I recently bought a Packard Bell PC which included a NEC 3500AG burner. Thing is, it won’t burn anything.
I’ve tried burning a DVD, a regular CD and a CD-RW, and the burning process starts, only to fail at the very beginning, rendering the CD unusable.
Blanking CDRW media seems to work, strangely.
I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drive but that didn’t help.
Any ideas?
Coren
Crap media most likely.
Try with better ones and update the firmware & software.
>.>
Crap media?
Even for regular CDs? I don’t buy it. I’ve been using this brand (EMTEC) and many others on my other PC’s CD burner for years and I’ve NEVER had any problems. Granted, for DVDs this might be an issue, but I really doubt that’s the problem here.
The burning really doesn’t go any further than 1% of the process. NEVER. Not on CDR, DVD+R, CDRW, NEVER. And it never did.
I’ve tried burning with RecordNow, with XP’s built-in software and with the latest demo of Nero 6, I always get the same problem.
Updating firmware, okay, but I’ve read something about OEM drives not being supported by NEC firmware? And since this is a Packard Bell PC this drive is OEM, right?
Can you tell me how to find a firmware that will work? I don’t want to void my warranty, so only supported firmware, if possible.
Coren
Do some homework, at least give appropriate info like EXACT error-messages.
Even if you have used that CD-R “for years” - it does prove nothing.
Okay, error messages.
RecordNow:
An error occured during the recording process. Click Retry to try again, you’ll need to insert a new blank disc (freely translated from French)
Px.dll: 1.8.32.500
pxdrv.dll: 1.1.8.0
PxMas.dll: 1.8.32.500
PxWave.dll: 1.8.32.500
PXWMA.dll: 1.0.0.3
And that’s all it gives me.
WinXP’s built-in writer just reports an “error during write process” and tells me my disc won’t be useable anymore. No detailed error message.
Doesn’t sound very helpful to me, but maybe you guys can make something of it.
Coren
I wouldn’t use the built-in imapi burn engine - it’s known for trouble!!
And Record Now is outdated, correct? Which version is it?
What about Nero, specific version?
And please post a full Nero log. That way someone would be able to help you with. 
I’d love to post the Nero log, but the trial version expired, so I can’t use it anymore.
Maybe I’ll try Nero 7. Ii’ll get back to you if that works out.
Edit: oh yeah, RecordNow is version 7.22. According to the Sonic/Roxio website, 7.3 is the latest version. I’m not too far behind looks like.
Okay, did some more homework, yay.
Downloaded and installed the Nero 7 trial. Tried burning a CD-RW again (standard settings), needless to say, I failed, and here is the log:
Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: File ‘Wnaspi32.dll’: Ver=4.60 (1021), size=45056 bytes, created 10/09/1999 12:06:00
ahead WinASPI: File ‘C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Core\Wnaspi32.dll’: Ver=2.0.1.74, size=164112 bytes, created 2/11/2004 12:54:32
NT-SPTI used
Nero Version: 7.0.1.2
Internal Version: 7, 0, 1, 2
(Nero Express)
Recorder: <_NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG> Version: 2.56 - HA 1 TA 1 - 7.0.1.2
Adapter driver: <IDE> HA 1
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ?
CD-ROM: <HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8163B>Version: 0N21 - HA 1 TA 0 - 7.0.1.2
Adapter driver: <IDE> HA 1
=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : ST3160021A atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8163B atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 d347prt Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off
AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 74448896 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 511MB (523760kB)
Free physical memory: 129MB (132440kB)
Memory in use : 74 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)
11.11.2005
CD-ROM (ISO)
20:00:01 #1 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6411
Iso document burn settings
------------------------------------------
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : FALSE
Multisession : TRUE
Multisession type: : Start multisession
Burning mode : TAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet : TRUE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : TRUE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : TRUE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE
20:00:01 #2 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3008
_NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
Buffer underrun protection activated
20:00:01 #3 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 525
ReadBuffer-Pipe got 72704KB of Memory
20:00:01 #4 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 124
Reader running
20:00:01 #5 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 113
Writer E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG running
20:00:01 #6 ISO9660GEN -11 File Geniso.cpp, Line 3312
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)
20:00:01 #7 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3302
Turn on Track-At-Once, using CD-R/RW media
20:00:01 #8 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 279
Last possible write address on media: 336074 ( 74:42.74)
Last address to be written: 119451 ( 26:34.51)
20:00:01 #9 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 291
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)
20:00:01 #10 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2578
Recorder: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
20:00:01 #11 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 458
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================
20:00:01 #12 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 847
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 ()
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 119452 (119452) = #119452/26:32.52
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 119450 blocks [E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG]
--------------------------------------------------------------
20:00:01 #13 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1059
Prepare recorder [E: NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG] for write in TAO
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: “”
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc not fixated
Tracks 1 to 1:
1: TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048/0x00, FilePos 0 307200 244944896, ISRC “”
DAO layout:
===========
Start|Track|Idx|CtrlAdr|RecDep____
-150 | lead-in | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
-150 | 1 | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00
119452 | lead-out | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00
20:00:01 #14 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1127
Removed 2 run-out blocks from end of track 1. Length: 119452 -> 119450.
