it down to a weak PSU..but, if it still reboots..does not necessarily eliminate the PSU as the problem.

[hubmub]

Haven't replaced the power supply yet, but I just tried burning a CD and the same thing happened at about 75% complete. Maybe this drive requires more power than my previous CD-RW. Come to think of it, I had an unintended restart a couple of weeks ago that I could never explain. Maybe this cheapo P/S is on its way out...

[hubmub]

Thanks Bovon,

It took me a while to find time, but I finally ran your "kinda test." I pulled everything that took power (old ISA scanner card, ethernet, modem, sound, second 7200 rpm hd, second dvd-rom drive) and just booted the system with video, main hard drive, and the burner.

I burned a test CD first ($0.05 media) and it completed. So, I drew a deep breath and filled a DVD-R to capacity (one of the cheap CompUSA discs). Started the burn, and it FINISHED.

I guess my 400W power supply just can't handle all of that other stuff during a burn with this drive. My old 52X CD-RW worked fine. I have a 550W supply on the way, and in the meantime I can burn if I want to with a little inconvenience.

:::Happy hubmub:::