CD-R won't run at full speed

[zonarosa]

I have a Memorex 32 Maxx that doesn't read at 40x or Write at 32 x even with the correct media. It reads at 12x and writes at 8x.

I'm running Windows XP and it won't give me DMA. I can't find a way overriding this on the motherboard (Gigabyte GA - 7ZXE). Its on a ATA100 cable.

Although, it burns CD's ok it's too slow.

 

[torgo]

what operating system?

what burning software are you using?

 

[n2gun]

What is the speed of your cpu? And also your bus speed? Memory speed and how much?

 

[zonarosa]

Using Clone CD 4.0.1.10 and Nero Burning ROM 5.5.9.17 in Windows XP

CPU is Athlon XP 1800+, Bus Speed 266MHz and Memory 512Mb of PC-133

 

[n2gun]

Have you tried going to My Computer and right clicking and opening Properties. There is a set record speed option there. I have mine set fastest and no problem with setting recording speed in Nero.

What is your approximate recording time for a full or near full disk?

At 24x (which I use to prevent some errors) mine is about 3 minutes 30 seconds. By burning at 36x, I only gain 10 to 20 seconds so I opted for 24x to prevent making coasters.

 

[zonarosa]

I have set the record speed option but no change to read and write speeds.

It takes around 13 mins to read and write an audio cd.

 

[n2gun]

Darn that is slow. Have you tried uninstalling the driver and rebooting to reinstall it? Also I am wondering if for some reason there is a bad connection on the data cable.. You could try unplugging the data cable and resetting it. If there is any corrosion this should take care of it.

 

[AbvAvgUser]

After you install Nero a folder called ahead Nero is created in Start > Programs.

There is a sub-folder called Nero Tool Kit. From there execute Nero DriveSpeed. You will be able to do what you want from there.

 

[zonarosa]

Thanks n2gun and abvavguser. Tried both suggestions but still no improvement.

I think is cos I can't set DMA, but I don't know why.

 

[n2gun]

It is starting to sound like a defective drive. If it is still under warranty, I would get it replaced.

Curious, Have you tried it in another computer? It would definitely help to tell if the drive has a problem.

 

[slipe]

If you have a Via chipset go to their site and download the latest 4 in 1 drivers. Via bus drivers can be screwy and sometimes the 4 in 1 update helps.

 

[AbvAvgUser]

Do you get options to write at higher speeds in Nero? If yes, does it write slow even after selecting one of the higher speed options?

If it writes slow even after selecting high speed, then either Nero installation or your CDRW drive is bad. First thing that you can try to do is to reinstall Nero. If it doesn't work, as n2gun said, try installaling this CDRW drive in some other machine and see if it works there.

 

[JohnWill]

If you can't get the DMA option to work, it's not surprising that your not getting fast recording speeds. I'd work on that problem first! Did you enable DMA in the BIOS?

 

[zonarosa]

Thank you to everyone. It was the cable. Its sorted now.