That Sony Burner that gives me headaches....

[dopefeedback]

Ok, I desperatly need help.

I still can't figure out why I get "The recording device returned an error cdode bla bla bla at block bla bla bla..." messages everytime I try to record a CD.

The Device is a Sony CRX140E IDE 8x4x32x Writer. It's hooked up as Master on the secondary IDE channel...

The people at the store where I bought it is to no help. They can't find anything wrong with the drive.

If you have any idea what to do, please help me. I spent about $200 on this device and I've burnt like 10 cd's with it...

I've tried like all the obvious stuff...

Appreciate any help at all.
---
As per request: more sysinfo. If you need more accurate info please tell me.

Mobo: Jetway 993AN
CPU: Celeron 600
RAM: 192Mb PC100
Harddrives: Primary Master: Fujitsu 13Gb Primary Slave: IBM DTLA 15Gb Secondary Master: Sony CRX140E Writer, Secondary Slave: 48x CD-Rom
Video: Riva TNT2 M64 32Mb
Sound: Soundblaster PCI128
NIC: 3Com Etherlink III
OS: Windows 98 (First Edition)
Burner Software: I've tried The software that came with the writer (WinOnCD 3.7), Adaptec Easy CD Creator & a program called TuneSpark.

If you want more info, tell me.

Hope this helps...

Very grateful for all the help I can get.

---
Update:

It seems that however I configure the drives it still won't work. Nero said the error was a communication error. I'm getting new cables for the drives soon and hopefully, they will magically fix everything.

/Dope Feedback

[This message has been edited by dopefeedback (edited 07-20-2001).]

[This message has been edited by dopefeedback (edited 07-31-2001).]

[NDD]

Give more details of your system specs. What burning software do you using ? If EZCD5, try Nero 5.x or NTI CD-Maker 2000.

Best Regards ...

[qwerty12345]

Try a different type of CDR media. Sometimes, burners won't write to some media.

[crazyray]

Hello DFB!

I have that same burner and have had NO problems. (Isn't that always the way...)

I have mine configured as the slave to a generic CD-ROM on the secondary IDE channel..I'm using Easy CD Creator 4.03 DELUXE. According to the Roxio site, it says you need 4.02 (or higher, I assume). I'll admit I didn't even open the software that came with the drive.

A quick test of the drive is to make a copy of an existing audio CD. Use the CD Copier, and use the Sony drive to both read and burn. When you set the drive that way, an area on the second tab becomes "un-grayed-out" and indicates that your image of the CD will be placed in the Windows temp folder. When it finishes loading the image to the HD you will be prompted to remove the CD and place a blank disc. The tray should automatically slide back in, burn and close the CD. This should work. I am NOT a big fan of copying CD's "on-the-fly" using the CD-Rom as the reader.

Remember that this drive does NOT have burn-proof so you cannot use the PC for anything else when burning. Turn the screen saver off. Place all music files you are burning in one folder. De-frag the HD from time to time. I've used CD-R's from Imation, Sony, Verbatim, PNY, Fuji, and TDK successfully. When burning a collection of files (instead of copying a disc), set the burner to Disc At Once (DAO). All files need to burned in ONE session and the disc "closed", as it will automatically be if set to DAO.

BTW, this drive appears to be identical to the Hewlett-Packard 9100i, which I also have and which has also worked properly for me and thousands of others. Try again carefully. Check www.cdr-info.com in the "audio" section for additional burning tips.

Finally, I use a recent version of CloneCD for those hard to back up discs like Playstation. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by crazyray (edited 07-21-2001).]

[benchristian]

some cd-rw's have problems being daisy-chained on the same ide channel with a cd-rom drive for on-the-fly copies.

[crazyray]

Ben's right I'm sure. There are so many lousy CD-ROMs out there that I just DON'T copy on the fly. I copy to the HD first as noted above. Fast enough for me.

[awforrest]

Check the aspi layer. Set the CDRW alone on a channel or unfortunately as the slave to the hard drive. I had similar problems and set mine up on an old promise Ultra66 card and it is now trouble free.

Hope that helps.

[Mr. NoOne]

I have a Sony too, it's a Sony Spressa CRX140E (8/4/32X)...I haven't got any problems & so far I've burnt around 50 Cd's with it...
I have 2 hard drives on the first channel & on the second channel a CD-ROM as master & the recorder as slave. Don't forget you have to move the jumpers to set yours as slave or master.
I'm using Nero (http://www.nero.com), I think is the best software...

Also don't forget to turn off the 'Auto insert notification' for the recorder (on the device manager)

[Cody]

Well, my Maxtor 30GB HD is on the Primary IDE Channel as Master alone... I have an AOpen DVD-ROM (16X) on my Secondary IDE Channel as Master, and my PlexWriter 8/4/32A as Slave (running WIndows 2000 and Easy CD Creator 4) and I haven't made a bad CD copying yet (in Windows 2000 at least.. Me hates my CD-RW drive)

[nodnerb2]

I've got the same Burner. I use Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4 Deluxe. When I first got the Burner I was using the Software that came with it( I can't remember what it was) and it was not very good. My Coaster collection increased lots.

I have also stopped using CDRW Media as I have had a lot of problems with them when addinf Data although they were ok for copying CD's. CDR's are cheap enough to be used and biffed when they've done their lot. Like Crazy Ray I make a file on the HD when copying CD's.

I am using Traxdata and Sony CDR's and having great success.You could try recording at a slower speed and see if this lets you get past the point where it always stops.

Good Luck

Nodnerb2

[dopefeedback]

Thank you all.

Unfortunatly, your advice are all things I've heard before. I need something new, something that explains why the drive stopped working suddenly on my computer but works fine when the store is testing it.

I'm even now considering getting another computer (older Pentium 2 or something) just to run the burner on. It seems the only way out right now.

But once again, thank you to the most useful tech community out there.

/Dope Feedback