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PX-716A - Died after MINIMAL use. I see I am not alone

PostPosted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:18 am
by VEFF
Judging by the very large percentage of 1-star reviews on amazon, mostly for units that died shortly after the warranty expired (or even sooner), there is a apparently a SERIOUS reliability problem with these.

Mine has died (it doesn't show any errors in Device Manager but was getting burn errors on EVERY burn).
I upgraded the fw from 1.10 to 1.11 tonight to see if that might help.
Now the yellow light just flashes forever when I insert blank media.
When I start Nero and try to burn, it says 'waiting for drive to become ready',
I tried TDK DVD+R and Fuji (TY) DVD+R with the same result.
Just to rule out most other issues (Nero, OS, driver or software conflicts etc.), I tried the one of these blanks in my Pioneer. I was able to burn the same data successfully on the first attempt with the DVR-111D.

I had barely used the PX-716A.
Luckily I have a Pioneer DVR-111D.
I am planning on buying a DVR-115D as a backup.

I guess there is no point complaining to Plextor for an out of warranty unit, even if there is a known reliability issue with this model?
I would contact the AG considering that fully 50% of the amazon reviews for this drive are 1 out of 5 stars, but quite frankly it isn't worth my time or effort.

Thankfully I got both of my PX-716A drives (the other one is on another desktop PC that I haven't used in ages) on sale at Best Buy when they had a nice price and a rebate - paid about $40 each after rebate at the time.
I may also just swap the broken PX-716A out for my 2nd PX-716A since I hardly use that other PC anyway.

I noticed that at least two other members had issues with theirs.
Anyone else whose PX-716A died after a low number of burns?

Re: PX-716A - Died after MINIMAL use. I see I am not alone

PostPosted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:24 am
by RJW
VEFF wrote:I guess there is no point complaining to Plextor for an out of warranty unit, even if there is a known reliability issue with this model?
I would contact the AG considering that fully 50% of the amazon reviews for this drive are 1 out of 5 stars, but quite frankly it isn't worth my time or effort.

In the Netherlands and quite some other european countries you can. But it's not plextor you have to contact. But the store. Because the drive didn't live up the standards. (Point specially to the operating hours thingie !).

But since you say best buy. I assume america. And in America it's only about cheap products not about support.
I'm getting the feeling that Americans are more greedy as Scothmen or Dutchmen these days. :roll: Do not take the last comment personal !!

PostPosted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:53 am
by Gen-An

Re: PX-716A - Died after MINIMAL use. I see I am not alone

PostPosted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:47 pm
by VEFF
RJW wrote:
VEFF wrote:I guess there is no point complaining to Plextor for an out of warranty unit, even if there is a known reliability issue with this model?
I would contact the AG considering that fully 50% of the amazon reviews for this drive are 1 out of 5 stars, but quite frankly it isn't worth my time or effort.

In the Netherlands and quite some other european countries you can. But it's not plextor you have to contact. But the store. Because the drive didn't live up the standards. (Point specially to the operating hours thingie !).

But since you say best buy. I assume america. And in America it's only about cheap products not about support.
I'm getting the feeling that Americans are more greedy as Scothmen or Dutchmen these days. :roll: Do not take the last comment personal !!


Dank je wel!
Ja, ik heb deze PX-716A in Amerika gekocht.

I won't take the last comment personal. I am originally from Europe myself, so it would be hard to take it personal anyway.

I'll try the solutions mentioned in the post below yours before ordering a new burner.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:53 pm
by VEFF
Gen-An wrote:Steps to try that have worked for some with the same problem:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f43/px-716a-po ... ed-217436/
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f43/help-px-71 ... ost1903189


Thanks a lot!

I will try both of those solutions tonight, or tomorrow since it is New Year's eve tonight, before ordering another burner.
I am glad I came here first. :)


Happy New Year!
(in case I don't post again before tomorrow).