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Power Calibration Tests:
Run on Blank/Unfinalized DVDs EVERY TIME THEY'RE LOADED!
Blank DVDs have a Power Calibration Area (PCA) near the inner hub for performing a 15-step test to determine the optimum power for writing to the DVD. A DVD-R can hold up to 7,088 separate calibrations.
These tests are performed each time you insert an unfinalized/blank disc and at various times as the burn progresses, and it stores the cumulative results of the power tests in a Recording Management Area (RMA).
A good explanation of PCA and RMA is here.
Cleaning Your Burner's DVD Gripper
If your burner's spindle/gripper surface (rubber or silcone) get dirty and/or greasy over time, it will not be able to grip the disc securely, which is an absolute necessity for this Performance Calibration test series. With a slipping disc, these tests will tell the OS that this disc is "unreadable" or "can't be recorded on" or similar message.
Since a DVD drive also changes speed when reading from inner hub to outer edge, a slipping gripper could allow the disc to slip at the speed-change point, which might show up as "unrecordable" or "unplayable" at that point.
If you operate your burner in a smoky/dusty room and/or handle discs with the center hub, the dirt and grease from your finger can be deposited and accumulate on the gripper over time.
You might be able to remove the top cover on your DVDR and see if your burner is open, like in the Philips 3575/3576 or Magnavox 2160, you might be able to clean the gripper with a Q-tip lightly moistened with alcohol. Some burner also have a top cover that might have to be removed before the gripper becomes accessible.
P. S. I got on this latest "kick" cuz I was intrigued by the following in the Troubleshooting section of my Philips 3575 manual:
"Recording Error - You cannot record on this disc as Power Calibration Area is full.
• When recordings are performed repeatedly onto an unstable disc, this area may come up to be full.
• Every time you insert a disc for recording, the disc’s working area will be taken up. And if you repeat this frequently, it will be used up sooner and you may not be able to record full 49 titles."
Run on Blank/Unfinalized DVDs EVERY TIME THEY'RE LOADED!
Blank DVDs have a Power Calibration Area (PCA) near the inner hub for performing a 15-step test to determine the optimum power for writing to the DVD. A DVD-R can hold up to 7,088 separate calibrations.
These tests are performed each time you insert an unfinalized/blank disc and at various times as the burn progresses, and it stores the cumulative results of the power tests in a Recording Management Area (RMA).
A good explanation of PCA and RMA is here.
Cleaning Your Burner's DVD Gripper
If your burner's spindle/gripper surface (rubber or silcone) get dirty and/or greasy over time, it will not be able to grip the disc securely, which is an absolute necessity for this Performance Calibration test series. With a slipping disc, these tests will tell the OS that this disc is "unreadable" or "can't be recorded on" or similar message.
Since a DVD drive also changes speed when reading from inner hub to outer edge, a slipping gripper could allow the disc to slip at the speed-change point, which might show up as "unrecordable" or "unplayable" at that point.
If you operate your burner in a smoky/dusty room and/or handle discs with the center hub, the dirt and grease from your finger can be deposited and accumulate on the gripper over time.
You might be able to remove the top cover on your DVDR and see if your burner is open, like in the Philips 3575/3576 or Magnavox 2160, you might be able to clean the gripper with a Q-tip lightly moistened with alcohol. Some burner also have a top cover that might have to be removed before the gripper becomes accessible.
P. S. I got on this latest "kick" cuz I was intrigued by the following in the Troubleshooting section of my Philips 3575 manual:
"Recording Error - You cannot record on this disc as Power Calibration Area is full.
• When recordings are performed repeatedly onto an unstable disc, this area may come up to be full.
• Every time you insert a disc for recording, the disc’s working area will be taken up. And if you repeat this frequently, it will be used up sooner and you may not be able to record full 49 titles."