Never forget your roots...
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Rob Manderson wrote: I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Thats soooo obvious! :~ I would have noticed that straight away* * Not! Roger Allen - Sonork 100.10016 Roger Wright: Remember to buckle up, please, and encourage your friends to do the same. It's not just about saving your life, but saving the quality of life for those you may leave behind...
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
That is exactly the problem I had with a DVD writer that was given to me a while ago... "Power Calibration Failure". Although every site I went to said the same thing (Even Pioneer Tech support said it)... the disks you are using are not compatible with the drive. Eventually I decided to try cleaning the lens like you did, and it work fine ever since... (with the same RW disks pioneer said were incompatible). Stormblade www.torrentstorm.com
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Good job!:-D People (especially so-called computer experts) are often amazed at my willingness to crack the case. Analog or digital, if I understand how it works, I can usually figure out why it's not working and fix it. I repair things that aren't meant to be repairable, just for the fun of it. It's a shame that modern devices don't come with schematics and parts lists/diagrams anymore. Heard in Bullhead City - "You haven't lost your girl -
you've just lost your turn..." [sigh] So true... -
I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Rob Manderson wrote: I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). When I was younger, I lived life as a broke musician, often asking that question common to artists and students everywhere: "Hmmm, I have $5, do I eat or put gas in the car?" Because of this, I did a lot of auto repair, etc. myself because it was the only option. The software business has been good to me, and these days, even though I'm capable of doing a job myself, I often stop and ask myself how much my time is worth. I could spend a few hours breaking knuckles and turning the air blue working on my own car, or I could spend a few hours writing software and use that money to pay someone else to break their knuckles. Of course, if you enjoy tinkering, cleaning optical components, etc., then you came out ahead because you got a free DVD and had fun. I still remember my roots. However, I now also appreciate the freedom to apply my acquired skills more selectively. Besides, I can't work on the Vette without a $30,000 diagnostic machine anyway. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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I did hardware for about 20 years, from 1966 until about 1986. Then I moved into software (the move started in 1983 but I was writing software for HP FDM Analyzers so it was still pretty much hardware). 20 years or so of dealing with hardware should have taught me but it seems not. About a month ago my DVD burner died. It could burn record-once DVD's but it could not erase DVD rewritables. After mouthing a few words best not seen even in the soapbox I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). New burner works just fine. So yesterday I see a post at dvdrhelp[^] describing the exact problem I had seen (Power Calibration Failure). The proferred solution was to open the drive and clean the laser lens with isopropyl alcohol. Tonight I cracked the seals on the screws and cleaned the lens and guess what? It now works like new! So now I have two DVD burners :) Why not forget your roots? If I'd thought about it instead of using inappropriate words I'd have realised that a power calibration error that occurs only on attempts to erase R/W media meant that something was obscuring the lens. Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Anyone know of a similiar site for CDRWs? I don't think mine is spinning up anymore.
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Rob Manderson wrote: I bit the bullet and bought a new DVD burner (US$99 plus tax at Fry's Electronics). When I was younger, I lived life as a broke musician, often asking that question common to artists and students everywhere: "Hmmm, I have $5, do I eat or put gas in the car?" Because of this, I did a lot of auto repair, etc. myself because it was the only option. The software business has been good to me, and these days, even though I'm capable of doing a job myself, I often stop and ask myself how much my time is worth. I could spend a few hours breaking knuckles and turning the air blue working on my own car, or I could spend a few hours writing software and use that money to pay someone else to break their knuckles. Of course, if you enjoy tinkering, cleaning optical components, etc., then you came out ahead because you got a free DVD and had fun. I still remember my roots. However, I now also appreciate the freedom to apply my acquired skills more selectively. Besides, I can't work on the Vette without a $30,000 diagnostic machine anyway. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
Yup, been there on the 'do I eat or drive' question. Hmmm wait a minute, I'm there right now (but that's another story). But I know exactly what you mean about the Vette. Remember the good old days when, if you dropped a spanner at the top of the engine compartment, it'd fall out the bottom? Let's see that happen these days :confused: Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
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Yup, been there on the 'do I eat or drive' question. Hmmm wait a minute, I'm there right now (but that's another story). But I know exactly what you mean about the Vette. Remember the good old days when, if you dropped a spanner at the top of the engine compartment, it'd fall out the bottom? Let's see that happen these days :confused: Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Rob Manderson wrote: But I know exactly what you mean about the Vette. Remember the good old days when, if you dropped a spanner at the top of the engine compartment, it'd fall out the bottom? Let's see that happen these days Dig it. I try not to even open the hood if I can at all avoid it. Let the oil change shops check the fluid levels, that engine just scares me! :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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Good job!:-D People (especially so-called computer experts) are often amazed at my willingness to crack the case. Analog or digital, if I understand how it works, I can usually figure out why it's not working and fix it. I repair things that aren't meant to be repairable, just for the fun of it. It's a shame that modern devices don't come with schematics and parts lists/diagrams anymore. Heard in Bullhead City - "You haven't lost your girl -
you've just lost your turn..." [sigh] So true...Thanks! I think I'm most ashamed of not having thought of it myself. I think I've become so used to the idea of storage hardware being commodity that I never thought of trying to repair it. That said, I'm not surprised that it's almost impossible to scare up schematics and parts lists anymore. From the corporate point of view it probably costs significant money to pay a tech writer/draughtsman to convert engineering diagrams targetted at production into diagrams targetted at repair technicians. From their point of view it's probably cheaper to throw away than to repair. We know better :) (Well I do now :) ) Rob Manderson **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003