FAQ, tips and tricks - Write error

At the beginning of the writing process the drive will perform a test to determine the optimal Laser power for the CDR media. When the drive is not able to determine the power a "power calibration error" will be shown.
Because the test is a combination of the drive and the CDR media both should be verified.
- Make sure you have the latest firmware for your writer installed.
- Make sure you use branded quality CDR media, or recommended Media by Plextor.
- Try different branded media, maybe you just bought a bad batch.
- If the problem still consists contact the Plextor Helpdesk.

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- What is a buffer-underrun?

When writing a CD each track has to be written without any interruption. The PlexWriter's have a built in buffer to compensate the reduction in the transfer rate from the computer. If this transfer rate is too slow, the buffer runs out of data. This is called a Buffer Underrun.

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- How to prevent Buffer underruns from happening.

On ATAPI systems:
- Activate DMA mode in Windows
- Close all programs (especially those who can activate themselves)
- If the writer has Burn-proof, ensure Burn-proof is enabled to prevent a defective CD. This can be done with the utility PlexTools, drive settings.
- Disable the Windows screensaver during the writing process
- Other applications are running, virus-scanner…
- Ensure your source drive is fast enough to provide the data to the recorder.
- Make sure the Plextor is installed in Master position on the secondary controller.
- Verify you have installed the most recent drivers for your IDE controller
- Verify that the most recent ASPI layer is installed for your Windows environment, more information can be found on our ASPI page.

On USB systems:
- Make sure you are using a USB 2.0 controller
- Close all programs (especially those who can activate themselves)
- Ensure Burn-proof is enabled to prevent a defective CD. This can be done with the utility PlexTools, drive settings
- Disable the Windows screensaver during the writing process
- Terminate other applications like virus-scanner...
- Ensure your source drive is fast enough to provide the data
- Verify you have installed the most recent drivers for your USB controller
- Verify that the most recent ASPI layer is installed for your Windows environment, more information can be found on our ASPI page.

On SCSI systems:
- Make sure your SCSI controller has 20 Mb/sec transfer rate or greater.
- When you have a BIOS on your SCSI controller, make sure it is set to 20 MB/sec for the Plextor.
- Close all programs (especially those who can activate themselves).
- Ensure Burn-proof is enabled to prevent a defective CD.
- Disable the Windows screensaver during the writing process.
- Terminate other applications like virus-scanner...
- Ensure your source drive is fast enough to provide the data.
- Verify if the most recent ASPI layer is installed for your Windows OS.
- Verify that the most recent ASPI layer is installed for your Windows environment, more information can be found on our ASPI page.

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- Cannot add files to a previous made CD-R/RW disc.

Possible causes:
- The CD-R or CD-RW disc was originally written using another recording software (InCD, Direct CD…).
- The disc was finalised with a recording software like Nero Burning ROM.
- The writing speed specification of the CD-RW is incompatible with the recorder, there are 3 formats: 2-4x, High Speed CD-RW (4-10x) and Ultra Speed CD-RW (8-32x) .

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- When I want to copy data to my old 2x - 4x CD-RW media I get a "write protected error" from my recording software.

Possible causes:
- Because the new high-speed recorders use a different technology to write CD-RW the writing of some low speed CD-RW media is no longer possible. We advice you to check the Plextor CD-RW compatibility list for your model.
- The reading of this low speed CD-RW media is still possible in high-speed recorders.

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- The buffer of my PX-708A is fluctuating between 0 and 100% during the recording, the recording takes longer than normal. How can I resolve this?

The reason for the fluctuating buffer is that the data you are recording is sent too slow to the Plextor recorder. This problem is mostly resolved by installing the Plextor as secondary master unit and installing the most recent busmaster drivers for your IDE controller.

Note: if you are using an Nforce IDE controller chipset it is recommended to use only the standard IDE controller drivers supplied by windows.
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- I cannot create multisession DVD+R discs.

Verify that you are using Windows XP as operating system previous operating systems do not support multisession DVD+R discs.
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