Mailing List Archive: Gentoo: PPC-User

Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong?

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carl at hudkins

Dec 28, 2004, 7:04 AM

Post #1 of 7 (792 views)
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Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong?

[.Orig. sent on 26 Dec, re-sent because I never saw it in inbox or on Gmane.]

Hi...

At first I wasn't going to post about the I/O errors I've been getting when
trying to read files from CD-ROM on my G3 here, because I assumed it was a
hardware problem.  (I got it second-hand, and beggars can't be choosers, as
they say.)  However, I have since discovered that I can play a DVD from
start to finish with no problems at all, so it seems to me that the drive
itself must be OK.  Here are the symptoms I've found:

1. I can play a normal, "store-bought", DVD all the way through, including
commentary and alternative audio tracks, with no problems or errors (using
xine).
2. I CANNOT play a VCD or SVCD without errors, freezes, or slow-downs at
(apparently) random points.
3. I can copy small (a couple of MB) files from a CD-ROM all right.
4. I CANNOT copy (or play, in the case of video files, which comprise the
majority of files I have burned to CD) large files (50 MB and larger) from
CD-ROM without receiving "input/output error" messages.
(5. I booted and installed this machine from a 2.4 LiveCD, so apparently the
drive worked acceptably well at that time.)

(I have no data-only DVDs available for testing.)

I have tried using hdparm -E to set the CD-ROM speed to various values,
including zero, with no change in these observed problems. Also, using
hdparm to change DMA settings for this drive has no effect.  Here's some
info about this box... but note that the "system" shown by lshw is wrong;
it's only a G3!  Everything else it shows is correct, as far as I can tell.

kernel: Linux nenene 2.6.9-gentoo-r1 #1 SMP Tue Nov 16 20:43:19 EST 2004 ppc
7400, altivec supported PowerMac3,3 GNU/Linux

nenene root # lshw -short
H/W path        Device             Class          Description
=============================================================
                                   system         PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics
/0                                 bus
/0/fff00000                        memory         Apple PowerMac3,3 3.4f1
BootROM built on 08/08/00 at 22:02:19
/0/0            /proc/device-tree  memory         OpenFirmware 3
/0/1                               memory         System memory
/0/1/0                             memory         SDRAM PC100-222S
/0/1/1                             memory         SDRAM PC100-222S
/0/1/2                             memory         Memory bank
/0/1/3                             memory         Memory bank
/0/2                               processor      7400, altivec supported
/0/2/0                             memory         L1 Cache
/0/2/1                             memory         L2 Cache (unified)
/0/3                               processor      PowerPC,G4
/0/3/0                             memory         L1 Cache
/0/3/1                             memory         L2 Cache (unified)
/0/100                             bridge         UniNorth AGP
/0/100/10       /dev/fb0           display        Rage 128 PF/PRO AGP 4x
TMDS
/0/101                             bridge         UniNorth PCI
/0/101/d                           bridge         DECchip 21154
/0/101/d/2                         storage        AHA-7850
/0/101/d/3                         bridge         Mini-PCI bridge
/0/101/d/3/c                       storage        ABP940-U / ABP960-U
/0/101/d/3/d                       communication  OX16PCI954 (Quad 16950
UART) function 0
/0/101/d/3/d.1                     bridge         Oxford Semiconductor Ltd
/0/101/d/7                         generic        KeyLargo Mac I/O
/0/101/d/7/0    ide0               bus            Channel 0
/0/101/d/7/0/0  /dev/hda           disk           IBM-DTLA-307030
/0/101/d/7/0/1  /dev/hdb           disk           Maxtor 6Y120P0
/0/101/d/7/1    ide1               bus            Channel 0
/0/101/d/7/1/0  /dev/hdc           disk           HITACHI DVD-ROM GD-7000
/0/101/d/8                         bus            KeyLargo USB
/0/101/d/9                         bus            KeyLargo USB
/0/101/d/a                         bus            TSB12LV26 IEEE-1394
Controller (Link)
/0/102                             bridge         UniNorth Internal PCI
/0/102/f        eth0               network        UniNorth GMAC (Sun GEM)

Has anyone fixed a problem like this? Do you know what else I might try?

