My new LG H42N DVD burner only spits out coasters! PMA error

[OhioGuy]

I've got a LG H42N burner. 3 actually, that I bought at Newegg. I recently
have been trying to get over the shock of finding out that these things rip
slower than my 3.5 year old BenQ drive.

Now, I tried burning a DVD, and I'm getting problems. I get a "PMA update
failure", followed by "could not perform end of Disk at once" message.

Afterwards, I can not see the title I gave to the disk when looking at the
drive. However, the disk itself is readable in the LG drive. I can access
the files, open up documents, play video, etc. When I try to look at it in
other drives, however, they can not read it, including the DVD-ROM drive in
my laptop.

What gives? I am using Verbatim DataLife 2.4X DVD +R disks. I have several
hundred of these from when I took advantage of some coupons and a Staples
sale to buy 50 packs for about $2.80 each, including shipping and tax.
Previously, I'd been burning these disks on a BenQ 4X DVD+R burner with
absolutely no problems. That was on the same machine, in the same drive bay,
and the same exact IDE cable hookup. These Verbatim disks aren't exactly
recent, but I've only had a problem with maybe 1 out of each 50 pack. That's
about a 98% success rate until now. On the LG H42N drive, I've burned 3
coasters in a row. Guess what I think is wrong? (hint: it's not the quality
of the media)

I'm really starting to think these LG drives are a piece of junk, and that I
should ship them back to Newegg for a refund. I've had nothing but
disappointments and trouble from these drives. I'm starting to think that if
it says "LG" on it, my first response should probably be to take a
sledgehammer to it. (which is a shame, because I liked my LG Goldstar 3DO
machine back in the mid 90's)

Here are the messages that came up when using Nero Express (Nero 7) to burn:

Burn Process started at 2.4x

1:39:36 Book type automatically set to DVD-ROM

1:46:46 PMA update failure
D: HL - DT - ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N

1:46:47 Could not perform end of Disk at once

1:46:50 Generating DVD high compatibility borders

1:46:52 PMA update failure
D: HL - DT - ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N

1:46:52 Could not perform end of Disk at once

1:46:52 Burn process failed at 2.4x

I'm doing this on a Compaq Presario SR1010Z Sempron 3000 system.

 

[DaveW]

Unfortunately, saving money by buying inexpensive "deals" does not always
save you time and frustration.

 

[Paul]

I've got a LG H42N burner. 3 actually, that I bought at Newegg. I recently
have been trying to get over the shock of finding out that these things rip
slower than my 3.5 year old BenQ drive.

Now, I tried burning a DVD, and I'm getting problems. I get a "PMA update
failure", followed by "could not perform end of Disk at once" message.

Afterwards, I can not see the title I gave to the disk when looking at the
drive. However, the disk itself is readable in the LG drive. I can access
the files, open up documents, play video, etc. When I try to look at it in
other drives, however, they can not read it, including the DVD-ROM drive in
my laptop.

What gives? I am using Verbatim DataLife 2.4X DVD +R disks. I have several
hundred of these from when I took advantage of some coupons and a Staples
sale to buy 50 packs for about $2.80 each, including shipping and tax.
Previously, I'd been burning these disks on a BenQ 4X DVD+R burner with
absolutely no problems. That was on the same machine, in the same drive bay,
and the same exact IDE cable hookup. These Verbatim disks aren't exactly
recent, but I've only had a problem with maybe 1 out of each 50 pack. That's
about a 98% success rate until now. On the LG H42N drive, I've burned 3
coasters in a row. Guess what I think is wrong? (hint: it's not the quality
of the media)

I'm really starting to think these LG drives are a piece of junk, and that I
should ship them back to Newegg for a refund. I've had nothing but
disappointments and trouble from these drives. I'm starting to think that if
it says "LG" on it, my first response should probably be to take a
sledgehammer to it. (which is a shame, because I liked my LG Goldstar 3DO
machine back in the mid 90's)

Here are the messages that came up when using Nero Express (Nero 7) to burn:

Burn Process started at 2.4x

1:39:36 Book type automatically set to DVD-ROM

1:46:46 PMA update failure
D: HL - DT - ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N

1:46:47 Could not perform end of Disk at once

1:46:50 Generating DVD high compatibility borders

1:46:52 PMA update failure
D: HL - DT - ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N

1:46:52 Could not perform end of Disk at once

1:46:52 Burn process failed at 2.4x

I'm doing this on a Compaq Presario SR1010Z Sempron 3000 system.

I recommend reading some reviews, before buying drives. Good reviews try
burning with multiple brands of media, and can give you some hint as
to what media to buy. Since drives are so cheap, you can spend more
on test media, than you spent on the drive. This site is one source of
reviews:

http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/

CDfreaks also has a forum at http://club.cdfreaks.com/

On this forum, one comment is:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=164086

"The main negative point is that LG looks not interested to
make good FW-support for the newer drives"

The way the drive market works is, you release "crap" firmware with
the drive, then release an update several months after release. Which
is fine, if the manufacturer lives up to their end of the bargain. But
if no update to original firmware is available, then the level of
media support may be limited. It would be unheard of, for a burner
to be released with proper firmware on the first try :-(

Not being a burner expert, I'd say find the most recent burning
software that you can. Sometimes the problems can be resolved with
the latest software, if it is an interface standards issue.

