Write error with Internal DVD burner in External Enclosure

[real_ki]

Hello.
I have Pioneer DVR-112D internal DVD writer enclosed in Bytecc ME-720U2F external enclosure which has both USB and Firewire connection. I've connected this device via USB connection to my laptop. I haven't gone through extensive test, but it seems so far the reading is OK. However, when I try to write or burn DVD, it keeps failing a few minutes after it starts to write.

I seriously doubt it's the DVD burner that's causing the problem as I tried this before with Samsung's internal DVD writer and I was having the exact same problem when connected to my external enclosure, but it works fine when I connect it as internal drive. I thought maybe Pioneer burner might give a better result, so I got one, but it's behaving the same.

Is this a fairly common problem with trying to burn a CD or DVD with internal drive in external enclosure? Or is it just my particular external enclosure that's just bad? Anyone using this particular external enclosure and not having any problems with internal dvd burner?

Can someone recommend a good and cheap external enclosure for DVD writer that you know it works well?

I've thought about getting a Pioneer's original external DVD burner and maybe use that as the enclosure in the future with another internal drive. I figured the original factory made external drive should work without any problem.. but just not sure how easy it would be to swap out and put different internal devices in it to use it as an external enclosure.

Thank you all in advance.. I'm sure I'll hear some great comments and maybe even solutions to my problem.

- Ki

[mjc]

USB 1.1 or 2.0?

What is the exact error message when the burn fails?

[saphalline]

USB 1.1 or 2.0?Also, related to the speed of the connection, at what speed are you trying to burn your disks? For instance, a 40X CD burn speed over USB 1.1 is going to fail in record time! (Pun intended. :p)

[real_ki]

I just wanted to make one correction and add some additional info.
It's actually Bytecc ME-320U2F, not 720U2F. It's kinda old and the image of 720 model at Bytecc site looked just like mine, but I came home and checked and it's ME320U2F model. Sorry about providing the wrong info.

To answer some of your questions first... This is the error I get:
Sense: 02 ASC: 04 ASCQ: 07 (Command 51)
-------------------------------------------------------
Px.dll: 3.2.40.500
PxMas.dll: 3.2.40.500
PxWave.dll: 3.2.40.500
pxdrv.dll: 1.1.93.1
PxSFS.DLL: 3.2.40.500
pxafs.dll: 3.2.40.500
pxwma.dll: 1.0.0.3

It's connected to USB 2.0 port and the enclosure supports USB 2.0.
I tried DVD-R at 4X then ruined it, then I tried DVD+RW at 2.4X and still seeing the error. I did my own research earlier and got the latest firmware for Prolific 3507 chip and it updated successfully, however I just tried burning DVD+RW at 2.4X and failed again with exact same message.

I am using Windows 2000 Pro and using a software called Sonic's RecordNow version 7.32.

I hope this provides enough information.

Thanks.

[mjc]

I've come up with two things for this error...drive problems, but since it happens with two different drives, that is doubtful. The, which seems more likely, media problems...try a different batch/brand of disks...

There is a third option...try different burning software. Deepburner (http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download) has a free version and also, a portable (usable on a usb flash drive) version.

[real_ki]

I can almost be certain that it's not the drive problem nor the media problem. When I first tried it long time ago with Samsung DVD writer, it failed, but worked fine when I installed it as regular internal IDE drive. And I've been using the same media (RiData DVD-R 8X and DVD+RW 4X) on that drive and others and never had any problems.

I also tried more testing and I was able to write successfully at 4X with firewire connection and at about 0.8X with USB connection. I could live with 4X using firewire, but I was going to give this to my sister if it worked out with USB...

I've also tried with couple of different burning software last time such as Nero and an old one I think Adaptec's EZ-CD Creator which both failed with same symptom.

I was really hoping the firmware upgrade fixed everything, but it didn't and I am leaning toward the conclusion that it's just a bad enclosure for at least the USB part of it.

I will give the Deepburner a try and see how it works out. Good thing I've got DVD+RW medias try these.. :) I'll let you know how it goes probably tomorrow. Thanks.

[Sylvander]

Try using FREE imgburn (http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download).
It automatically deletes a RW optical disk found in the drive before attempting to burn to the disk, and when burning it gives a good display of how full are the two buffers.
2nd buffer = hardware/drive buffer.
1st buffer = I'm not sure...perhaps it's on the HDD.

When I've used it...
1st buffer is normally full [sometimes it displays empty, don't know why], then as the job completes it empties.

2nd buffer fluctuates. Normally about 90%, but sometimes drops quite low toward zero.

See the rather nice, and FREE DVD Flick (http://beginwithsoftware.com/videoguides/dvd-flick-guide.html).

[real_ki]

Well... so I've tried the DeepBurner with USB connection.
It seemed to work, but the catch is that I think it worked because it was writing at about 1X speed or so. It only detects the maximum speed it can write and so I selected 8X with DVD-R media and burned about 4.6 GB of data and it took right around 53 minutes which is why I think it actually burned at speed of 1X or so... maybe it was because I was using the free version... I wish it showed the actual writing speed.

As for imgburn, it looks like it only burns off of image file (I just went to the site and looked at the screenshot and that's what I saw), so it's probably not going to be very useful for me.

[Sylvander]

File types supported by imgburn = bin, cdi, cdr, di, dvd, gcm, gi, ibq, img, iso, lst, mds, nrg, pdi, udi.

DVD Flick will work with many types of movie file and create an iso file in the process. imgburn is integrated into the program.
Supported file types = 3gp, 3g2, avi, flv, hdmov, mpg, m2v, mpeg, mp4, m4v, mkv, mjpg, nut, nsv, qt, mov, rm, smk, ogm, wmv, asf.

I'd guess that most programs for doing various kinds of tasks will create an iso file as part of it's normal process.

p.s. I suggested imgburn firstly to use it to help diagnose a possible problem with the speed of data transfer [the buffer displays might show this].
Whether you continue to use it is another matter altogether.

[mjc]

With the reduced writing speed and the errors in other programs, I'd be inclined to say the enclosure is the problem.

[real_ki]

Alright... I guess my enclosure is just bad.
mjc, I see you are the moderator of this forum.
I am guessing you've heard and read about a bunch of different problems.
In your opinion, does external enclosure with DVD writer (rarely | sometimes | usually) gives a problem like this? I see a whole bunch of people are using it to enclose hard-drive, but not so much of DVD writer. Or is it just my bad luck that I happen to run into a bad one?

[mjc]

Most enclosures are great for hard drives, but many aren't all that good for burners...I would suspect that this particular enclosure isn't really rated for a burner and that it would work fine for a hard drive.

Also, does this particular enclosure have an external power supply or is it bus powered? Externally powered enclosures would be better for burners, because in general, burners require more power than hard drives and the USB bus is limited in the amount of power it can supply a device.

[real_ki]

Just going through my old posts and updating and answering things...

So, the external enclosure that I had works fine with hard drive.
It just couldn't handle the DVD Burner burning at fast enough rate.
So I've been using the enclosure for hard drive and DVD burner is used as internal drive.