Thanks,

--
// Carl Hudkins :: PGP 50238D9E
//
// ==] What would Jeeves do? [==
//

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sjl at borg-cube

Dec 28, 2004, 10:52 AM

Post #2 of 7 (754 views)
Permalink

Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004, Carl Hudkins wrote:

> 3. I can copy small (a couple of MB) files from a CD-ROM all right.
> 4. I CANNOT copy (or play, in the case of video files, which comprise the
> majority of files I have burned to CD) large files (50 MB and larger) from

What are the kernel messages you see when you get these input/output
errors?

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carl at hudkins

Dec 28, 2004, 7:59 PM

Post #3 of 7 (756 views)
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Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

Stephanie J. Lockwood-Childs wrote:

> On Tue, 28 Dec 2004, Carl Hudkins wrote:
>
>> 3. I can copy small (a couple of MB) files from a CD-ROM all right.
>> 4. I CANNOT copy (or play, in the case of video files, which comprise the
>> majority of files I have burned to CD) large files (50 MB and larger)
>> from
>
> What are the kernel messages you see when you get these input/output
> errors?

Here's one of them, which was while playing a video directly from the CD:

Dec 28 20:58:10 [kernel] hdc: media error (bad sector): status=0x51
{ DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
- Last output repeated 23 times -

During a cp:

Dec 28 20:59:59 [kernel] Buffer I/O error on device hdc, logical block 94164
Dec 28 21:00:01 [kernel] hdc: media error (bad sector): status=0x51
{ DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
- Last output repeated 31 times -

Maybe this drive just doesn't like CDs I've burned, for some reason.
Unlike many people I meet every day, I keep my CDs well -- no fingerprints,
dust, or scratches on the ones I'm using to test. However, I've noticed
the CD player in my car skips more on discs I've burned than on "real"
audio CDs, so... ? :)

--
// Carl Hudkins :: PGP 50238D9E
//
// ==] What would Jeeves do? [==
//

--
gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list

ben.ricker at gmail

Dec 29, 2004, 7:27 AM

Post #4 of 7 (754 views)
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Re: Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

I have found that there is a vast difference between media types. What
brand are you using for the CD-Rs? Was it the cheapetst you could
find? What brand of CD write are you using? I have a G4 Powerbook 17"
and I had the hardest time using cheap brands. I have to use the "name
brand" ones like Memorex of Verbatim. Apple's site has a list of
tested brands for some ot their drives as well.

That error definitely points to issues with the media. When I get good
media, I never have problems playing CDs.

Ben Ricker

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 21:59:11 -0500, Carl Hudkins <carl [at] hudkins> wrote:
> Stephanie J. Lockwood-Childs wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 28 Dec 2004, Carl Hudkins wrote:
> >
> >> 3. I can copy small (a couple of MB) files from a CD-ROM all right.
> >> 4. I CANNOT copy (or play, in the case of video files, which comprise the
> >> majority of files I have burned to CD) large files (50 MB and larger)
> >> from
> >
> > What are the kernel messages you see when you get these input/output
> > errors?
>
> Here's one of them, which was while playing a video directly from the CD:
>
> Dec 28 20:58:10 [kernel] hdc: media error (bad sector): status=0x51
> { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
> - Last output repeated 23 times -
>
> During a cp:
>
> Dec 28 20:59:59 [kernel] Buffer I/O error on device hdc, logical block 94164
> Dec 28 21:00:01 [kernel] hdc: media error (bad sector): status=0x51
> { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
> - Last output repeated 31 times -
>
> Maybe this drive just doesn't like CDs I've burned, for some reason.
> Unlike many people I meet every day, I keep my CDs well -- no fingerprints,
> dust, or scratches on the ones I'm using to test. However, I've noticed
> the CD player in my car skips more on discs I've burned than on "real"
> audio CDs, so... ? :)
>
> --
> // Carl Hudkins :: PGP 50238D9E
> //
> // ==] What would Jeeves do? [==
> //
>
> --
> gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list
>
>

--
Ben Ricker
He's just this guy, you know?

--
gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list

carl at hudkins

Dec 29, 2004, 5:51 PM

Post #5 of 7 (755 views)
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Re: Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

Flaffer wrote:

> I have found that there is a vast difference between media types. What
> brand are you using for the CD-Rs? Was it the cheapetst you could
> find? What brand of CD write are you using? I have a G4 Powerbook 17"

No, they are not the cheapest thing on the shelf. :) My discs are a
mixture of [looks around] Fujifilm, Memorex, and Verbatim. I'll have to
test and see whether I have more errors with a certain brand -- although I
have to say that the two drives on my PC both read these fine. They are
700MB discs, and not "over-burned".