20:00:01 #15 Text 0 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 36
SPTILockVolume - completed successfully for FCTL_LOCK_VOLUME
20:00:01 #16 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1725
Caching of files started
20:00:01 #17 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4132
Cache writing successful.
20:00:01 #18 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1725
Caching of files completed
20:00:01 #19 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1725
Burn process started at 4x (600 KB/s)
20:00:01 #20 SPTI -1189 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
E: CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1189)
Sense Key: 0x05 (KEY_ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
Sense Code: 0x30
Sense Qual: 0x02
CDB Data: 0xAD 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF 40 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 30 02
Buffer x0bf94200: Len x4000
20:00:01 #21 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2685
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0
20:00:01 #22 Text 0 File MMC.cpp, Line 21611
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON
20:00:13 #23 SPTI -1502 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
E: CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1502)
Sense Key: 0x04 (KEY_HARDWARE_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x08
Sense Qual: 0x03
CDB Data: 0x2A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 04 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 08 03
Buffer x0bc10000: Len x10000
0x00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0x00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0x00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
20:00:13 #24 CDR -1502 File Writer.cpp, Line 302
DMA-driver error, CRC error
E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
20:00:13 #25 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 228
all writers idle, stopping conversion
20:00:13 #26 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 222
conversion idle, stopping reader
20:00:15 #27 SPTI -1135 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
E: CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1135)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x0C
Sense Qual: 0x07
CDB Data: 0x35 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 03 00 00 01 2F 0A 00 00 00 00 0C 07
20:00:15 #28 CDR -1135 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 197
Write error
E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
20:00:15 #29 TRANSFER -18 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 197
Could not perform EndTrack
20:00:15 #30 CDR -201 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 200
Invalid write state
E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
20:00:15 #31 TRANSFER -18 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 200
Could not perform EndTrack
20:00:15 #32 Text 0 File MMC.cpp, Line 16379
<_NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG> start Close Session
20:00:15 #33 SPTI -1176 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
E: CdRom1: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1176)
Sense Key: 0x05 (KEY_ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
Sense Code: 0x72
Sense Qual: 0x04
CDB Data: 0x5B 01 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0x70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 72 04
20:00:15 #34 CDR -1176 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 249
Session fixation error
E: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
20:00:15 #35 TRANSFER -19 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 249
Could not perform Fixation
20:00:15 #36 Text 0 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 258
falling back to disc fixation
20:00:15 #37 Phase 38 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1725
Burn process failed at 4x (600 KB/s)
Existing drivers:
File ‘Drivers\ADPU160M.SYS’: Ver=v3.60a (Lab01_N(johnstra).010529-2218), size=101888 bytes, created 17/08/2001 22:07:32
File ‘Drivers\ASPI32.SYS’: Ver=4.60 (1021), size=25244 bytes, created 10/09/1999 12:06:00
File ‘Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS’: Ver=2.03.01a, size=20368 bytes, created 6/05/2004 2:03:00 (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)
Hope this’ll help.
Coren
Update:
I just ran into a new version of the NEC OEM firmware on the Packard Bell support site. It claimed to dramatically increase compatibility with various media brands, so I gave it a try.
The new version is 2.58, the old one was 2.56. I first dumped my old firmware with BinFlash, just to be on the safe side, then I ran the NEC Drive Firmware Flash Utility provided by PB and followed the instructions on the screen. It starts flashing, and then stops with a Flashing Error at about 20% of the process. It then gives me two options: Power Off or Cancel.
I cancelled for the time being, the drive still works as badly as it did before and the firmware still shows up as the old 2.56, so I assume nothing happened at all.
Coren
I would connect the burner as master and try with a reliable burning app like DVDDecrypter.
Hmm. That’s a hardware fiddling question right? I guess I’ll just bring my PC to the store then, since I’m not allowed to break the seal, or else the warranty expires (which would be too bad, since I have 3 years).
I was hoping this would be a purely driver/software related issue so I could fix it myself, at least I tried 
Thanks for your help and patience, chef.
Coren