The reviews on Newegg for H42N are perfectly worthless. Almost
as if none of the reviewers even tried to determine how good it
burns.

One other comment:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=164428

"The H42 is a nice drive, but can´t scan media."

Whatever that means. It may have to do with doing an error scan
on a burned disk.

And too bad this info wasn't in English. There might be an interesting
tidbit buried here. The release date for that drive looks pretty
recent.

http://dvd-r.jpn.org/GSA-H42N/index.html

Paul

 

[Ed Medlin]

I've got a LG H42N burner. 3 actually, that I bought at Newegg. I recently
have been trying to get over the shock of finding out that these things
rip slower than my 3.5 year old BenQ drive.

I have an LG drive and it is actually a rebranded Samsung drive. Samsung
makes a program called Magic Speed that disables the "quiet" mode that is
the default mode for, at least, my DVDR. It greatly increases ripping speed.
As far as recording quality goes you may need a firmware update which for my
LG drive is also found at the Samsung site. You could give it a try.

Ed

 

[Mike T.]

I've got a LG H42N burner. 3 actually, that I bought at Newegg. I recently
have been trying to get over the shock of finding out that these things
rip slower than my 3.5 year old BenQ drive.

Now, I tried burning a DVD, and I'm getting problems. I get a "PMA update
failure", followed by "could not perform end of Disk at once" message.

Afterwards, I can not see the title I gave to the disk when looking at the
drive. However, the disk itself is readable in the LG drive. I can access
the files, open up documents, play video, etc. When I try to look at it in
other drives, however, they can not read it, including the DVD-ROM drive
in my laptop.

What gives? I am using Verbatim DataLife 2.4X DVD +R disks. I have several
hundred of these from when I took advantage of some coupons and a Staples
sale to buy 50 packs for about $2.80 each, including shipping and tax.
Previously, I'd been burning these disks on a BenQ 4X DVD+R burner with
absolutely no problems.

(snip)

You've got a couple of issues that you need to be aware of.

1) Successful burning of DVD/CD media depends on three things:
A) Brand of burner (LG in your case) and sometimes model of burner as
well
B) Brand of media (Verbatim in your case) and sometimes model of media
as well
C) Brand of playback optical drive, and sometimes model of playback
optical drive as well

You need to find the right mix of A, B AND C. An LG burner should work
quite well with decent software like Nero (for example). So you need to
find the right media to burn in it. I don't know what media will work well
with an LG burner, but apparently Verbatim (or that specific type of
Verbatim) media does NOT work. I'd suggest you try some fast (8X or
greater) media made by maxell or ritek / ridata next. But don't buy a lot
of anything until you find what works well. Like, maybe pick up a couple
disks of each and try them out. If you are only going to be reading the
disks in the same drive that burns them, then you shouldn't have a problem.
But your ultimate goal is to find media that works well in your burner AND
all other drives that you are going to stick that media into.

2) Newer, high speed burners often have problems burning at slower speeds.
For this reason, I suspect your new (and presumably high-speed) LG burner is
probably choking on the ultra slow verbatim media. That could be the ONLY
problem with the Verbatim media. I wouldn't be shocked to learn that 8X or
faster verbatim media works fine on the same burner.

I really think you have a media problem, not a drive problem. (review step
1 above) -Dave

 

[Ed Medlin]

(snip)

You've got a couple of issues that you need to be aware of.

1) Successful burning of DVD/CD media depends on three things:
A) Brand of burner (LG in your case) and sometimes model of burner as
well
B) Brand of media (Verbatim in your case) and sometimes model of media
as well
C) Brand of playback optical drive, and sometimes model of playback
optical drive as well

You need to find the right mix of A, B AND C. An LG burner should work
quite well with decent software like Nero (for example). So you need to
find the right media to burn in it. I don't know what media will work
well with an LG burner, but apparently Verbatim (or that specific type of
Verbatim) media does NOT work. I'd suggest you try some fast (8X or
greater) media made by maxell or ritek / ridata next. But don't buy a lot
of anything until you find what works well. Like, maybe pick up a couple
disks of each and try them out. If you are only going to be reading the
disks in the same drive that burns them, then you shouldn't have a
problem. But your ultimate goal is to find media that works well in your
burner AND all other drives that you are going to stick that media into.

2) Newer, high speed burners often have problems burning at slower
speeds. For this reason, I suspect your new (and presumably high-speed) LG
burner is probably choking on the ultra slow verbatim media. That could
be the ONLY problem with the Verbatim media. I wouldn't be shocked to
learn that 8X or faster verbatim media works fine on the same burner.

I really think you have a media problem, not a drive problem. (review
step 1 above) -Dave

Having used many different types and priced media, I have found that the
Dynex brand (usually a bit cheaper too) works very well in it's 16x format.


Ed