Power Calibration Error

[Coreper]

lately i wanted to copy a cd which is just a normal disk, but with a few songs on it [which were burned by someone else: just 4 songs, not protected or anything]

so i started Nero to copy the CD:

i choose my DVD-Writer, and clicked Next

the it all went fine untill it go to 6% >> then my whole computer crashed: everything got stuck: sound, programs, only the mouse could move...

so i pressed the reset button, and tried the copying again after the restart

then, right before my pc crashed, i noticed that Nero noticed an error: Power Calibration Error

so i looked it up on Google, and got to know that it has got something to do with the laser which reads the cd...

this laser changes after it reads the cd which is inserted, but when you have the Power Calibration Error it means that it cant change... [if i understand it correctly]

so i was wondering if this i can solve this myself, or that i should send it to NEC [where it is originally from]

if it is fixable: HOW!?

additional info:

DVD-drive: NEC Optiarc DVD AD-5170A

atleast, that is what windows says it is [Device Manager]

the bill i got when i bought my pc, says that i have 2 drives [which is correct]: AOpen DVD 16x48 Tray [thats all the bill says] and a NEC DVD R/RW 3570 BEIGE

i dont know which one is my DVD-Writer...

problem/error name: Power Calibration Error

i never had any problems with my DVD-Writer: i have written many cd's and dvd's with it...

i also have all the bills from when i bought my pc, so i still have the garanty.

this problem occured yesterday: Tuesday, May 22, 2007, around 17.00 GMT+1

btw: the shop where i bought the computer has gone, due to bankruptcy, but everyone who worked there [exept for the owner] are working at another computer store, which is near the old pc shop.

i already contacted NEC through there Dutch site: i used the contact formula

[trackrat]

There are several things that can cause Power calibration errors.

1/ bad media----try different CD's/DVD's.

2/ dust in DVDRW-----blow out with compressed air.

3/ Nero 7 has problems with the latest version----go back to version 6.

4/ have you got the latest firmware for your drive----update firmware.

5/ drive is dying-----replace drive.

[andsome]

I know for a fact that you can get bad media. I had to return a pack of DVD's to Dixons.

[Coreper]

1-well, i used cd's from a same package i used the day before then [and there are only a week old], so...

2-well, how am i supposed to do that if i havent got an aircompressor? [is there a way to do it without?]

3-i have burned several dvd's and cd's with this version of nero and never had any problems

4-where can i find firmware for my dvd-drive?

5-my dvd-drive cant be dieing because it isnt older than a year...

please help

[andsome]

Any computer shop should stock small cans of compressed air. Blow the dust out of situ with the can, and suck it up in a vacuum cleaner.

[Coreper]

andsome, you were right

this is my conclusion after a small test:

1: burn other media [on a CD-RW] >> went properly

2: put a written CD-RW in the DVD-ROM and an empty CD-R in the DVD-Writer, and copy it >> went properly

3: put a written CD-RW in the DVD-ROM and an empty CD-R in the DVD-Writer, and copy it >> Power Calibration Error

then i understood:

when i ran 2, i used an old CD-R, and when i ran 3, i used a new CD-R

so i started to test:

4 times a CD-R from my new package >> they all failed

2 times a CD-R from my old package [i only had 2 left > thats why i needed new ones] >> worked properly

so i conclude: there isnt anything wrong with my DVD-drives, but the new CD-R's are corrupt...

so i just threw away the CD-R's [since they were so cheap and my mom bought them, it didnt matter], and kept the CD cases [they might come in handy!]

so: i lied in my previous post: that i used cd's from the same package , sorry

but there still is something i want to know: where can i get firmware for my DVD-drives?

[Alan2273]

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

If your problem was faulty CD's then you have no need to update the firmware.

[Coreper]

thanks