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Question

Slowing Down an Optical Burner without altering firmware.

by May 16, 2014 12:32PM PDT

I am very tired of normal burning software selecting the maximum speed for burning, and when an option is available to change that speed, it is still too high. A most recent example is a DVD burner minimum speed of 10X.

I was given a large database, spread across 30 DVDs that had been burned at 22X. In my machine they all kept failing at 15% of copying. In the end I had to lug hardware to the site (at the customer's expense) and directly copy the information across the network.

There are so many small utilities out there for bypassing the Region Settings on a DVD drive (and probably BD as well), yet I cannot find a similar utility that will over-ride the firmware to burn at lower speed (right down to single speed, preferably).

Is anyone aware of such a Utility for XP/7/8 ?

Discussion is locked

15 Posts
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Answer
No.
by Forum moderator May 16, 2014 11:09PM PDT

I did see such over a decade ago but today I set the recording speed in the recording app.

HOWEVER with drive life spans on average to be 2 years when I see write and read failures I'm swapping in new drives. The unseasoned techs tend to avoid drive replacement at peril of losing a lot of media and their time.
Bob

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Not always.
by TreknologyNet May 17, 2014 5:53PM PDT

I have an external USB burner and that allows me to select as low as 3X, but the newer one installed in my laptop won't allow the software to select anything less than 10X. I have found that even with "identical" drives (same model) that high-speed burns can still end up being restricted to the drive that burned them.

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The clues are here
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 17, 2014 9:54PM PDT

To me the clues are pointing at aging drives or other failures and not the capability to record at 3X.

I know a few techs that railed against drive replacement but given the cost per hour of futzing with cranky drives I don't let them futz on the client's dime.
Bob

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They aren't that old!
by TreknologyNet May 18, 2014 9:17AM PDT
IF they were older drives, there's every chance they would offer 1X or 2X burn speed. I have a friend who, last year, did the ring-around of various manufacturers insisting that he wanted a 1X burn speed drive. The various sales staff thought he was nuts but, he works with much more hardware than I as he maintains the hardware of a state-wide educational institution. He paid a bomb for the drive!

When I find a drive that is unreliable reading a disc that can usually be read without issue, that drive is discarded very quickly. I don't waste time with dodgey drives. As my laptop fleet ages, I know that I'm going to have to rely on bulk purchases of second-hand drives (or externals) to keep them going and, yes, I do expect a higher failure rate as the years progress.

However, the inability to read high-speed burns has been, in my opinion, a plague ever since burning speeds started exceeding 4X.
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50+ X burns here.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 18, 2014 9:21AM PDT

While that's only on my desktop and fresh media I have this spindle of older media that I burn at 2X and then give away. I get a lot of folk gripe on those but hey, it was a freebie burn. Give me a nickel for the good stuff.

Not kidding,
Bob

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Fair comment
by TreknologyNet May 18, 2014 9:32AM PDT

I don't have any "stale" discs. My DVD (- & +) are rated at 16X. There's no remaining label on the CDs, so I can't tell you their rated burn speed.

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Answer
Burn s/w
by May 17, 2014 9:15AM PDT

I use Imgburn and CDburnerXP burning s/w(freebies) and have been able to select slower burn speed. I also suggest the use of good blanks, sometimes that makes a differences too. I don't what you're using now, but most burning s/w has selectable burn speed. FYI, I rarely if ever mess with the drives firmware. I hope this answers your question.

tada -----Willy Happy

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The lowest selectable speed is still not slow enough
by TreknologyNet May 17, 2014 5:54PM PDT

As just answered above, I can select lower than MAX, but when the minimum selectable speed is 10X, I remain an unhappy camper.

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Check specs prior...
by Willy May 18, 2014 12:55AM PDT

You offered your new laptop drive is 10X but the original one was 3x. Now, that is a h/w based issue and I hardly think the vendors are going to offer less speed as users expect better. I do offer my current s/w burning speeds are selectable down to 1X. You still haven't offered what s/w you use, but you CAN TRY Imgburn and CDburnerXP for free and check results. You still haven't offered what disc blanks you use. I have found so-called bulk bundles can be defective or shouldn't be used for critical work. Brand name and so-called "archival type" blank discs do better as they expected to. Check this link: http://www.supermediastore.com

Notice all the different types, etc.. but be aware that Ritek a popular brand can go up/down on quality. Archival disks have a golden hue to them. Next, so called super cheap disks may start failing even during 1st use, but the seller will hardly offer that in the selling point.

If the new drive can only go down to 10X speed, then try a different brand, Most users complain about ext. burners because they can't rarely go above 8X being typical. if you're going to be trying/buying another ext. drive, then check its specs to see what you're getting.

Last, quality always matters. Plextor and Philips drives are top-notch in my book. Basically, if you see pricing for drives and see a wide difference in some brands, check specs to see why. I exclude any s/w bundle included.

FYI- I long ago left Nero anything to burn discs.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Not a Nero fan either
by TreknologyNet May 18, 2014 9:46AM PDT

I don't like Nero either, as it only works when the Windows settings are "just right" and installation of other software renders it useless.

I'm currently using PowerISO, always select the lowest speed available and religiously turn on "Verify after burn".

The 10X minimum drive is an HP multi-dock, which is not interchangeable with the standard pre-sata laptop drive as it is a different form-factor. The 3X external is a pre-sata laptop drive in a "slimline" case.

As far as disc brands are concerned, I have tried cheap no-names all the way up to Verbatim, TDK and Kodak. That has made no difference to the problem I am describing.

PS: I replied to this previously but, that reply seems to have disappeared. So if it turns up twice, that's why.

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Answer
I learn something everyday.
by May 18, 2014 2:28AM PDT

I didn't know it need to be burn at 22x if the original was burned at 22x. I probably would have cursed my dvd media or writer.

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Just a few years ago, the minimum speed went up.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 18, 2014 2:34AM PDT
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I read the linked thread.
by TreknologyNet May 18, 2014 9:26AM PDT

I read the link you supplied and note that nearly every reply misses a critical point made in the OP. The CD player that cannot read the high-speed burns has been fitted with a new laser.

Many other comments are in-line with my OP that newer drives just don't offer lower speeds, hence why I'm looking for an OS-based utility rather than risk destroying drives by attempting to write new firmware.

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I did not miss that.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 18, 2014 9:45AM PDT

It's a problem we see as time passes. Just try to find a Laser Disc Video player today. So nothing is truly new going on except as the gear ages you may lose the ability to burn media for it. At some point the item is a museum piece.

In fact, CD players in cars are getting pretty rare.
Bob

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Presactly!
by TreknologyNet May 18, 2014 10:02AM PDT

I'm not saying you missed it. I'm saying that the majority of respondents missed it. I never liked the idea of a CD player in a car. Slot-load drives are a disaster waiting to scratch your discs.

Yes, I can get a Laser Disc player but, as the quality I saw in shops made VHS look good, I never wanted one.

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