on 14.04.2002 19:42, David R. at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Now this really has me baffled. > > For some reason, my Teac 516-S 16X, which has been working fine, is having > major problems mounting 'ONLY' MEMOREX cd's burned on my external Sony > CRX-120 Firewire drive. The Teac came out of a PowerCenterPro 210. Jeff, I > like your thoughts that my optics might be dirty but this now seems doubtful > given these verified circumstances. >
Hi David, Actually the symptoms re-inforce the probability that the problem has to do with the optics and/or laser itself. For what ever reason, the reader is no longer able to adjust the amount of light reflected from the CD-Rs so that the contrast between pits and lands can be made. This is more common than many folks realize, since media specifications and laser output vary over time. A few possibilities: Clean the optics--gently; this may be all you need. Firmware update--if the firmware is flashable [more common with burners than readers] then maybe a more recent update allows more flexibility with media. Recalibrate--not really practical unless you already have access to some pretty fancy test equipment. Re-burn using media known to be compatible--this is more art than science, since, depending on quality control and adherence to standards, no two burners and no two readers are exactly alike, and manufacturers frequently change formulations. This latter is greatly exacerbated by the dubious practice of getting media to qualify for higher speeds by thinning the dye layer, often making the blank more translucent and less stable, rather than by improving quality control. It's a good idea to periodically migrate critical archives anyway: if you don't have it in at least three places, you've already lost it ;-) Also, take a look here: <http://www.fadden.com/cdrfaq/> HTH, paul -- Paul F. Henegan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- SuperMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | Service & Replacement Parts [EMAIL PROTECTED] | & CDRWs on Sale! | SPECIAL SM LIST PRICES - 24x Bootable SCSI CDROM $39.99, Umax Processors $19.99 PowerSupplies from C500/C600 $49.99 J700/S900 $79.99 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> SuperMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/supermacs/list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/supermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
