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Hello everybody - new user here trying to solve a nagging problem.

Just got an LG GCE-8523B yesterday. It keeps reporting "Power calibration" errors in Nero and CDBurnerXP Pro, even at 1X speed. Could this be:

1. The media? I used a VERY OLD CD-RW (made before the days of speed ratings) that burned just fine in my old LG CED-8080B (8X4X32X ).

2. Bad firmware flash? I flashed this from 1.01 to 1.03 - LG's firmware flasher indicated "completed". But note that in a moment of sheer stupidity I started the updater again because I thought it would check the firmware version and allow me to cancel flashing the firmware again, but it flashed again, this time indicating the firmware was already 1.03. Still indicated successful completion though.

Other than that, the drive reads fine, installed fine, is recognized by Windows XP fine, etc.

I'll try a much newer 16X CD-R tonight. It's generic, though.

I have fairly late generation hardware - ABIT IC7 with P4"C" 2.8, 512 MB DDR400 in dual-channel, WD "Raptor" in RAID 0 - Antec 380W power supply, all the goodies...just no 52X burner!!

This is usually a media incompatibility problem.

See Power Calibration Area Full.

I'm feeling better about this drive now - it likely means it's working fine. However, I'm also feeling worse about this drive - am I going to be forever searching for compatible media with this thing?

Haven't tried the 16X CD-R yet. I'll give that a go. Thanks!

You're welcome.

Chalk up some points for yourself, Inertia! 16X worked fine, in fact Nero wanted to burn it at 40X! I didn't want to push it and selected 16X. I'm listening to the audio CD I created right now.

Gotta get myself some new CD-RWs though. But no RMA required, and a successful firmware flash.