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Still having problems with Plextor 708UF External - long
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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17. February 2006 @ 09:55 |
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Don't know if anyone remembers, but I posted a problem I've had with my Plextor 708UF external DVD burner many many many months ago. I've gotten fed up with it and have just learned to live with it. However, I'm wanting to revisit the problem again and see if anyone might have any new suggestions.
When I purchased the unit, my first 2-3 movie burns were perfect. After that, each attempt was progressively worse, with skips and pauses. I had been using a product from 1-2-3 at that time (can't remember the name), switched to DVD Cloner II, 1 clickDVD and couldn't get any better results. After suggestions from this board, I tried DVD Shrink and DVD Decryptor but still had the progressively worse burns, with skips of 2-3 minutes at a time. Then I removed any problematic programs such as Symantec, Nero Drag & drop etc. It didn't get any better. Now, I turn off all of my "services", reboot the computer and run the Shrink/Decrypter combo. I have it set for the slowest burn and after about 2 hours, the DVD is much better, but still having the skips and pauses. I have tried numerous different brands of media, different DVD players, updating my firmware, calling Plextor and running diagnostics to no avail. I can't get a good burn. It was determined that I have enough of a computer to run everything.
Could there be a compatiblilty problem with my computer, the USB interface and the burner or is the burner just not doing it. I'm at a point that I want to throw the thing away, but keeping reading reviews on how great a product it is.
What should I do now?
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yankeeDDL
Junior Member
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17. February 2006 @ 13:02 |
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I have an USB DVD burner and I had some similar troubles at the beginning.
One problem was the burning speed: I use 4X or 6X if I feel lucky, but no more.
I had problems even if the drive has buffer underrun protection.
I tried to burn connecting the drive to a USB 1.0 port (the speed is less than 1X): the disks burned without problem and plays fine.
Then I used 8X on an USB 2.0 port. The speed was actually sustained at 8X but the disk does not play well and when I tried to rip th eburned DVD I got errors (even though the data verification after burning gave 0 errors).
What do I make out of it? That burning at high speed on USB ports is not good. Maybe it's my drive but then again, why would it work when connected on a USB 1.0?
So here are some suggestions I have:
1) Try lowest speed
2) You installed and uninstalled several burning softwares. Many software conflict with each other and most softwares leave traces behind after uninstalled. If you can, I'd recommend you format your disk and do a clean installation.
3) Try burning on another computer, even an old one with USB 1.0 ports only and see how it goes.
4) Try different media: newer is not always better: sometimes older drives don;t digest new media very well. If your drive is 8X, try some good 4X disks if you find them.
5) Check the compatibility of your DVD Player. Mine does not play DVD+R, so I only burn DVD-R.
Good luck
YankeeDoodle
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david66
Senior Member
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17. February 2006 @ 15:11 |
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your problem may be caused by the brand of media that you are using there is a lot of junk media out there cmc is one of them memorex is poor quality TDK is poor media infopro is poor quality Sony TY Verbatim are all good quality media
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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17. February 2006 @ 17:32 |
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I have been burning at 1X or 2X speed all this time and have used Verbatim, Maxell and numerous other brands. I have even tried +R and -R. I cannot get any good burns. As far as re-formatting the hard drive to clean things up, that is not an option.
Warren
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yankeeDDL
Junior Member
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17. February 2006 @ 19:36 |
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Since you tried different media, it could be a problem with the software/drivers.
On my old laptop many problems went away when I installed Microsoft's ActiveSync 4.1: it has the newest USB drivers.
Since formatting is not an option, here's what I would do:
1) Uninstall ALL the DVD-related softwares
2) Go in "Program Files" and delete all the folders of burning softwares that you have uninstalled
3) Open regedit - careful - and search strings of any of the softwares that you have uninstalled.
You can also try some of the free registry cleaning utilities.
4) Download Activesync from Microsoft's website and install it
5) Re-install DVD Shrink and Nero (for the time being. Use an eval copy of Nero if you don't have one)
6) Try burning and post the log.
You may also want to make sure that you have all the latest firmware on the burner.
Also, I would still try and use another PC to burn something, especially if new and/or freshly configured.
