 |
| Startseite |
| Über electricattic.net |
| Lösungen des "medium speed error" bei CD-Brennern |
| Impressum |
 |
| start page |
| about electricattic.net |
| Solutions to the "medium speed error" of CD writers |
Ingo Kletti <feedback@electricattic.net> last update: 12. August, 2004
The "medium speed error" and "power calibration error" messages are a problem that occurs with newer as well as older CD writers. These error messages mean that the CD writer can not write to the empty CD-R because it can´t adapt the laser output power to the power needed to write the CD-R. This may be have different causes that are discussed below and possible solutions are given.
I would be glad if you could give me some feedback which of these solutions worked for you and what other problems you encountered so I can update this site. Please write to: feedback@electricattic.net
If you are using the CD writing software Nero Burning ROM from Ahead then the first thing to do is to try and update the ASPI driver. This driver is the link between the software and the CD writer hardware.
You can download the most recent version of the ASPI driver for free from the Ahead website (www.nero.com). On the Ahead website you have to go to "Support => Utilities => ASPI Driver". You should find two different versions available for download:
Many manufacturers include the identification codes of different CD-Rs in the software integrated into the CD writer. By these codes the CD writer can determine the maximum writing speed for the CD-R and adapt the necessary laser power. As the ID codes on the CD-Rs may change and the CD writer can´t know more recent CD-R brands anyway, this may be a cause for the "medium speed error" oder "power calibration error" messages.
Updating the firmware of the CD writer might be the solution in this case. The manufacturers usually offer these updates on their websites. There you should also find additional tools that might be necessary for the update as well as manuals on how to update the firmware.
If you don´t know where to find the manufacturers homepage you can search for it on this website: www.driverworld.dk.
Especially with older CD writer that have been in use for years it is very probable that neither the first nor the second suggestion did resolve the error messages. In these cases the laser unit has become dirty from dust over the time. In my case, the CD writer worked for over four years before the first error message appeared.
As the laser units of CD writers usually are made up from several parts using a conventional lense cleaning CD is not enough. The following guide describes how i disassembled my CD writer and cleaned it. Afterwards, the "medium speed error" was history.
As i did disassemble only my CD writer, i don´t know how other drives are constructed, but i assume that most CD writers from Ricoh are made the same way. I also believe that most other CD writers are in one way or the other similar to mine and that this guide might help a lot of people.
Like I mentioned above, I´d be glad if you give me feedback whether you could successfully repair your drive or not, so i can include it in the list drives that can be "saved" this way.
After I´ve got some feedback to this guide, I´d like to ask you for one thing: If you write that you´ve successfully repaired your CD-writer, please include the brand and model, otherwise I can´t include it in the list...
| Brand | Model | ASPI driver update | Firmware update | Cleaning | Remarks |
| AOpen | CRW2440 | X | |||
| AOpen | CRW4850 | X | |||
| Philips | CDRW2000 | X | |||
| Pioneer | DVR-106D | X | |||
| Plextor | 40/12/40A | X | |||
| Ricoh | MP7040A | X | My own CD writer :-) | ||
| Ricoh | MP7060A + MP7060S | X | |||
| Ricoh | MP7080A | X | Thanks to Uwe Wöhler for the first feedback to this guide! | ||
| Teac | DV-W50D | X | |||
| Yamaha | CRW-F1 | X |
Before we start, please be aware that:
I recommend the following tools:
First of all, the front cover must be removed. The case of the MP7040 consists of two halves, where the bottom part is hooked into the top part of it (Pic. 1).
Pic. 1: Bottom part of the drive case , hooked into the top part.
(Click on image for larger view)
Because of this construction, the whole case must be disassembled. The four screws at the bottom of the drive must be removed. With the MP7040, one of the screws is hidden under the warranty tab (Pic. 2). When taking apart the two halves of the drive case, hold it by the lower part because it secures the printed circuit board, which otherwise might fall off and get damaged. Then you can also take off the top part of the drive case.
Pic. 2: The screws on the bottom of the drive.
(Click on image for larger view)
After taking off the top of the drive case you have to remove the support with the upper CD fixation (it is secured by two screws, Pic. 3).
Pic. 3: Support with the CD fixation
(Click on image for larger view)
The next step is to remove the CD tray. To achieve that, the emergency eject lever (Pic. 4) must be pushed and the latch on the tray (Pic. 5) must be lifted, then you can completely remove the CD tray.
 Pic. 4: The emergency eject lever (Click on image for larger view) |
|
 Pic. 5: Latch on the CD tray (Click on image for larger view) |
Now you can see the module comprised of the spindle motor and the laser unit,
it is secured by three screws (Pic. 6).
First of all, the flat cable must be unplugged. The cable can easily be removed after pulling out the little
plastic tabs to the left and right of the cable (Pic. 7). Then you can remove the screws and take out the
whole unit.
 Pic. 6: Spindle motor and laser unit (Click on image for larger view) |
|
 Pic. 7: The plastic latches that secure the flat cable (Click on image for larger view) |
After removing the two small cross tip screws, the larger of the two metallic covers of the laser unit can be removed.
Pic. 8: Screws on the metallic cover
(Click on image for larger view)
The two smaller metallic covers must be removed, also. The one of these two covers without the screw is secured by three latches that can be lifted with a small, flat screwdriver (Pic. 9 and 10). Afterwards you can remove the second small cover.
 Pic. 9: Cover latches on the side facing the spindle motor (Click on image for larger view) |
|
 Pic. 10: Cover latches on the side opposite to the spindle motor (Click on image for larger view) |
Now you can see the "heart" of your CD writer, the laser unit that is made up of four main parts (Pic. 11):
 Pic. 11: The laser unit (Click on image for larger view) |
|
 Pic. 12: Functional drawing of the laser unit |
I have used compressed air from a spray can to blow away the dust. There are two main advantages about this: First, you have very good control of the pressure, so you don´t damage the suspended lense by putting too much strain on its springs. The second advantage is that this air is 100% oil free (which isn´t guaranteed by air coming from a compressor). You could also try to blow away the dust with a straw. You then jut have to be careful not to spit on the mirror and lenses...
I found a magnifying glass to come in handy to see if the cleaning was successful.
Reassembling the CD writer works just like taking it apart, except for the reversal of all steps. The thing you have to pay attention to are the two small metallic covers. The one that´s secured by the screw is hooked under the second small cover (Pic. 13). On the second small cover, one latch has a different shape than the other three. This latch must be hooked in first or the other ones won´t fit correctly.
Pic. 13: Small metallic cover, hooked into the other one
(Click on image for larger view)
<<< back to the top of the page <<<