cd has a bad block

need expert help :)

Published on February 13, 2005 By werewolf In PC Hardware

Thanks for taking a look.

I have been having problems with my Yamaha CD-RW lately. It has started slowly and the problems are now 'almost' constant.

The CD is on the secondary IDE channel as master and there are no other devices on that channel. I have rechecked the CD jumper, it is correct.

The CD is now stuck in PIO mode. BIOS adjustments have not helped.

The most frequently seen error is "The device, \Device\CdRom0, has a bad block." I have googled this and there are thousands of folk who have had the same error. The 2 main replies are "clean the lens" (which doesn't ever solve the problem) or 'reinstall the driver' (I have done that many times)

After I fiddle around some more in my quest to fix this, I get this error "The device, \Device\Ide\IdePort1, did not respond within the timeout period."

Then, usually this is followed by this error: "The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Ide\IdePort1."

Which is then followed by this error: "The device 'YAMAHA CRW2100E' (IDE\CdRomYAMAHA_CRW2100E_________________________1.0N____\5&2dfcc752&0&0.0.0) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal."

At this point I have to go to the device manager and scan for hardware changes to get my drive back.

One fix that popped up more than once suggested deleted 2 reg keys from [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}]

The reg keys were the upper and lower filters. I did this and my CD started recording at >18x which is interesting because it's only rated at 16x write.

So the thing worked for the rest of that session. I could burn, rip and read perfectly.

The next day after boot-up, the same old things started happening.

I did not see any responses on Google which suggested the CD-RW might be fried, but I have to think that it is a distinct possibility.

However, I don't really want to buy a new one only to find out that the problem was some other thing

I could really use some help here from anyone who really knows how to fix these problems.

I have disconnected/reconnected the cd; reinstalled the aspi layer; replaced the ide cable; had windows try to update the secondary ide port.

I will provide any other info you might think is relevant to solving this. I have not installed any other hardware or software (other than XP updates and SDC software updates) recently. I have run AD-aware, Spybot s & d, MS Antispyware, and my AVG. All have been clean.

I have nothing to offer in return other than my undying gratitude and my appreciation.

Thanks so much,

WW

Comments (Page 2)

werewolf

on Feb 13, 2005

I'll let you know. The dang thing was pretty much dead before I started messing with stuff. I shall give it a proper burial if needed

Actually, I'll probably take it apart to see what makes it tick

Or give it to my son to do the same.

mrtee

on Feb 13, 2005

I had the "bad block" problem with a HP CDRW. The laser went bad. HP replaced it, then that one went bad.

The UDMA mode on the controller will drop to PIO if repeated errors are logged on the drive (applies to HDDs as well) see "IDE ATA and ATAPI disks use PIO mode after multiple time-out or CRC errors occur" http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;817472

Just my 2¢ worth,
Jeff

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

werewolf

on Feb 13, 2005

ahhh, thanks for that info Jeff. That explains the PIO business.

tjesterb

on Feb 13, 2005

I had to buy a new CD/RW drive recently. First I started noticing little skips on music CDs, and within a few weeks, whenever I tried to write a CD I got a message saying to insert a writable disc or that it could not recognize the CD.
I bought a $39 MadDog 52X CD/RW, on sale at Microcenter. It was even supposed to come with Nero Express. Surprise, no Nero (Drive works great BTW, really quiet) I emailed the customer support after registering. They emailed back asking for more info, I replied with requested info.....several back and forths later, when I've given them my mothers maiden name, fathers social security number, the name of my firstborn, etc... I get a returned mail message, saying that the address I have now sent about a hundred replies to, rejected my message.
I'm betting if you tear open every one of those boxes at the store, you don't find a single copy of Nero Express.

( I already have Nero 5.5 but dammit, if they say it's in the box it should be in the box.) Lesson learned, back to buying from Newegg.

werewolf

on Feb 13, 2005

Newegg is where I'm going to buy this new thing if that's what I end up doing...Nice to hear some positive statements about it.

Thanks tjesterb

Jafo

on Feb 13, 2005

Once upon a time it was the lowly floppy drive that was 'built to a price' and was the likely kit to die with much usage.....now that mantle has been passed on to the CD Rom drive.

As prices come down through competition and demand, physical durability is the first casualty.

I have old 4 speed CD Roms that work just fine ....[though not on 700meg CDs...too trendy and new].

One really easy way to test for drive failure is to swap it out and try a new one....and at the same time you can make it a faster one. etc.

Saves a certain amount of tail-chasing with alternative answers....when I personally would be laying money on spin-up problems [mechanical transport] with an overworked old drive...

werewolf

on Feb 14, 2005

I, too, have an old 4x drive...plugged it in as a test instead of swapping drives and ide channels, worked fine. I don't have any cd blanks which can work in it

So I guess I'll be getting that asus 52x32x52 quietrack from newegg.

I have an old 5.25 disk drive...I don't have any disks for it.

I have an old cpm os, I have no computer to put it on (used to be on a kaypro). I thought about trying to install the cpm on a x86 just to see what would happen.

werewolf

on Feb 14, 2005

Thank you everyone for your help. I'll let you know how this new one works out.

werewolf

on Feb 18, 2005

Well, first of all, thank you Jason for what turned out to be a truly marvelous suggestion. My computer got to where it wouldn't even boot up until I took that old CDRW out. I tried putting it as a slave on the primary IDE channel, but no go. It's fried.

