That's a lot of data to move on PIO mode.
To resolve that I usually change the IDE cable from 40 conductor to 80. Then rejumper to the new settings (cable select). Then I make sure...
1. The BIOS is current.
2. The motherboard drivers are latest.
3. No spyware is present.
4. I retry the DMA mode.
Some will not do all this work "because it worked before" and for those I have to let them stew longer until they get a little more tender to move out and do the changes.
In closing my very expensive Pioneer did similar at one year. It died totally a few months later and a new Teac 8X drive was 49 bucks so I don't feel too bad.
Bob
I have the Plextor 708A/ XP (SP2)/Powerspec 8705/ 40GB/Nero 6 DVD software
For a year the Plextor has performed magnificently. The DVDs it writes tend to be perfect. It writes at 4x with no problems.
Lately I am finding that the buffer rate fluctuates during the writing phase (it used to remain near maximum), and the entire phase takes twice or 3 times as long as it used to--a normally 14-minute burn now can take as long as 45 min! I have not changed media or any settings. I did move recently and the PC was of course shut down completely--but the Plextor performed normally the first few times I used it after the move. It seems that something has gone wrong and I can't figure out what. I checked the DMA options for the IDE controls and they are all on --except for channel 2, which does not let me change it from PIO (??). Can this be the problem?
I think the Plextor is seen as device "0" by the computer, if that matters
This seems to be a DVD-only issue, CD writing has been normal.
Thanks for any and all info
JM

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