YankeeDoodle
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. February 2006 @ 19:36
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jeryinlbc
Newbie
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17. February 2006 @ 20:44 |
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Sorry to hear you're having problems with the burner. I have a 708uf works great. You might want to:
Reformat your hard drive
Update the firmware at Plextor.com
Check that your primary and secondary Ide channel set to DMA mode
Check the USB card it's properly working
Defrag the hard drive.
Good Luck.
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. February 2006 @ 07:21 |
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Quote:
Check that your primary and secondary Ide channel set to DMA mode
DMA does no apply for USB drives.
I have this drive also and have no problems with it, I would contact Plextor, or wherever you got it from and return it. There is something wrong. If Plextor states you have enough resources to run the drive then it should run. I have had this drive on one of my older comps that only has SP1 and it runs perfectly.
What are your computer specs anyway?
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 07:50 |
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Thanks for replying.
My computer is a P4 2.4 GHz, 512 Meg Ram with a 60% full 50 gig harddrive. As mentioned before, I've had this problem for sometime, having purchased the burner in July 2004. I've been in contact with Plextor before the warranty ran out and they had me run self diagnostics. Everything came back okay, so they told me it wasn't their problem. I've been living with the problem, only burning a few movies over this time. Only reason I'm revisiting the problem is my brother & cousin just got some burners and they are bragging how all their burns are perfect and only take about 1/2 hour to do.
Warren
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. February 2006 @ 07:55 |
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Your computer has enough to run this drive with no problems. Have you tried it on another computer because that is the only way you will no if it is indeed a conflict or drive problem. If it does not work on another computer there is indeed something wrong with the drive. I have two Plex 716 one USB and on internal and they both work as they should. You do not have anything checked in PlexTools that is slowing down the drive?
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 09:09 |
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I don't think I have Plextools on my computer. Trying it on another computer was going to be my next step. I will let you know how I make out.
Warren
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. February 2006 @ 09:14 |
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Didn't your drive come with the PlexTools so you could run the diagnostics and configure the drive?
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 10:40 |
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No it didn't come with Plextools. All I got was some DVD writing software.
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 11:03 |
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This is the way my day is going. Just took the burner over to the kid's computer and ran into problems. The drive shows up as being installed, but having no drivers. When it tries to look for some, it errors out saying it can't find the right driver. I thought Windows XP was suppose to work flawlessly when installing new devices. Now what's happening. As far as I now, you can't get any specific USB drivers for this DVD burner.
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. February 2006 @ 14:13 |
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There should be no need for drivers XP whould be able to recognize this as a Plex, the only thing that comes with the drive is PlexTools which is a utility to test/record/scan disks. If the computer is not recognize there may be something messed up in the enclosure. Are you sure you have the jumper in the back set to USB and not firewire. This drive does have firewire capability if your computer has a firewire hookup you can always try that and see if it will run.
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 14:21 |
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Yep, the jumpers are set to USB.
Warren
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. February 2006 @ 14:23 |
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I can only say to try the firewire if you can, because XP should pick up this drive with no problem.
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yankeeDDL
Junior Member
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18. February 2006 @ 14:34 |
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Did you try to install ActiveSync? Maybe you just need to freshen up the USB drivers.
YankeeDoodle
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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20. February 2006 @ 07:32 |
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Update.
I moved the burner to another computer and burned two movies. I watched one in its entirety and it had one skip in the middle. I don't know if the original had one or not. The other movie I only watched the first 45 minutes and it was flawless up to that point. Incompatibility between my computer and the burner ???
Warren
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yankeeDDL
Junior Member
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20. February 2006 @ 07:38 |
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It's definitely a software issue then.
I don't think there is any incompatibility when using a USB port.
I had suggested to uninstall all DVD-related softwares and re-install them (I'm going to copy-past them below).
Try also installing ActiveSync 4.1 which has latest USB drivers.
--------- previous posts ---------
1) Uninstall ALL the DVD-related softwares
2) Go in "Program Files" and delete all the folders of burning softwares that you have uninstalled
3) Open regedit - careful - and search strings of any of the softwares that you have uninstalled.
You can also try some of the free registry cleaning utilities.
4) Download Activesync from Microsoft's website and install it
5) Re-install DVD Shrink and Nero (for the time being. Use an eval copy of Nero if you don't have one)
6) Try burning and post the log.
YankeeDoodle
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WarrenC
Junior Member
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20. February 2006 @ 12:36 |
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thank you YankeeDoodle. Will try.
Warren
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