I purchased an ASUS 52x32x52x QuieTrack from Newegg.com. It was about $28 plus shipping. It comes with Nero 6.xxx OEM (more later), some other DVD/Video authoring stuff, cables and a booklet manual.

Here's a link: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-135-019&depa=0

The experience with Newegg was straightforward and painless. Order/invoice information was thorough and complete. Tracking was provided through Fedex. My order was delivered on time.

The unit itself is a marvel. When I put in my first Audio CD to do a quick test rip, I wasn't sure I had installed it correctly because there didn't seem to be enough noise to let me know it was doing something (my broken model, a Yamaha, was pretty loud), so it was nice to hear (or not hear as the case may be), that QuieTrack technology actually works.

This sucker is really fast too. Using iTunes to burn a 12 song CD used to take between 1-3 minutes depending. Now it takes about 50 seconds or less depending on the total playing time (duh

. I've tried it with 5 different playlists. I haven't tried burning a full disk with data or audio yet, I was just messing around to see typical usage times. The burner uses CAV (constant angular velocity), which, as I understand it, starts burning a lot faster around the outside of the disk. Here's a definition I found: "CAV (Constant Angular Velocity). This uses a constant disc rotation speed, so the data transfer rate will vary from the outer tracks to the inner tracks."

The burner has some other technology:

Flextralink: Anti-buffer under-run technology.
This consistently monitors the data buffer status to ensure the best recording quality from your ASUS CRW-5232AS. If the available date drops below 1% of the total buffer capacity, FlextraLink suspends recording while the buffer is being refilled and then resumes recording by returning to the exact position it stopped.

Flextraspeed: Smart Speed Switch technology.
FlextraSpeed technology is to give you optimal recording speed and reliability with the ASUS CRW-5232AS when writing or re-writing over a wide range of certified media. FlextraSpeed continually monitors the recording media and sets the optimal writing speed for best quality recording.

DDS-II (2nd generation Double Dynamic Suspension System).
Developed by ASUS this technology is designed to minimize vibration caused by the spindle motor and resonance in the ASUS CRW-5232AS drive and your PC. It makes the tracking and focusing more precise.

AI Auto Speed adjustment technology.
This technology monitors your media when reading and sets the optimal reading speed.

So, it all sounds very impressive. Haven't had the thing long enough to give any opinion on all that stuff, sorry.

Software:

It came with a suite of Nero OEM products, all of which gave me warnings that there are compatibility issues with my OS (phht!) The version numbers look as though they are fairly new. I ran them anyway and had no problems except for InCD 4.x. That dumb thing crashed anytime I loaded up any of my other media software like WMP, MMJB, AudioGrabber, etc. I just don't load InCD anymore. Although not quite as straight forward as packet writing software, Windows can get the job done.

There are some really sweet apps included (SoundTrax and WaveEditor, among others) which don't work because I have the OEM license. It might be worth looking into getting the full versions, but that incompatibility thing has me worried and the Nero website offers little information on this problem. At least I couldn't find much in my research on their site. Might be on some other sites, but I'll get to that chore in time

One thing that I truly wanted to have in this suite was an app for doing CD labels and Jewel cases. I was using the Jewelcase Creator app from the EZCD suite I had and it was great. Pop in a newly burned audio cd, click on 'Contents' and the track list popped right up.
The Nero version doesn't work like that. If you use the application by itself, there is no way to add the tracks using a CDDB site. It's manual.

I found a work around that, to me, is very clumsy. Open Nero Express and go to burn an audio CD. Load in the tracks that are on the CD you just burned and click on the lookup button. It will find the album info and build the track list. There is a button on that screen which will load the Jewelcase creator app and the track lists and album info will then show up. So why not have that lookup functionality on the jewel case creator app itself so you don't have to go through that other business? Couldn't tell you.

So, all in all, this has been a positive experience. The burner is great and I'm glad I got it.

LittleBearJason

on Feb 18, 2005

I am thrilled to hear you are ultimately satisfied with my suggestion and reccomendation for hardware.

I strongly urge you to download the free updates to nero ASAP , or else you will sooner or later experience "Coasters" with the burning software. This is caused by XPSP2

I have bought a lot from newegg , and have been completely satisfied. This online retailer puts Tiger Direct to shame.

werewolf

on Feb 18, 2005

Ok, well, you haven't steered me wrong yet

Just dl'd/installed all 6 updates and the wmaplugin. Time to reboot and we shall see.

Thanks,
w

LittleBearJason

on Feb 18, 2005

So , how is it? Do you like ?

werewolf

on Feb 18, 2005

wow...The burner is working even faster in rips and burns now. Amazing.

Haven't played with all the new apps which came with these downloads, but there was one, mssysmgr.exe, which showed up in the task manager process list and it would not go away. It has to do with PhotoShow Express I think. Startup Control Panel and a Reboot got rid of it.

Will probably play around tomorrow to see what all that stuff does.

LittleBearJason

on Feb 19, 2005

mssysmgr - mssysmgr.exe - Process Information
Process File: mssysmgr or mssysmgr.exe
Process Name: PhotoShow Deluxe Media Manager

Description:
mssysmgr.exe is a process associated with PhotoShow Deluxe. The process is the execuatble for the media manager within PhotoShow Deluxe. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling this is down to user preference.

found this on a site...

werewolf

on Feb 20, 2005

LOL I bet you found that on the same site I did. It doesn't startup on boot anymore. Haven't yet played around with anything. Have looked at the help files and a couple of those apps look like fun

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