Please help! i'm clueless

I believe the +RW will serve you well. I bought some about 18 mos ago and have 200+ read/writes going on some of them right now.

 

To answer your question, no, I don't think Nero 6.3.1.17 is bad. There were some problems reported with the June 1st release, and these were fixed in your July 2nd release.

I would suggest you double your page file to at least 2000 MB for video crunching.

To change the master/slave arrangement requires you get inside the box. Cut all power when doing so. You likely have an 80 conductor ribbon cable. The end furthest from the motherboard has the master connector. This is connected to the master device, which has a jumper on the back that MUST be set to the master setting. The middle connector is the slave, and that device must be set to slave. There is a nice diagram in the following thread/link. If the cable isn't long enough, you will have to buy another 80 conductor IDE cable. Your motherboard has a channel/connector for it.

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/1/91397

I know that it isn't logical that some of the media worked, and some didn't. You are asking the same question many before you have. A quick explanation is that you are dealing with marginal media. An interesting test would be to try to re-burn on the same discs that did work.

I have a couple of ideas that may make Nero more forgiving. Each of these are individual tasks, and so the follow-on task is not necessarily related to the one before it. (1) Go to Nero Burning ROM, pull down the File menu and click preferences. Tab to ultrabuffer, and set it to "Automatic Configuration." Make sure you press APPLY before OK. (2) Go to the Recorder menu (4 places to the right of File). Go down to "Erase Rewritable Disc" and see if it will recognize and erase a disc when inserted? (3)Close Nero, and relaunch Burning ROM. Choose the DVD-Video icon, and then change the write speed (see Burn tab)to the lowest speed. Then set up to burn a file you ran through Shrink. Once you insert the disc, press the burn icon, and see if it begins to format the disc prior to the write.

 

I just read an article about your drive (http://etna.rpc1.org/nec/) it is your drive that is having problems with 4x or higher disc. Have you tried 2.4x disc. Your drive only supports up to 2.4x +RW (or 2x -RW) anyways so you may just want to use them until they update your firmware again.

 

The firmware is what I was having the problem with so this has to be what it is. What kind of disc are you using (list bad & good and the speed of the disc)

 

@asi2577...

I have been wondering about the firmware myself. But since it looks like mindjgod already went to cdfreaks and may have dl'd some modded firmware, rather than official NEC fw, it is a probably a done deal.

Concerning 2.4X and 4X media, I use Nero, and it adjusts to whatever media I am using. Before I did a firmware upgrade, it would only write at 2.4X on 4X media. You do make a good point, though, and mindgod's system may be different.

@mindgod. Lets check your firmware. Launch Nero's InfoTools. It will tell you what version firmware is installed. Make a note of it, and then go to the NEC site, and see if that is what they say you should have. While you are in info tools, check the ASPI again. Make sure it says everything is properly installed.

 

My firmware is 1.0B which is the latest one and according to NEC is supports TDK+RW (http://www.de.nec.de/software/1053_Medialist_ND-1300A.pdf) The ASPI is installed properly both NERO aspi and the system aspi. ONE thing that i forgot to mention that i thought was insignificant and maybe it is: My ND-1300A is in an external enclosure kit and is connected to my computer through a USB 2.0 port.
Does that make any difference?

 

Externals do cause some people problems, and so this couuld be significant. A number of people here at AD do use externals, though, and like them very much.

My suggestion would be to remove the drive and hook it up to your IDE cable and to test it that way. And, it goes without saying ... cut power first, and then make sure you have the jumper set correctly.

 

"I have a couple of ideas that may make Nero more forgiving. Each of these are individual tasks, and so the follow-on task is not necessarily related to the one before it. (1) Go to Nero Burning ROM, pull down the File menu and click preferences. Tab to ultrabuffer, and set it to "Automatic Configuration." Make sure you press APPLY before OK. (2) Go to the Recorder menu (4 places to the right of File). Go down to "Erase Rewritable Disc" and see if it will recognize and erase a disc when inserted? (3)Close Nero, and relaunch Burning ROM. Choose the DVD-Video icon, and then change the write speed (see Burn tab)to the lowest speed. Then set up to burn a file you ran through Shrink. Once you insert the disc, press the burn icon, and see if it begins to format the disc prior to the write."

I set Ultrabuffer to automatic and the RW erased perfectly, then when the copy started it said: disc formatted successful and then it started writing and boom illegal disc error again! As for medias that worked already, when i erase them and try again, they work well. weird.

 

It isn't that weird when you've heard this many times before ... and that the problems went away after getting a good brand like Ritek. You've experienced a classic symptom of poor, marginal media.

 

it is bad media my friend...but i don't want to buy any more wahhhh. Before I had to buy ritek, i tried to erase blank DVD+RW media. The first two blank tdks erased. When they erased somehow they became formatted because the drive recognized them. THose woked in copying. however the rest of them (like 10) said illegal disc WHILE ERASING.

