Plextor PX-708A Problems

[Nhawk]

UPDATE: The remaining problems are #1 & #2 (Ritek or Prodisc media only). Plextor is working on #2 for me at this time.

Here is a list of problems that I ran into on the Plextor PX-708A:
1) Unable to close session with DVD+R (Nero)
2) Unable to burn a CD-R (fails with write error once it reaches 40X)
3) DVD-RIP (DVD-Video) is limited to 2X max. (using DVD XCopy)
4) Alcohol build 711 can't even start writing the CD-R (in any mode I tried-DAO, etc..)

If you ran into other problems, please list them here. Unless I get some resolution soon, I think I'll return this Plextor. Hopefully NEC ND-2300A (8X) is a better drive than this one. (ND-1300A worked perfectly, but it had slower burn speed.)
Given that I'm paying double for this drive vs ND-1300A, I was expecting a lot more.

[tazdevl]

You're going to be waiting a fair bit longer for the 2300.

Generally when a new drive hits the market, software lags behind the hardware. Chances are that's what you're experiencing.

Also, there is something going on with the 708A and Nero. Might want to give 6011 a go instead of 6015.

You also could be limited by the media you're using. If you're using POS media, the drive is going to drop write speed down.


NEC drives are cheaper for a reason.

I suggest you do a search, there's already a couple threads that touch upon problems and successes with the drive.

[aviationwiz]

1. Use Nero 6.0.0.11, not 6.0.0.15, there is a problem with 6.0.0.15 and the PX-708A.

2. Not sure, might be your media. Also try Nero 6.0.0.11 instead of 6.0.0.15.

3. Try some software other than DVDXCopy such as Smart Ripper, the drive may be firmware locked into what speed it can rip at, I always have noticed though that DVDXCopy never rips at top speed that the drive can do, as it takes much longer.

4. It may be a problem with that version of Alcohol, or the media. What media are you using?

[bobmitchell]

I have experienced none of these issues...using Nero 5.5.10.42. I have burned at least 8 music CD's...to full 700 mb capacity. Every one burned and closed properly. One thing here...even my Samsung 48X burner never truly reaches 48X...it does 47.97X and stays right there. My 708A reaches 39.98X and stays there. Have done two movie DVD's to DVD+R. First encrypted with DVD Decrypter 3.1.6.0 then cleaned up with DVD2One...and burned with Nero 5.5.10.42 and the burns went 7:23 and 7:29...buth successful.

As far as DVD RIP...the drive has a new feature called "Silent Read" / "SpeedRead" which slows down the read to minimize tray noise because of CSS Copy Protection in movies. You can defeat "silent read" by doing the following.
1. Make sure the drive tray is closed and empty
2. Press and hold the eject button for at least 3 seconds. The LED will blink green three times to let you know SpeedRead will be active for the next DVD Read
3. Release the eject button. The disc tray will open.
4. Incert the DVD Video disk
5. Open your application and rip...you will notice that the RIP speed is much faster.

This feature is in the drive to slow the read down because of CSS Copy Protection. This is all on page 39 of the manual.

Don't know about Alcohol...but Clone CD DOES rip and write with this drive.

Bob

[VEFF]

1) As aviationwiz says, use Nero 6.0.0.11.
I have burned at least 5 home video DVD discs at 8X with my 708A, and they all burned successfully AND play fine on my home DVD player.

You might also want to try different media, if all else fails...
EDIT: I noticed aviationwiz also mentioned that.


I can't comment much on the other three problems that you list:

2) I don't use my 708A for CD-R burning/reading (remember that the burner is brand new on the market, so it is normal to have some software issues upon launch). Which software are you using? The included software?

3) I don't use it for DVD ripping

4) I don't have 'Alcohol' burning software (remember that the burner is brand new on the market, so it is normal to have some software issues upon launch)


Regarding additional problem you requested:
No real problems for me personally so far. I will definitely be keeping the burner.
Being able to burn home videos at 8X max (8 mins 14 secs for a full DVD) to DVD with 4X media and have them play flawlessly is more than enough for me.
[I have only run into one 'issue', and that is just that one burning program (of four I tried) doesn't support the 708A yet, which is understandable].
That isn't really a problem, since the burner is still new to market...


I am sure Plextor will be quick to release a firmware update for any real issues, should they arise.