The CD-writer is an HP 8x SCSI drive (several years old but rock solid,
though it is not working since the move to 2.6+PaX -- on my "To Do" list),
and the discs read OK on it and the no-name CD-ROM drive that are in that
box.

> and I had the hardest time using cheap brands. I have to use the "name
> brand" ones like Memorex of Verbatim. Apple's site has a list of
> tested brands for some ot their drives as well.

Interesting -- I'll have to check that out!

> That error definitely points to issues with the media. When I get good
> media, I never have problems playing CDs.

If that's the case, I'll just have to live with it. I can't afford to buy
the gold-plated ones! ;)

--
// Carl Hudkins :: PGP 50238D9E
//
// ==] What would Jeeves do? [==
//

--
gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list

ben.ricker at gmail

Dec 29, 2004, 6:25 PM

Post #6 of 7 (754 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

If you are getting the errors on multiple CDs and they are working on
other burners, then I am leaning away from the media. Also the HP 8x
is a rock solid burner. I have one myself and never had any problems
with even cheapo media.

I am out of ideas here. Let me clarify something: if it is not an
Apple factory drive (I don't think they ever shipped HPs), then
checking Apple's site is a waste of time.

You are brining these in Gentoo? What program are you using? Is there
a Simulation Mode? Does that succeed? If Sim Mode succeeds,, this
usually indicates a media issue. Of course, that goes back to the
first paragraph, which I just proceeded to contradict.

Don't happen to have another machine you can burn using that HP drive with?

Sorry I was not more help.

Ben Ricker

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:51:59 -0500, Carl Hudkins <carl [at] hudkins> wrote:
> Flaffer wrote:
>
> > I have found that there is a vast difference between media types. What
> > brand are you using for the CD-Rs? Was it the cheapetst you could
> > find? What brand of CD write are you using? I have a G4 Powerbook 17"
>
> No, they are not the cheapest thing on the shelf. :) My discs are a
> mixture of [looks around] Fujifilm, Memorex, and Verbatim. I'll have to
> test and see whether I have more errors with a certain brand -- although I
> have to say that the two drives on my PC both read these fine. They are
> 700MB discs, and not "over-burned".
>
> The CD-writer is an HP 8x SCSI drive (several years old but rock solid,
> though it is not working since the move to 2.6+PaX -- on my "To Do" list),
> and the discs read OK on it and the no-name CD-ROM drive that are in that
> box.
>
> > and I had the hardest time using cheap brands. I have to use the "name
> > brand" ones like Memorex of Verbatim. Apple's site has a list of
> > tested brands for some ot their drives as well.
>
> Interesting -- I'll have to check that out!
>
> > That error definitely points to issues with the media. When I get good
> > media, I never have problems playing CDs.
>
> If that's the case, I'll just have to live with it. I can't afford to buy
> the gold-plated ones! ;)
>
> --
> // Carl Hudkins :: PGP 50238D9E
> //
> // ==] What would Jeeves do? [==
> //
>
> --
> gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list
>
>

--
Ben Ricker
He's just this guy, you know?

--
gentoo-ppc-user [at] gentoo mailing list

sjl at borg-cube

Dec 29, 2004, 10:20 PM

Post #7 of 7 (760 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: Re: Q: G3 DVDs work, I/O error with CD-ROMs... what's wrong? [In reply to]

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004, Carl Hudkins wrote:

> No, they are not the cheapest thing on the shelf. :) My discs are a
> mixture of [looks around] Fujifilm, Memorex, and Verbatim. I'll have to
> test and see whether I have more errors with a certain brand -- although I
> have to say that the two drives on my PC both read these fine. They are
> 700MB discs, and not "over-burned".

It still looks like your drive does not like your CD-R media.

Do you have commercially-pressed CDs that you can try copying large files
from? I have definitely seen many CDROM drives that are fussy about CD-R
media -- for instance at installfests. My LUG friends burn with fancy CD-R
but sometimes you can still find a drive that won't like the Fuji from the
Japanese factory (which are the best Fuji according to my friend who is a
connoisseur in media...)

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