Now as for Ritek, is it safe to buy: Ritek Ridata 2.4X DVD+RW for this burner. if so, should i buy One (they let you) or a 10 pack.

 

Ritek Ridata 2.4X DVD+RW is a good choice. One or ten? I would get more than one ... only because if you scratched the only one you had, it could make it unreadable. And so I would want a backup. I have well over 200 burns on a couple of mine, and I'm still going strong. The rest depends on your personal needs and your budget.


_X_X_X_X_X_[small][/small]

 

That's strange, your error post (the long one) said you had 1.0A not 1.0B:
(Recorder: <_NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A> Version: 1.0A - HA 2 TA 0 - 6.3.1.17)

Where do you live because the site you posted is not the USA site
(www.NEC.com-USA - www.de.NEC.de-Not USA)?

You may want to remember how you got that drive, there are different firmware updates for that same drive...

From: http://forum.rpc-1.com/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1517

NEC ND-1300A - 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.0A, 1.0B / 1.10 , 1.11 , 1.16 (for OEM drives with 1.1x firmware) / 1.21 (for Iomega OEM drives with 1.2x firmware) / 103D (for Dell OEM drives) / 1.42 (for Fujitsu OEM drives)

NEC does not post the firmware on there site, it tells you to goto the manufactures website. (Our drives are sold directly to computer manufacuters. Please contact the company that sold you the drive for drivers, firmware and support.).
You may really want to check if the right firmware is installed.

 

Did you read the Readme file

-this Update works only with NEC ND-1300A (retail&bulk), not with OEM releases.
(OEM means part of a full PC package or external USB/FireWire variant of this burner)
For OEM products contact your dealer, distributior or manufacturer of PC package.
-Warranty will be lost during false updating procedure (especially modified firmwares were used before).
We (NEC) cannot guarantee correct updating, if "modified" firmwares, e.g. "herrie.rpc1.org" or
"etna.rpc1.org" etc., were used before, it is true such "hacks" offer a recovery function, but their
manufacturers had only assembled firmwares (NEC will never release original firmwares!), so
>YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE SAFETY THAT
>YOUR DRIVE HAS THE ORIGINAL FIRMWAREVERSION AGAIN!
In such cases we could not offer you a solution any more. You have to repair it by cost then.

 

MindGod,

Again I say, you have the correct firmware for that drive - SOMEBODY, QUICK MY SIG -

It's fine for Data backups, MP3 and even .Jpg and .Gif files BUT when we do DVD backups, it's another story -

(Here we go again Flip)

MindGod, I know you're not using Memorex but I'm going to use Memorex as an excellent example as media goes, figures as high as 50% coasters have been reported (One member bought a stack of 50 and got 23 good burns.), not what I would call an impressive record. There are 4 different companies that manufacture Memorex BTW and product quality varies widely as you might imagine. Easy to see now why the quality of a big-named company can't be trusted - " Who's making your Memorex tonight ?" Note: Memorex in the singles, 5 or 10 pack, as a rule, cause less problem than those Memorex sold in bulk BUT they still aren't recommended for DVD backups.

Is it just Memorex ? No ! I just used Memorex as an example. Fuji, Sony, TDK, Orange Pack and many Ritek and Verbatim discs aren't suitable as a DVD backup media - that's why we are specific in the type of media we are recommending.

1. * Cheap media freezes, skips, pixelats and may refuse to be recognized :-(
Besides "Freezing", "skips" and pixelations, many times you'll get a "Cyclic Redundancy error" or an "I/O error". This message can mean that your discs are scratched or dirty, it can also mean that your burner won't accept your "cheap" media :-(
Another problem which "pops up" is a "*Power Calibration Error". This can stop you right in your tracks and most often is caused by, Yep, you guessed it, inexpensive media.
*A "Power Calibration Error" can also be attributed to the Optical Components of a DVD Writer, though this isn't usually the case. Trying to shut down your software and ejecting your DVD then restarting your program and re-inserting the same media recently cleaned has been known to help.

Inexpensive media or even average media is great for text, Data, Spreadsheets, .Jpg and .Gif pictures and is good even for MP3 music BUT for DVD backups - BLAaaaaaT! It SUCKTH in an extremely Big-th way !

2. A good grade, Hi-quality media is needed for DVD reproduction !
"Branded" Ritek G04's or Branded Verbatim are what we're looking for OR any media boasting "Advanced Metal AZO." - BUT it MUST SAY "METAL" AZO !, this indicates a superior dye application, while they are sometimes a bit "pricey" they are acceptable.
Prices online from Meritline.com have gotten Ritek G04 starting at about a 1/2 dollar($ .50 USD) a disc -
Question - If you make coasters out of 3 cheap or even average discs and good copies from 3 Branded Verbatim discs or 3 "Branded" Ritek G04 discs - which ones then will you say are too expensive ? The 3 "Cheapo's with no movie backup OR, the 3 recommended discs with a perfect backup on each disc ?

