Suggestions and feedback for Plextor

To confirm this problem: Regular Plextools Professional V2.33 does work fine with external drives and this function.

To confirm this problem: Regular Plextools Professional V2.33 does not show this problem. Scanning starts right away.

Don't release firmware that ruins a perfectly good drive.............1.10
Absolutely WEAK

PTPXL 3.11

It looks like a lot of my earlier reports have been adressed. Thanks!

Some further issues:

- Logarythmic display 'forgets' about the value "1" (see blow).
- Also in logarythmic display the numbers get crowded together expecially when higher max value (100 and up) is selected. Not too critical, but not very nice. I wouldn't mind if only every second line was labelled, as long as the top value remains labelled.
- All-In-One Test does not allow for background to be selected (option is there but greyed out)?
- All-In-One Test does not allow to select/deselect the average-graph (line).

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Last edited by hwp; 10-11-2006 at 14:19.

PTPXL 3.11 / PX-760 FW 1.05

I think i wrote about this earlier aready: Beta/Jitter scanning with the 760 is (still) BROKEN.

Approximately one out of five scans stopp somewhere with an "uncorrectable error". It cannot be the disc quality, other testing shows the disc and data on it just to be fine. Also a PX-716 will perform a B/J-scan of the same disk without problems.

Examples:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=195
and attachments

Firmware 1.05 for PX-760SA is not compatible with JMicron JMB363 SATA Controller

When the 760SA drive is connected to JMicron JMB363 SATA controller (for example on Asus P5W DH Deluxe motherboard in slot SATA_RAID1 per motherboard specs), this firmware 1.05 caused the drive not recognized in Windows XP SP2. The drive is recognized in BIOS but not in XP. Previous firmwares (1.03 and 1.04) work fine with JMicron JMB363 controller.

~

PlexTools Professional XL 3.11 / PlexTools Professional 2.33/2.35/2.36

Bugs:
- Discmaker seems broken (see: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...5&postcount=31) This behaviour seems true for DATA discs too.
- Using the write transfer test with PTP 2.35/PTPXL 3.10/3.11 to write a test disc with a drive in an external USB enclosure (Prolific 3507) leads to a coaster (writes lead in and then hangs). This works with PTP 2.33/2.36).
- In Video Devices/Device Settings/Basic there is a Teletext Button but i cannot figure out how to use it and the help file does not mention it at all (the TV402U does support Teletext, doesn't it?).
- Logarythmic display in PI/PO Tests 'forgets' about the value "1" (1 and 0 are at the same position).
- Also in logarythmic display the numbers on the vertical axis get crowded together especially when higher max value (100 and up) is selected. I wouldn't mind if only every second line was labelled, as long as the top value remains labelled.
- Background color/graduation selection is now selectable, but needs to be set in each window/test. IMHO as a skin-like setting it would be more likeable if it could be enabled/disabled generally. I can't imagine anyone doing two different tests and wanting graduated background in one but not the other).
- All-In-One Test does not allow for background to be selected (option is there but greyed out)? Generally All-in-one should use the settings of the respective single tests as standard.
- All-In-One Test does not allow to select/deselect the average-graph respective does not respect the setting as it is set in the single tests.
- Background color for text in the test windows has not been set in all tests. Also it would be nice if ADIP and max./avg. results would be included.
- 3.11 still has excessive CPU usage like this: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=117

Stuff that seems to have been fixed:
- With a TV402U the TV-Channel scanning/organising/selecting (especiall selecting the saved channels) bug now seems fixed.
- Excessive seeking (http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=111) has been fixed.

Plextor Premium 2

- The drive has been available for about half a year now but no list of recommended/compatible media has been released. Please provide one.
- The drive does not come with a printed manual and there is no electronic manual on the drive support disc. Please provide one.
Reading audio disks with Prolific 3507 chipset is limited: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.p...08&postcount=63

PX-755/ PX-760

- Verbatim Ultraspeed+ CD-RW fail at the Z-CLV switch from 20x to 24x in the PX-760. They work in the PX-755 but with bad results.
- Beta/Jitter scanning with the PX-760 stops every 10th scan or so with a error.

