Power Calibration Area Error

I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for years, that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error 3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip ....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly shed some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

I was having the same problem with the same drive - I had bought 2 50 pack
spindles of GC 48x CDR media from Fry's, and the max I could burn at was
12x. Bought some more GC this weekend, this time rated at 52x, and so far
have been able to burn at 24x with no power calibration errors - my guess is
bad media. Try reducing your burn speed until you get one that work
consistently.

--

XX

"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error 3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip
.....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

Mattrixx wrote:
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for years, that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error 3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

The message means that the drive cannot set power level to get an
adequate write on that medium at that speed. Try using a blank
recommended by the manufacturer to be sure that the drive is not the
problem, then use other media and/or other speeds until you find a
compromise you like.

It may also be dirt in the optics, which you can determine by checking
with media at speeds you know to be good. Only if that test fails should
you risk blowing out the optics very gently with 'canned air'.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

"Mike Richter" wrote in message
...
Mattrixx wrote:
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error 3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and writes
to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

The message means that the drive cannot set power level to get an
adequate write on that medium at that speed. Try using a blank
recommended by the manufacturer to be sure that the drive is not the
problem, then use other media and/or other speeds until you find a
compromise you like.

It may also be dirt in the optics, which you can determine by checking
with media at speeds you know to be good. Only if that test fails should
you risk blowing out the optics very gently with 'canned air'.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/


I have tried different media including media recommended by Plextor.
I have removed the case of the drive, and an internal cross brace covering
what appears to be the laser . Looks like a small penlight bulb? Never
opened one up before. Anyway I have swabbed this carefully with a Q-tip
dipped in alcohol... and then allowed to dry.
I reassembled the drive and have tryed it out to test, but it works exactly
the same as before.
Is this the area you suggest to "gently blow out the optics with 'canned
air"?
Is this just an issue of contamination and/or media type?
Any further insight would be appreciated.

Matt

If it fails on numerous types of CDs, and the lens is not dirty, then likely
you need a new burner. The error indicates that the drive could not obtain a
proper power calibration on the disc. The laser's output level decreases
with use, and eventually it won't be able to put out enough power to burn
the disc properly.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error 3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip
.....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

Mattrixx wrote:

I have tried different media including media recommended by Plextor.
I have removed the case of the drive, and an internal cross brace covering
what appears to be the laser . Looks like a small penlight bulb? Never
opened one up before. Anyway I have swabbed this carefully with a Q-tip
dipped in alcohol... and then allowed to dry.
I reassembled the drive and have tryed it out to test, but it works exactly
the same as before.
Is this the area you suggest to "gently blow out the optics with 'canned
air"?
Is this just an issue of contamination and/or media type?
Any further insight would be appreciated.

Matt

You appear to have tried all the reasonable solutions without success.
You should consider replacing the drive.

Simply put, I cannot think of anything else to try.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

It is also possible to exhaust the power calibration area of a disc in
theory with enough attempts... so try a fresh one last...

Has anyone actually confirmed mangling a disc in this way with a dying
burner so as it wouldn't power calibrate on a known good burner later
on? Begs the question how much average capacity there is betwixt
firmware/model/media variables...

Tim K

"Robert Hancock" wrote in message
news:c_Kib.88883$6C4.53619@pd7tw1no...
If it fails on numerous types of CDs, and the lens is not dirty, then
likely
you need a new burner. The error indicates that the drive could not
obtain a
proper power calibration on the disc. The laser's output level
decreases
with use, and eventually it won't be able to put out enough power to
burn
the disc properly.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for
years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error
3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and
writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this
error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the
firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even
opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip
....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly
shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

OK.....

"Tim Kroesen" wrote in message
...
It is also possible to exhaust the power calibration area of a disc in
theory with enough attempts... so try a fresh one last...

Has anyone actually confirmed mangling a disc in this way with a dying
burner so as it wouldn't power calibrate on a known good burner later
on? Begs the question how much average capacity there is betwixt
firmware/model/media variables...