[Nhawk]

1) Will try Nero 6.0.0.11 to see if that solves the issue
2) I'm using quality CD-R and DVD media (Ritek, Prodisc and Taiyo Yuden CDR, Memorex 4X DVD+R)
3) Have tried SmartRipper (also 2X), but thank you for the suggestion about SpeedRead (bobmitchell suggestion)
4) Alcohol website claims that PX-708A is supported, so that's why I'm surprised that I can't write with it at all (CDR)

Finally, I have no problems writing CDRs with GoldenHawk CDRWIN or CloneCD. I also wrote a DVD through Pinnacle Studio 8.8

As for the bugs, I expected to see possibly one problem, but I ran into a bevy of them. (will see if your suggestions help though)

[VEFF]

Based on the fact that the rip issue has been clarified as a 'feature', and that Nero 6.0.0.11 will/should resolve the +R closing issue, you are left with just the CD-R burning issue(s), that might simply be due to the possiblity that the software being used does not fully support the drive.

Maybe Alcohol only supports the 708A from a DVD point of view?
I don't own the software and haven't looked into it, but just a thought...


Keep us posted, and good luck!

[pjskeet]

Tested the following Nero versions at 8X writing 4.5 Gig Files

5.5.10.42 - Closed but slow write
5.5.10.50 - Would not close
6.0.0.15 - Would not close
6.0.0.11 - Closed but slow write

CD Creator 6.1.1.7 SP7 included with the drive not user friendly but
ran fast and flawlessly (4.5 Gig under 8 minutes).

Using RICOHJPNR01 equivalent 4X +R media.

[Angstromm]

For media recommendations from Plextor Europe go here:

http://www.plextor.be/english/technical/cdrmedia.html

[aviationwiz]

Tested the following Nero versions at 8X writing 4.5 Gig Files

5.5.10.42 - Closed but slow write
5.5.10.50 - Would not close
6.0.0.15 - Would not close
6.0.0.11 - Closed but slow write

CD Creator 6.1.1.7 SP7 included with the drive not user friendly but
ran fast and flawlessly (4.5 Gig under 8 minutes).

Using RICOHJPNR01 equivalent 4X +R media.

When you say slow, what exactly do you mean? If you have your Nero speed hacked, what speed does it say? I can burn RICOHJPNR01 Media at 8x with an almost full disk in 7 minutes.

[pjskeet]

Slow is 12 to 14 minutes for a full 4.5 Gig file.

What is an almost full disk?
Are you burning on the fly?
Are you burning from files on the hard drive?

[aviationwiz]

Almost full is a 3.7-4GB disk. Burning from files on the HDD.

[VEFF]

Slow is 12 to 14 minutes for a full 4.5 Gig file.

What is an almost full disk?
Are you burning on the fly?
Are you burning from files on the hard drive?

Yes, that certainly is slow and strange considering you are getting fast burns with Easy CD/DVD Creator 6, which makes it unlikely to be a drive configuration issue such as DMA being off and so forth.
What type of compilation are you burning in Nero (data DVD or DVD Video or?)

It took me 8 mins 12 secs for an almost full disc.
2 extra seconds would have been required to fill a full disc, so that is 8 mins 14 seconds for a full DVD with Nero 6.0.0.11.

[Nhawk]

Well, SpeedRead works (4-6X DVD-Video-Rip)
Installed Nero 6.0.0.11 and tried burning a CD but it still failed at 36.3X mark.

[bobmitchell]

Try burning with Nero 5.5.10.50 or 5.5.10.42...I have used both with success. I have burned Verbatim Data Life Plus DVD+R at 8X and TDK DVD-R 2X at 2X...all with success.

Bob

[pjskeet]

Try burning with Nero 5.5.10.50 or 5.5.10.42...I have used both with success. I have burned Verbatim Data Life Plus DVD+R at 8X and TDK DVD-R 2X at 2X...all with success.

Bob

Could you be more specific. I have tried burning video files with both versions. The 5.5.10.50 was fast but would not close. The 5.5.10.42 would close but was very slow.

[bobmitchell]

Basically...here is what I do when I back up a movie.