General Stuff

Recommended/compatible media lists on www.plextor.be are mostly outdated and the ones for out of production drives (even recent ones) are not listed at all.

And please, Plex people, please add an updated help file for the advanced video settings. Perhaps this will help me to minimize the oos problem of my recordings.

Speaking of up to date help-files: I'm sure many people appreciate the effort for translated help-files but wouldn't mind if it was english only (for the time being until translations are done) but an up to date one.

PX-716SA connected to Intel ICH8R SATA controller running in AHCI mode causes PlexTools to crash when attempting to launch the app.

PTPXL 3.12:

Also the current effort for translations of the program itself is partially lost due to 'cut off' labels, for example, in the german language:

ASUS P5B Deluxe WiFi/AP with JMicron JMB363 & PX-760SA with 1.05 firmware connected on ICH8R. Why need to use J(crap)Micron controller instead of use native ICH8R controller? ...

PTPXL 3.12 / Media support / Read speed / Writing Quality

Disk Maker

When writing a ISO/UDF DVD with selected Verify (compare source and target data after recording), Disk Maker uses the ISO 8.3 Filenames from the DVD for the File compare and fails, because the files have different (regular long) names unter FAT32/NTFS.
The problem is confirmed: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=203439

PLEASE fix this urgently! In my personal experience Disk Maker has been broken in one way or another since 3.11. 3.13 should bring this important tool back on track!


Usage of PTPXL

PTPXL becomes more and more loaded with functions (see recent addition with Network functionality, I assume for your NAS drives). IMHO a multi-function tool becomes useless when it can only be used for one thing at at time. In earlier versions i think video recording was cancelled when a q-check was performed (or the other way round). It should be assured that all functionality can be used in parallel as long as there is no concurrence in the used device itself (ex. lock the drive for recording when a q-check is done). I also wondered if it would make sense if several instances of PTPXL could be run at the same time with different limited functionality. I.E. i start PTPXL /QCHECK and get an instance with only Info and QCheck functions available. Or PTPXL /VIDEOCAPTURE or /NETWORK with only functions needed in relation to those tasks (Especially VIDEO would be an idea since PTPXL must run for the sheduler). Similarly it would be nice if certain funtionality could be excluded. If one does not have a video device or a network, why not be able lighten the interface (device list) with /NONETWORK ? Just some thoughts ...

(Floppy Disk search)

On a new install of WinXP PRO (all patches) when the Disk Maker write dialog is open, a search is performed every second on the floppy drive (does a short 'brrp'). It does the same once when switching from 'PlexEraser' to 'Erase Disk' in 'Disc RW funtions' or when selecting 'Disc Extraction' or 'Disk Info'.
It didn't do this with my old install and so far i can't find the reason ... I assume some regular poll is done if a disk (CD/DVD) is inserted, since Disk maker does say 'please insert a blank CD/DVD' if there is no disk and promptly recognizes a inserted media, but why poll the Floppy?

PHILIPS RW8 00 +RW 8x

Media list claims this as 'compatible' which AFAIK would mean it was tested as working by Plextor engineers. After writing these in a 760 they become unrecognizable in my 760. A LiteON LH18A1P can recognize and erase them (and also write them just fine).

+R DL media

It would be nice if we could get more +R DL media supported.

PX-760 R DL reading speed

Since you updated reading speed for pressed DL to 16x: It would be extremely nice if the 760 could read R DL with 12x like the 712 could. I really miss that.

Writing Quality

Both the 755 and 760 seem to have a tendency to create PIF spikes when writing at 16x speed (apparently in most cases at the recalibration points of PoweRec/AutoStrategy (see downward spikes in writing graph), see scans in the respective threads). Some people have reported readback problems at these positions. It be nice if this compatibility/writing quality issue could be a focus point in the next Firmware update.

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Last edited by hwp; 29-12-2006 at 23:12.