Yes, I had a samsung sw206 fail over a year ago, after around 6 attempts at
power calibration any disk will be useless,
Burning software should give a "Power Calibration Area Full" message after
you have that many failed attempts on a disk.
HC




Tim K

"Robert Hancock" wrote in message
news:c_Kib.88883$6C4.53619@pd7tw1no...
If it fails on numerous types of CDs, and the lens is not dirty, then
likely
you need a new burner. The error indicates that the drive could not
obtain a
proper power calibration on the disc. The laser's output level
decreases
with use, and eventually it won't be able to put out enough power to
burn
the disc properly.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for
years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error
3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and
writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this
error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the
firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even
opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip
....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly
shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

Thanks everyone for your various insights into my "Power Calibration Area
Error" problem.
I have resigned myself to just using this (very expensive at the time)
Plextor "burner" as a 40x CD-ROM drive! I guess nothing lasts forever,
however there was absolutely NO indication anything might be failing with
this burner. One day... I could NOT burn a CD-R !

Matt


"MHC" wrote in message ...
OK.....

"Tim Kroesen" wrote in message
...
It is also possible to exhaust the power calibration area of a disc in
theory with enough attempts... so try a fresh one last...

Has anyone actually confirmed mangling a disc in this way with a dying
burner so as it wouldn't power calibrate on a known good burner later
on? Begs the question how much average capacity there is betwixt
firmware/model/media variables...

Yes, I had a samsung sw206 fail over a year ago, after around 6 attempts
at
power calibration any disk will be useless,
Burning software should give a "Power Calibration Area Full" message after
you have that many failed attempts on a disk.
HC




Tim K

"Robert Hancock" wrote in message
news:c_Kib.88883$6C4.53619@pd7tw1no...
If it fails on numerous types of CDs, and the lens is not dirty, then
likely
you need a new burner. The error indicates that the drive could not
obtain a
proper power calibration on the disc. The laser's output level
decreases
with use, and eventually it won't be able to put out enough power to
burn
the disc properly.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used for
years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error" (error
3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads and
writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get this
error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the
firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have even
opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and Q-tip
....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can possibly
shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt

One more thing; in rereading it seems like you tried everything *but*
different s/w???

You might consider trying the free Feurio demo to see if it will burn
and also note what the system checker module says about your config
upon install; which is clean and contained if you want to ditch it...

www.feurio.com

Tim K

"Mattrixx" wrote in message
.com...
Thanks everyone for your various insights into my "Power Calibration
Area
Error" problem.
I have resigned myself to just using this (very expensive at the time)
Plextor "burner" as a 40x CD-ROM drive! I guess nothing lasts forever,
however there was absolutely NO indication anything might be failing
with
this burner. One day... I could NOT burn a CD-R !

Matt


"MHC" wrote in message
...
OK.....

"Tim Kroesen" wrote in message
...
It is also possible to exhaust the power calibration area of a
disc in
theory with enough attempts... so try a fresh one last...

Has anyone actually confirmed mangling a disc in this way with a
dying
burner so as it wouldn't power calibrate on a known good burner
later
on? Begs the question how much average capacity there is betwixt
firmware/model/media variables...

Yes, I had a samsung sw206 fail over a year ago, after around 6
attempts
at
power calibration any disk will be useless,
Burning software should give a "Power Calibration Area Full" message
after
you have that many failed attempts on a disk.
HC




Tim K

"Robert Hancock" wrote in message
news:c_Kib.88883$6C4.53619@pd7tw1no...
If it fails on numerous types of CDs, and the lens is not dirty,
then
likely
you need a new burner. The error indicates that the drive could
not
obtain a
proper power calibration on the disc. The laser's output level
decreases
with use, and eventually it won't be able to put out enough
power to
burn
the disc properly.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Mattrixx" wrote in message
. com...
I have a Plextor W2410A Internal CD-R/RW burner I have used
for
years,
that
lately has been giving me this "Power Calibration Area Error"
(error
3:0
x73:0 x03), when burning to either CD-R or CD-RW. It reads
and
writes to
the hard drive OK, but when writing back to a CD-R/RW, I get
this
error
shortly after the begining of the burn!

I have tried many different brand media, and have upgraded the
firmware to
the latest (vers.104)
I have also tried a Maxell CD Laser Lens Cleaner, and have
even
opened up
the case and swabbed the little laser (bulb?) with alcohol and
Q-tip
....all
to no avail.

Is this burner beyond fixing or is there something else I can
try?
Anyone else out there have similar error problem that can
possibly
shed
some
light
into this matter?

Thanks in advance

Matt