Satellite Pro M30 - Can't burn CDs/DVDs

Question

Hi!
Ever since I got my machine, I haven't been able to burn any CDs or DVDs whatsoever. I keep getting a "Power calibration error", which I normaly would assume means the drive's broke. But seeing as this is a completely new drive (less then a month old) and it can read every CD and DVD I throw at it, I doubt it's a hardware issue. After a few minutes of googling, I came across a thread made by other people experiencing the same problem with this very same drive (Mat****a UJ-820S), but with no good solution (atleast none that worked for me).
Below is a log from Nero (6.6.0.1 (older versions also tried)). I hope it's of some use, as this is getting very frustrating.. Thanks.
Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: -
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.68, size=160016 bytes, created 7/28/2004 4:51:12 PM
Nero version: 6.6.0.1
Recorder: <MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S>Version: 1.00 - HA 1 TA 0 - 6.6.0.1
Adapter driver: <atapi> HA 1
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ATAPI
CD-ROM: <MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S >Version: 1.00 - HA 1 TA 0 - 6.6.0.1
Adapter driver: <atapi> HA 1
=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : IC25N060ATMR04-0 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral : Generic DVD-ROM 1.0 d347prt Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off
=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S D: CDRom0
Generic DVD-ROM E: CDRom1
=======================
AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 74448896 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 510MB (523184kB)
Free physical memory: 228MB (233560kB)
Memory in use : 55 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Static Write Speed Table: 0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)
4.11.2004
CD-ROM (ISO)
2:02:51 PM #1 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6165
Iso document burn settings
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : FALSE
Multisession : TRUE
Multisession type: : Start multisession
Burning mode : TAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet : TRUE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : TRUE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : TRUE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE
2:02:51 PM #2 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 2832
MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S
Buffer underrun protection activated
2:02:51 PM #3 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 127
Reader running
2:02:51 PM #4 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 122
Writer MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S running
2:02:51 PM #5 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3286
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)
2:02:51 PM #6 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3117
Turn on Track-at-once, using CD-R/RW media
2:02:51 PM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 256
Last possible write address on media: 359845 ( 79:59.70)
Last address to be written: 51106 ( 11:23.31)
2:02:51 PM #8 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 268
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)
2:02:51 PM #9 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2309
Recorder: MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S;
CDR code: 00 97 26 66; OSJ entry from: CMC Magnetics Corporation
ATIP Data:
Special Info [hex] 1: D0 00 98, 2: 61 1A 42 (LI 97:26.66), 3: 4F 3B 47 (LO 79:59.71)
Additional Info [hex] 1: 00 00 00 (invalid), 2: 00 00 00 (invalid), 3: 00 00 00 (invalid)
2:02:51 PM #10 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 430
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================
2:02:51 PM #11 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 844
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 ()
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 51107 (51107) = #51107/11:21.32
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 51105 blocks [MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S]
2:02:51 PM #12 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1047
Prepare recorder [MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S] for write in TAO
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: ""
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc not fixated
Tracks 1 to 1:
1: TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048/0x00, FilePos 0 307200 104974336, ISRC ""
DAO layout:
===========
__Start_|____Track_|_Idx_|_RecDep_|_CtrlAdr_
-150 | lead-in | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
-150 | 1 | 0 | 0x00 | 0x41
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41
51107 | lead-out | 1 | 0x00 | 0x41
2:02:51 PM #13 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1096
Removed 2 run-out blocks from end of track 1. Length: 51107 -> 51105.
2:02:52 PM #14 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1853
Caching of files started
2:02:52 PM #15 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4003
Cache writing successful.
2:02:52 PM #16 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1853
Caching of files completed
2:02:52 PM #17 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1853
Burn process started at 16x (2,400 KB/s)
2:02:52 PM #18 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2497
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0
2:02:52 PM #19 Text 0 File Mmc.cpp, Line 20673
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON
2:03:11 PM #20 SCSI -1106 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1432
SCSI Exec, HA 1, TA 0, LUN 0, buffer 0x03D90000
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x73
Sense Qual: 0x03
CDB Data: 0x2A 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x01 0xE0 0x00 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0xF1 0x00 0x03 0xFF 0xFF 0xFF 0x6A 0x0A
0x00 0x00 0x15 0x11 0x73 0x03
2:03:11 PM #21 CDR -1106 File Writer.cpp, Line 311
Power calibration error
2:03:11 PM #22 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 229
all writers idle, stopping conversion
2:03:12 PM #23 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 223
conversion idle, stopping reader
2:03:12 PM #24 CDR -201 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 200
Invalid write state
MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-820S\H1 T0
2:03:12 PM #25 TRANSFER -18 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 200
Could not perform EndTrack
2:03:12 PM #26 Text 0 File Mmc.cpp, Line 15477
<MAT****ADVD-RAM UJ-820S > start Close Session
2:03:12 PM #27 SCSI -1106 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1178
SCSI Exec, HA 1, TA 0, LUN 0
Status: 0x04 (0x01, SCSI_ERR)
HA-Status 0x00 (0x00, OK)
TA-Status 0x02 (0x01, SCSI_TASTATUS_CHKCOND)
Sense Key: 0x03 (KEY_MEDIUM_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x73
Sense Qual: 0x03
CDB Data: 0x5B 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Sense Data: 0x70 0x00 0x03 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0A
0x00 0x00 0x15 0x11 0x73 0x03
2:03:12 PM #28 CDR -1106 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 249
Power calibration error
2:03:12 PM #29 TRANSFER -19 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 249
Could not perform Fixation
2:03:12 PM #30 Text 0 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 258
falling back to disc fixation
2:03:12 PM #31 Text 0 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1711
Set remaining time: 0:00,000 (0ms) -> OK
2:03:12 PM #32 Phase 38 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1853
Burn process failed at 16x (2,400 KB/s)
Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=2.02.62a, size=20016 bytes, created 10/28/2003 11:02:00 AM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)
File 'Drivers\atapi.sys': Ver=5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), size=95360 bytes, created 8/3/2004 9:59:44 PM (Adapter driver for rec)
Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

Answer 1

Here is how I just fixed my woes:
In short: Go into Device-Manager and Select IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers: Try changing to "PIO Only" mode instead of "Ultra DMA Mode" on the IDE Channel which your DVD-Drive is using, namely the Secondary IDE Channel (since the 1st is probably your disk). It should say "Location 1" on the tab of where the drive is NOT zero.
Ultra-DMA is obviously newer and faster and better, but I think that it still gets the specified performance from the PIO-mode. Took me around 10 minutes to write around 3 gigs.
(1) uninstall manually every device driver which looked even remotely connected to "Mat****a" or "DVD" or "CD" INCLUDING "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller" and "Secondary IDE Channel".
(2) ensured a hard restart (power-off)
(3) allowed Windows to auto-detect whatever hardware it pops up after reboot commences
(4) one of those items was the "Secondary IDE Channel"... or in any case... go into Control Panel->System->Hardware : Secondary IDE Channel.
(a) Change from "Ultra DMA mode" to "PIO Only mode"
(5) Go back into the Control Panel->Hardware->Device Manager->IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers->Secondary IDE Channel : Transfer Mode = "PIO Only" to make sure that this reinstallation you just experienced kept that setting, if not, set it as such, and again, DO NOT change your "location 0" setting, the tab displaying your secondary ide channel should say "location 1".
(5) hard-reboot again
(6) system should come up and auto-detect your CD-ROM / DVD-ROM / Optical Drive / DVD-RAM drive all at once on the next restart.
It should then function.