I think my CD-RW drive is Broken

[Solidus]

I think the component that writes to cds in my cdrw is broken. I can't burn any cds. when i test burn, it goes through 100% every time. then , when i start burning, it looks like its working, then stops after 10 seconds and dies. when i look at the underside of the coaster, i notice that part with written data is not a consistant color. It sort of fades and spirals at some places. My guess is that this means the laser that writes to the cds is broken. Is there any way to fix this, or must i get it repaired?

[Solidus]

It is an iomega zipcd 12x10x32, purchased about 7 months ago, if that helps.

[MASTOURA]

Not sure about the Iomega, but I used to have an HP that did the same thing, and it eventually died. But HP had some big problems with the early designs of their CDRWs...

I hope your Iomega is not dead though.
Best of luck,

M.

[Brangwen]

Solidus, did that CDRW used to burn ok? If not, try a different brand medium. Or a different software? What brand of CDR and software are you using? Check the Iomega Website for trouble shooting. May be software patches, new drivers, advice.

Good luck!

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Solidus]

I have been using the same brand of media for months without any problems. I'm using easy cd creator 5. I'll check for patches and updates, but i don't think thats a problem. This has never happened before, and i burn a lot of cds.

[Bovon]

I would have to say that the laser is weak or dying. The first thing a CDRW does when setting up to burn, is calibrate the power level needed to burn the particular disk you have chosen to use. Different types of media, require more or less power to burn a cd disk...too much, and it will destroy the disk, and too little and it will not burn the dat into the media, thus..it must calibrate each time it is setup to burn.

I think if it was mine, and it is still under warrantee, I would RMA the thing back to Iomega.

Iomega does not manufacture CD-RW drives, they rebag someone elses, just like HP does.

There are only about 4 CD-RW drives on the market that are made by the brand that it is sold under, Sony, Plextor and Yamaha are three that I know of.

There is a great deal of good info at the following site for burners and disks. I noticed that the burner make/models have not been udated in awhile, but the only two Iomega drives shown, a ZIPCD 4x650 4x4x24 Philips CDD4201 and ZIPCD 650 2x2x24 Philips CDD3801. Philips had a bad name in the burner department, and were taken to court with a class action suit a couple of years ago.
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_cd-writer_tech.shtml
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_writers.shtml
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd.shtml

[Bsdboy]

The Iomega 12x10x32 is made by Plextor.
I hope this is some help.

Bsdboy