One more try

[LT. Columbo]

davidra

please, let's keep this issue to this thread, less confusing for everyone.

threads merged, moved to blank media and burning forum and i have removed the nero serial #.

[Chewy]

this is the one time liggy and dee's nec firmware let me down and dell has come thru, I apologize for not seeing this earlier

you got the new firmware but I doubt it took right

but first lets fix some stuff

Nero version: 6.3.0.2 (Nero Express)

too old, let's update,

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=62465

let's free up some memory and possibly eliminate some conflicts

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=56373

File 'Drivers\ADPU160M.SYS': Ver=v3.60a (Lab01_N(johnstra).010529-2218), size=101888 bytes, created 8/13/2003 3:15:24 PM
File 'Drivers\CDRALW2K.SYS': Ver=5.3.4.21, size=23436 bytes, created 12/17/2002 1:32:46 PM
File 'WNASPINT.DLL': Ver=V1.18, size=57344 bytes, created 3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=2.02.62a, size=20016 bytes, created 2/5/2004 10:01:48 PM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)

and these old sonic drivers are bad news

I would uninstall the sonic software and run their clean tool

http://tools.roxio.com/support/tools/roxizap.exe

now after doing all this I want to try another burn and post another log if it fails,
the speed of the blanks you were using would have been nice to know

[davidra]

OK....removed all Sonic and ran the tool. Freed up memory as suggested. It turned out I had an old pirated version of Nero so I have ordered a paid version serial number. I gather that version 7 isn't what I want; is there any difference between 6-6-0-18 and 6-6-1.4? After all that I tried one more time to burn with TMPG Author. The entire disc burned until it was being finalized. Then I could hear the drive struggling and finally got an SCSI error and another coaster. It certainly appears that the drive is dying...so if it's that, are there any other slim combo drives that would fit? If not, which are the best externals to try? Thanks.....

[Chewy]

the LG externals are good, plextors are too expensive, maddog(nec) are good

[davidra]

Well, I figured I'd give Dell a call since the thing is still under warranty. After an hour of diagnostics, they said yes, they thought it was the drive and they are going to send a technician to install a replacement drive. I'm afraid it will be the same drive, slow and old. I was about to buy an LG Lightscribe unit, 16X external. If the new drive doesn't work better, I may buy the external as well. Is that unit reasonable, or should I look for a different LG?

[Chewy]

LG makes good externals, codajohn bought one recently, he got a steal on a refurb, pretty burns.

http://forum.digital-digest.com/member.php?u=49140

personal message him and tell him chewy sent you

I'll invite him to comment

[codajohn]

Hey guys,
I bought a external LG-5163D. Updated to most current firmware to A105 the day I got it.
This is a great machine. It comes both USB 2.0 and Firewire. After running many burn scans on my Benq, the Firewire connection seems to be the better of the two.

[Chewy]

coda,
where did we find that drive?

newegg had been out of the lg externals

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136081

[codajohn]

Found it on 3BTech. Always call to see what you get with the drive. With OEM products you may or may not get cables (usb and firewire), manuals and software. I called to see what I was going to get and was told I would receive firewire cable and no software. I got software and no cable. I called and they sent out a cable. For me, good customer service.

http://3btech.net/exlg16xdolam.html

[davidra]

Follow-up: \
Dell agreed after an hour on the phone that the drive was faulty. They sent a tech to install a new one, an NEC-6600 that will burn faster and works just fine. Thanks to all; I still may pick up an external drive.....

[Chewy]

that should be a 6650? durn good drive

I would baby it and still get an external tho

[codajohn]

that should be a 6650? durn good drive

I would baby it and still get an external tho

This is a great idea! I'm glad I did this.