1. Press the insert button for three seconds...the light blinks a few times and the drawer opens...that is when to insert the movie disk.
2. Put the movie in...use DVD Decrypter to rip the "Movie only" files.
3. Take the ripped movie files...and run them in "Movie Only" mode with DVD2One...(make sure to create a seperate directory for the finished files).
4. Now that you have a bunch of .vob files in the seperate directory...Open Nero 5.5.10.42
5. Run the wizard...choose DVD...other format...DVD Movie.
6. Copy all the contents of the folder to the Video_TS folder on the left and choose burn. Insert a DVD into the drive
7. The burn dialog comes up. If using Verbatim Data Life Plus...you will have the option to burn at 8X. Choose 8X and burn the DVD...should take about 7:30.

Bob

[Nhawk]

Try burning with Nero 5.5.10.50 or 5.5.10.42...I have used both with success. I have burned Verbatim Data Life Plus DVD+R at 8X and TDK DVD-R 2X at 2X...all with success.

Bob

Did anyone try burning an 80min CDR disc? (with more than 75min of data)
I've tried to do it with CloneCD, Roxio 6 (included), Nero 6.0.0.11/15, and GoldenHawk CDRWIN 3.9E. All of them fail writing a CDR at around 36-38X mark (with Ritek, Prodisc, Taiyo Yuden 48X)

Plextor support says it's some IDE problem, thus I'm left with 3 possibilities:
1) The drive is bad (hopefully will pick up another one at BB today)
2) The drive doesn't like Asus A7N8X DLX motherboard (this would be sad if it can't be fixed via firmware)
3) The firmware needs to be changed

I even tried installing a fresh copy of WinXP on 2nd drive, and even used another 80pin cable with Plextor alone on the IDE channel as a Master.

[pjskeet]

Your problem is not unique. I know of others who can not get an overburn either. Try an earlier version of Nero such as 5.5.10.42.

[pjskeet]

Basically...here is what I do when I back up a movie.

1. Press the insert button for three seconds...the light blinks a few times and the drawer opens...that is when to insert the movie disk.
2. Put the movie in...use DVD Decrypter to rip the "Movie only" files.
3. Take the ripped movie files...and run them in "Movie Only" mode with DVD2One...(make sure to create a seperate directory for the finished files).
4. Now that you have a bunch of .vob files in the seperate directory...Open Nero 5.5.10.42
5. Run the wizard...choose DVD...other format...DVD Movie.
6. Copy all the contents of the folder to the Video_TS folder on the left and choose burn. Insert a DVD into the drive
7. The burn dialog comes up. If using Verbatim Data Life Plus...you will have the option to burn at 8X. Choose 8X and burn the DVD...should take about 7:30.

Bob

Bob, I just ran two video file burns with Nero 5.5.10.42 using Nero and Nero Express. They both came through with flying colors. The burning times were right where they should be. My initial test yesterday with Nero Express must have been flawed.

Why go the long way with Nero and the wizard? The Nero Express setup is quicker......far fewer steps.

[bobmitchell]

I just experimented with my PX-708A. Mind you...I didn't push the envelope to badly...but I DID just burn an 83 minute music CD with Nero 5.5.10.42 and the Plexy...no problem. Make sure that you go into preferences and then choose the expert tab. Make sure to increase the length to at least 85 minutes. Then try the burn again...When you press BURN...it will pop up the dialog that asks you to burn with overburn...tell it YES...it should do it!

Bob

[Nhawk]

I just experimented with my PX-708A. Mind you...I didn't push the envelope to badly...but I DID just burn an 83 minute music CD with Nero 5.5.10.42 and the Plexy...no problem. Make sure that you go into preferences and then choose the expert tab. Make sure to increase the length to at least 85 minutes. Then try the burn again...When you press BURN...it will pop up the dialog that asks you to burn with overburn...tell it YES...it should do it!

Bob

Bob, I'm not even trying to overburn (and I know how to, BTW). Just trying to burn a CD with various programs all fail at around 60-70min mark (when it reaches 36-37X). As I mentioned earlier, it may be some issue with Nforce2 or Asus A7N8X DLX specifically. I'll know more after I try another drive from BestBuy later today. (DVD burns with DVDXCOPY and Pinnacle Studio 8.8 work fine)

[NoLimit]

i burnt Taiyo Yuden's @ 40X with my PX-708A
was nearly 80 mins of audio

[grifis]

I also have problems with the Plextor and DVD+R (closing disc).

I have Nero version 6.0.0.6 on my CD and can only upgrade to 6.0.0.15.

Where can I find update to 6.0.0.11.

Use now EasyCD to burn the DVD+R, which works fins.

[aviationwiz]

REMOVED.