Bear in mind, Memorex, Fuji, Sony, TDK, Orange Pack and others are quite good for your MP3 music, picture archives, Spread sheets, Data and your text backups and archives, they just don't work well for DVD backups. Even DataSafe G04's made by Ritek have been reported as an inferior quality media and are evoking that "Oh no, I shouldn't have gotten those."
Remember, for DVD backups, purchasing inexpensive media or even average media is a gamble, some people win, the majority of people lose, varying amounts but, they still lose :-(

Let's try the right media for the job - just buy a 5 pack of what we recommend that will settle it once and for all - Don't cheat though, buy the EXACT media we recommended -

Using good grade media can guarantee you one thing to an absolute certainty; it surely cannot hurt.

BTW, In an effort to clear the air, when I speak of "Cheap" or "Inexpensive" media, I'm not referring to the price you pay at the counter - I'm referring to the type of composite some manufactures use, their method of dye application and the lack of OR the poor quality control used during manufacturing. when I say "Branded" that means that when you pick up a disc in your hand, it says "Ritek" or "Verbatim" on the disc itself. The monetary cost of the media we recommend many times is cheaper than that you are buying now.

cheers,

Pete


PS
FAIR WARNING. . . Using that "Cheap" media, your backups may not last all that long -

One thing I haven't addressed is the life of a backup made on an "el cheapo" disc. We all know that data, music and video backups on CD's and DVD's will last forever, well, if not forever for at least 100 yrs or so - That's what we've read and that's why we backup our treasures to disc, so that they'll be safe. "BLAaaaT" (the bone chilling sound of an emergency air horn), Wrong, Dead Wrong ! Don't throw the originals away, you may very well need them. Your video camera tapes and family picture CD's and DVD's, may not be there the next time you want to look at them. "Point of fact," inferior discs have a tendency to "Break down]" in time. In a very short time, we're talking disc breakdown in less than a single year, in as little as 6 to 8 months.

Important, please read -
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=513486



_X_X_X_X_X_[small]
The “old man” Pete (ö¿ô)
Compaq 8000, Pent 4 CPU 2.84GHz, 1024MB RAM, 520GB HD.
4 Drives, JLMS DVD ROM, Pioneer 107, 8X R/W , Nec 4X R/W ND-1300A, AXV CD/DVD-ROM.
GeForce4 Ti 4200-128MB, OS– X[/small]

 

Thanks pete for your detailed response,[bold]well I am about to buy Ritek Ridata 2.4X DVD+RW[/bold]

That should be perfect for DVD backups right?

And the post about the firmware freaked me out...I do have the RIGHT firmware right..

 

In case my answer got lost somewhere,

I suggest you get single-write media, not RW stuff.

Remember, allot of standalones don't play RW media.

I use my RW stuff for practicing with, storing backup PC data on and the like - When you wish to have discs to play on standalones, use good quality single-write media -

cheers,

Pete

 

Yea but, I have a Sony DVD player and it plays RW media very well. I never had a problem. I am reluctant to buy a DVD-R because what happens if an error happens? Then that Disc is USELESS. RW can be re-used.

 

OK, if you're never going to take a disc out of the house and you can afford that many RW discs, I reckon there's no problem at all. Me, I have about 700+ DVDs and to back them up using RWs compared to the single-write Ritek G04's and "branded" Verbatims that I use would have costs me literally many of hundreds of dollars more, not a few bucks but many hundreds of dollars more - The numbers of coasters ? Maybe $10.00(USD). I can afford $10.00, I can't afford Hundreds more -

I hope that holds true for just your DVDs.

Imagine if you felt that way about driving and you stayed home forever because you could have an accident - see where I'm coming from ?

When I begin using a new proggy, I use RWs too. When I make a couple of burns and all goes well, I switch to single-write because I want to have that movie for as long as possible. Once you get the "Hang" of it - the chance of errors drops to near zero. I use quite a few proggys to do backups because I like the variety I know how to use them all now so coasters are rare BUT if I get a coaster, I switch to RWs until I iron out the problem -

Each to his own, as I said in the beginning, if you'll always have that player or one that will play RWs, fine.

cheers,

Pete

 

thanks pete and thanks to everyone who replied and everyone on this forum. THis is a very neat forum with helpful suggestions. I ended up ordering a ten pack of Ritek Ritadas (DVD+RW) and as you suggested pete, i also ordered a couple of GO4s. (well just one lol). I will post the results as soon as I try them. If this won't solve the illegal disc problem, well then I will throw my drive out the window! (just kidding)

thanks for all the support!!!!!!

 

Time to say your prayers -

"P"