Hi all!

I was making a backup a few days ago on a IDE Plextor PX716A drive, and at the
end of the backup it failed. From that moment on the drive cannot recognize ANY
discs at all.

When I put a disc in, the drive usually moves the heads around the disc for a
while, then spins up and it's then ready to use. Now, whenever I put a disc in
I can hear and feel the head moving for a second, then the lights turns off and
nothing more happens. Clicking on the drive in Windows XP+SP2 result in a
locked Explorer for a long time, the it comes back with an error of some kind.

I tried the usual, like use an audio or original cd and DVD, as well as try it
on another computer, all to no avail and no changes in symptoms.

I know that it really sounds like a broken device, but since I had it for just
a bit more than 3 months (and made at most 20 discs!), and since the $#@ store
when I bought ir doesn't want to exchange it for a new one, but instead wants
to sent it for repairs (!), I wanted to know if anyone ever came across a
problem such as this one.

And maybe someone has a miracle solution, like some weird kind of reset
procedure or an incantation of some sort.

I know... I'm grasping, but I don't want to loose the drive for 6 to 10 weeks!

Thanks...

--Eric

"Eric Fortier" wrote:

> Hi all!
>
> I was making a backup a few days ago on a IDE Plextor PX716A drive, and at the
> end of the backup it failed. From that moment on the drive cannot recognize ANY
> discs at all.
>
> When I put a disc in, the drive usually moves the heads around the disc for a
> while, then spins up and it's then ready to use. Now, whenever I put a disc in
> I can hear and feel the head moving for a second, then the lights turns off and
> nothing more happens. Clicking on the drive in Windows XP+SP2 result in a
> locked Explorer for a long time, the it comes back with an error of some kind.
>
> I tried the usual, like use an audio or original cd and DVD, as well as try it
> on another computer, all to no avail and no changes in symptoms.
>
> I know that it really sounds like a broken device, but since I had it for just
> a bit more than 3 months (and made at most 20 discs!), and since the $#@ store
> when I bought ir doesn't want to exchange it for a new one, but instead wants
> to sent it for repairs (!), I wanted to know if anyone ever came across a
> problem such as this one.
>
> And maybe someone has a miracle solution, like some weird kind of reset
> procedure or an incantation of some sort.
>
> I know... I'm grasping, but I don't want to loose the drive for 6 to 10 weeks!
>
> Thanks...
>
> --Eric
>
>

What burning app are you using? Update your burning software first.. You may
need to update the firmware as a last resort...
Read up and check your for current firmware update here, if needed.
http://www.plextor.com/english/suppo...s/firm_716.htm
j;-j

"Eric Fortier" wrote:

> Hi all!
>
> I was making a backup a few days ago on a IDE Plextor PX716A drive, and at the
> end of the backup it failed. From that moment on the drive cannot recognize ANY
> discs at all.
>
> When I put a disc in, the drive usually moves the heads around the disc for a
> while, then spins up and it's then ready to use. Now, whenever I put a disc in
> I can hear and feel the head moving for a second, then the lights turns off and
> nothing more happens. Clicking on the drive in Windows XP+SP2 result in a
> locked Explorer for a long time, the it comes back with an error of some kind.
>
> I tried the usual, like use an audio or original cd and DVD, as well as try it
> on another computer, all to no avail and no changes in symptoms.
>
> I know that it really sounds like a broken device, but since I had it for just
> a bit more than 3 months (and made at most 20 discs!), and since the $#@ store
> when I bought ir doesn't want to exchange it for a new one, but instead wants
> to sent it for repairs (!), I wanted to know if anyone ever came across a
> problem such as this one.
>
> And maybe someone has a miracle solution, like some weird kind of reset
> procedure or an incantation of some sort.
>
> I know... I'm grasping, but I don't want to loose the drive for 6 to 10 weeks!
>
> Thanks...
>
> --Eric
>
>

Hey,

Thanks for the answer. Turns out that the drive is really screwed. For
posterity, here is what Plextor had me do (which is also in the manual):

Disconnect the IDE cable from your drive, but leave the power cable on. Turn on
your computer while holding the button on the drive pressed. After a while the
door will open by itself, at which point you insert a Plextor certified blank
media. The drive will then run some tests.

After the test is over, the light on the drive will blink a number of times and
in a certain color to express the results. Mine blinked 3 times in color Amber,
which was NOT described in the manual or their site. It means the drive has
failed and cannot see any media.

Now for that warm and fuzzy feeling of getting an RMA and loosing the drive for
quite some time...

