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CD-R and CD-RW drives are fussy eaters. They require an uninterrupted stream of data from the source CD-ROM or hard drive to the recipient blank CD. If your PC can't meet your drive's demanding dietary requirements, you've got trouble. Even a brief pause in the flow of data can result in a dreaded 'buffer underrun error', ruining your recording session and--if you're burning a CD-R--wasting a good disc.

To correct this problem, just reduce the recording speed--from 8X to 4X, for example. Of course, slower speeds mean longer recording times. So before you acquiesce to this option, see whether some simple adjustments might speed your PC's data transfer and maximize your CD-R or CD-RW drive's performance. Note: The following tips refer exclusively to internal IDE drives, and not to USB or parallel-port external drives.

Take a load off: Do everything you can to reduce the computing load on your system's CPU while you're burning a disc. This means doing more than merely closing all currently open apps on your PC. You should also disable real-time virus protection, screen savers, telephony programs, and any other software running in the background that might interrupt the flow of data. Check your System Tray (usually found in the lower-right corner of your screen) for icons representing your running programs.

If you're on a network, log off for the duration, or at least disable File and Print Sharing under Network Properties so no one can bog down your hard drive by sharing your files while you try to burn a CD. Right-click Network Neighborhood on the desktop ( My Network Places in Windows Me), select Properties, click the File and Print Sharing button under Configuration, and be sure that the I want to be able to give others access to my files option is not checked.

Here's one final trick: Choose Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information, and then select System Configuration Utility under the Tools menu. Click the Startup tab. You'll see a list of programs that your system starts automatically whenever you boot Windows. Make sure that there aren't any duplicate start-up instructions, which can make your system unstable.

Use your hard drive: When you copy a CD or CD-ROM from another drive, make sure your CD-R software is set to use your hard drive as a faster cache for the data being streamed to your CD-RW drive. Direct transfers from, say, a CD-ROM drive to a CD-RW drive are more susceptible to buffer underrun errors, and you need a very fast source drive to maintain a reliable data stream. Your CD-R software should use the hard drive by default.

And if you use an ATAPI (IDE) CD-RW drive, make sure it's on a different IDE channel than the hard drive. Most current PCs come with two IDE channels--primary and secondary--built into the motherboard. Each channel supports two IDE devices on a single cable: a master and a slave. Hard drives should always be on the primary channel, and ATAPI devices (if any) should be on the secondary channel.

Use direct memory access: Most CD-RW drives support direct memory access, a feature that nearly always improves writing performance significantly. If you use Windows 98 or Me, you can enable or disable DMA for your drive: Select Start, Settings, Control Panel, double-click the System icon, click the Device Manager tab, select the CD-RW drive under CD-ROM, click Properties, click the Settings tab, and check the DMA box.

On some PCs, using DMA can cause problems. If you have trouble burning CDs and DMA is enabled, try disabling it.

Maximize your cache: Make sure your CD-ROM's cache settings are maximized. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties. Choose File System under the Performance tab, and select CD-ROM. Under Settings, slide the Supplemental cache bar all the way to the right, and then select Quad speed or higher.

Firm up your firmware: Some CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW drives come with upgradable firmware--operating instructions located on a chip in the drive, much like the chip that holds your PC's BIOS. Ask your drive vendor if a more recent firmware version is available. (A downloadable executable file is usually posted in the support section of the vendor's Web site.) The current version's number can be found on the Settings tab of the drive's Properties sheet under Device Manager (see 'Firmware revision' in this screen).

Spruce up your hard drive: Data moves faster off a hard drive than off a CD, but only if your drive is working at top efficiency. Run ScanDisk (under Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools) with the box checked to fix cross-linked files and lost clusters automatically. If you choose Thorough, you'll also scan for disk errors. Finally, run Disk Defragmenter (also under System Tools) to optimize file structure.

Windows 98 users can increase the disk cache set aside for frequently used hard-disk data. Select Start, Settings, Control Panel, double-click the System icon, choose the Performance tab, select File System, click the Hard Disk tab, and under 'Typical role of this computer', change 'Desktop computer' to Network server.

Match your media to your drive: Older discs and cheap generic media may be rated to record at 8X or even 4X, but an 8X-rated CD-R disc may record reliably at 12X on your machine. It all depends on the media and the drive you use. Finding the brand or model that works best on your drive is a matter of trial and error, but you should start with the brands recommended by your drive manufacturer.

Keep it clean: Dust, grime, and grease can collect on the optics of your drive and on the surface of CDs, hindering the recording process. Kits with a special CD that cleans your CD drive cost less than $10 at most computer stores, but check with your drive maker for the approved cleaning method before you use a cleaning kit.

Clean CDs with water and a lint-free cloth. Wipe along a radius from the center of the CD outward. CD-Rs are far more delicate than conventional CDs and need more care. Avoid adhesive labels, and never write on discs with a hard-tipped pen.

If these methods don't improve your CD recorder's performance, you'll have to spend a few bucks on better hardware. But before you mortgage the ranch to get the latest and greatest, consider buying a new CD-RW drive that uses a technology designed to prevent buffer underrun errors. Check Top 10 CD-RW Drives for reports and recommendations on drives. Though we haven't formally tested the efficacy of these technologies at the specific task of preventing buffer underrun errors, we've yet to see a drive that uses the new techniques ruin a disc.

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