Unreliable Parallel Port Burner
Written: May 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to attach/disconnect
Cons: Very unreliable/inconsistent results
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| edyb's Full Review: MicroSolutions Backpack CDRW |
I obtained my Microsolutions Backpack from a colleague who had difficulties working it with their laptop. I am not sure what model laptop was being used, but they were frustrated enough to give me the Backpack. After an initial installation on my machine (Pentium 166 MMX with 32 MB ram) I had a job to duplicate about 80 CD's (each only having one 15 MB file on them). The burn success rate was about 80-90% at 2x, so initially I lost a fair number of CD's which shouldn't be happening with such a small file. However, I was happy to have a burner which worked 80-90% of the time (albeit unreliably).
After that, I tried to burn larger files but had one problem after another with buffer underruns using Adaptec CD Creator. Even at 1x burn things wouldn't always work. The drive was inconsistent. I took measures to unload all resident programs in Windows so that no surprises or extra tasks on the CPU existed while burning but I still had problems. Most problems seemed to occur right at the beginning of the burn (when it got around block 350) which is when I think the buffer on the drive fills up. I've also had burns fail right in the middle. I've never been able to burn more than 200 MB at once without risking a problem. I've added sessions to CD's successfully but again, inconsistently and usually small chunks (< 150 MB at a time). I'm afraid to add too many sessions to a disk because I risk ruining it due to the burn sometimes corrupting the disk (and all my old sessions) if it fails on the new session burn.
After going through Microsolution's web site several times and talking to support people, I obtained the latest drivers for Windows 95. However, after installing those drives I still didn't have much luck. I went through my BIOS settings to ensure my ECP/EPP ports were on, and that everything was set up properly. The frustration is that when the drive works, it works great. However most of the time it has failures (usually buffer underruns).
I tried using different CD software and switched to Nero Burning ROM. I had a good couple of burns with that software but then afterwards kept getting inconsistent results which once again shattered my confidence in having solved the problem. Now I've given up on the drive, just as my colleague did with his laptop. I will buy an INTERNAL EIDE burner.
I should mention I have one of (if not THE) first models of Backpack (190100) which may have something to do with it. Perhaps newer models of Backpack do not have the problem, or have a bigger buffer. However, the tech people didn't mention anything peculiar with my model even though it's the first one of the series.
I would highly recommend AGAINST any parallel port model of CD-RW, including the Backpack Parallel model. Perhaps the USB model of the Backpack is better, but you should avoid parallel-port burners. I may still use the Backpack mainly as a second external CD drive to play audio CD's (1x) or to read my half-corrupt CD's which I burned with it (which only the Backpack drive seems to recognize now).
Edy
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
edyb
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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