Apparently some strange thing in Windows where no one can really point at a culprit since multiple things can be (part of) the cause. Search for 'random floppy access' or similar phrases to find more about it (example: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article07-037). PTPXL just seems to be another application that triggers the underlying (undeterminable) problem. In my case an uninstall of the floppy, the floppy-controller and subsequent reboot seems to have cured it.

PTPXL 3.12 / PX-760 / Prolific 3507 /Audigy 2

PTPXL does not show/recognize a PX-760a in an external case with Prolific 3507 connected by FW400 via a Creative Audigy 2. Just the interface itself is recognised.

Windows XPSP2 itself recognizes and shows the drive just fine and also CDSpeed 4.7.0 also sees and can use the drive just fine.

Edit:
Apparently some kind of refresh problem. It happens with USB2 too. The drive disapears and only the controller is shown after a hot disconnect and then reconnect. PTPXL needs to be exited and restarted to properly recognized controller and connected drive.

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Last edited by hwp; 11-01-2007 at 19:00.

I think I shall summarize the several problems I'm having with the PlexTools v3.12 and the ConvertX PVR.

1. Channel selection on start-up: The programme is started with the focus on the ConvertX. Usually, I have selected the first German channel -- this has become a kind of routine ... What I see, however, is Pro7. If I don't switch the preview off and on, scheduled recordings will either be done with the wrong channel or they won't be started at all. I have re-installed the software after deleting all PT entries in the registry and on the hard disk. Where does this programme take the wrong pieces of information from?
2. Changing time and date in the scheduler: At times, and without a warning, the time of a scheduled weekly recording is changed one hour back. This refers to the end time as well. Tonight, a recording planned for 4.45 on Tuesday was launched in the evening. Well, not too bad, this will be a short week. But certainly not king of quality-like.

This is starting to get on my nerves. I've ordered a dvb-c card.

Since 29.11.2006 you have PlexTools Professional v2.36 in JPN, when do we get that in Europe (still v2.35)!!??

You can download and install 2.36 from the Japanese site; I had the English version of 2.35 installed and the upgrade to 2.36 didn't alter the language setting.

Plextor,

I don't know what's going on but my 716A is too sensitive when it comes to reading rental discs. After countless attempts at playing a DVD on my computer, I decieded to try it out on a Pioneer 107 at work. Read disc perfectly.

I called you three times and found your support personnel lacking. The third time got me a techie who couldn't be bothered with me. Nice! I love to blow $100 on a DVD burner.

Broken DAE with PTP 2.36 / PTPXL 3.12 in combination with PX-760 in an external case

PTP and PTPXL do not work for DAE when using a PX-760 in an external case with Prolific 3507 bridge. A read error (code 000000) is the result. All hardware involved is with latest firmware.

Also see http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=209264 for similar user experiences.

Doing DAE with the same hardware and NERO 7.7.5.1. works fine in comparison. Also a Premium2 in the same case has no problems with PTP(XL).

I frequently have this error withm my plex 760 and plextools xl when plextools refresh device list.


Look at "Other pnp devices" - this is onboard ata/raid controller promise pdc20276. When plextools start this controller and hard drives is not visible.....after a few moments plextools detect this controller and i have my problem. Later this problem return.
I test v3.10, 3.11 and 3.12 version of plextools

I have only one HDD WDC800JB...plextools show two......

PTPXL 3.12

DAE

When trying to retrieve freedb-data for the ID-Tag via the context menu of a track PTPXL 3.12 crashes. Retrieving data for the filename works.

PTPXL v3.12

DAE

Extract to single file grayed out after the cd is changed. You have to close the programme and to re-start it.

PX-760A Booktype/Media-Type Bug

+RDL RicohJPN D01 67 as sold by TDK (DVD+R85DLEC) burned in TLA#0002 760a FW 1.06 and Booktype set to DVD-ROM is recognised differently by Type in a TLA#0002 and TLA#0104. The disc in question can be seen here: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=146

Related Problems:
Unable to run TA-Test on +RDL media: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=188697
(for anyone affected by this bug, please use that thread for discussion)

Images below are:
1) PX-760A TLA#0002
2) PX-760A TLA#0104