--Eric

-------- Original Message --------
news:1E7FFB8F-2BB4-4B25-8CA9-848D69247C2E@microsoft.com

> What burning app are you using? Update your burning software first.. You may
need to update the firmware as a last resort... > Read up and check your for
current firmware update here, if needed. >
http://www.plextor.com/english/suppo...s/firm_716.htm j;-j >
> "Eric Fortier" wrote:
>
> > Hi all!
> >
> > I was making a backup a few days ago on a IDE Plextor PX716A drive, and at
the > > end of the backup it failed. From that moment on the drive cannot
recognize ANY > > discs at all.
> >
> > When I put a disc in, the drive usually moves the heads around the disc for
a > > while, then spins up and it's then ready to use. Now, whenever I put a
disc in > > I can hear and feel the head moving for a second, then the lights
turns off and > > nothing more happens. Clicking on the drive in Windows XP+SP2
result in a > > locked Explorer for a long time, the it comes back with an
error of some kind. > >
> > I tried the usual, like use an audio or original cd and DVD, as well as try
it > > on another computer, all to no avail and no changes in symptoms.
> >
> > I know that it really sounds like a broken device, but since I had it for
just > > a bit more than 3 months (and made at most 20 discs!), and since the
$#@ store > > when I bought ir doesn't want to exchange it for a new one, but
instead wants > > to sent it for repairs (!), I wanted to know if anyone ever
came across a > > problem such as this one.
> >
> > And maybe someone has a miracle solution, like some weird kind of reset
> > procedure or an incantation of some sort.
> >
> > I know... I'm grasping, but I don't want to loose the drive for 6 to 10
weeks! > >
> > Thanks...
> >
> > --Eric
> >
> >

Did you update the firmware or just decide to play it safe... Look in System
info , components, cd-rom, PNP device ID
xxxxxxxxxxxxx_______x0x0x0____blabla, the firmware version #x0x0x0 and
compare with the update on their site. On the safe side if it does not work
and you send it to them without the original firmware ver installed they
might void the warrenty... On the other hand if you ID your present ver there
may be a (previous upgrade) copy of it on their site too and you could flash
it back if it didn't work, it's your call..

Good luck...
j;-j

"Eric Fortier" wrote:

> Hey,
>
> Thanks for the answer. Turns out that the drive is really screwed. For
> posterity, here is what Plextor had me do (which is also in the manual):
>
> Disconnect the IDE cable from your drive, but leave the power cable on. Turn on
> your computer while holding the button on the drive pressed. After a while the
> door will open by itself, at which point you insert a Plextor certified blank
> media. The drive will then run some tests.
>
> After the test is over, the light on the drive will blink a number of times and
> in a certain color to express the results. Mine blinked 3 times in color Amber,
> which was NOT described in the manual or their site. It means the drive has
> failed and cannot see any media.
>
> Now for that warm and fuzzy feeling of getting an RMA and loosing the drive for
> quite some time...
>
> --Eric
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> news:1E7FFB8F-2BB4-4B25-8CA9-848D69247C2E@microsoft.com
>
> > What burning app are you using? Update your burning software first.. You may
> need to update the firmware as a last resort... > Read up and check your for
> current firmware update here, if needed. >
> http://www.plextor.com/english/suppo...s/firm_716.htm j;-j >
> > "Eric Fortier" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all!
> > >
> > > I was making a backup a few days ago on a IDE Plextor PX716A drive, and at
> the > > end of the backup it failed. From that moment on the drive cannot
> recognize ANY > > discs at all.
> > >
> > > When I put a disc in, the drive usually moves the heads around the disc for
> a > > while, then spins up and it's then ready to use. Now, whenever I put a
> disc in > > I can hear and feel the head moving for a second, then the lights
> turns off and > > nothing more happens. Clicking on the drive in Windows XP+SP2
> result in a > > locked Explorer for a long time, the it comes back with an
> error of some kind. > >
> > > I tried the usual, like use an audio or original cd and DVD, as well as try
> it > > on another computer, all to no avail and no changes in symptoms.
> > >
> > > I know that it really sounds like a broken device, but since I had it for
> just > > a bit more than 3 months (and made at most 20 discs!), and since the
> $#@ store > > when I bought ir doesn't want to exchange it for a new one, but
> instead wants > > to sent it for repairs (!), I wanted to know if anyone ever
> came across a > > problem such as this one.
> > >
> > > And maybe someone has a miracle solution, like some weird kind of reset
> > > procedure or an incantation of some sort.
> > >
> > > I know... I'm grasping, but I don't want to loose the drive for 6 to 10
> weeks! > >
> > > Thanks...
> > >
> > > --Eric
> > >
> > >
>
>