5. Troubleshooting

5.1 It doesn't work: under Linux

Please check first if the writer works under other operating systems. Concretely:

• Does the controller recognize the writer as a SCSI device?
• Does the driver software recognize the writer?
• Is it possible to make a CD using the accompanied software?

If "it doesn't work" even under other operating systems you have a hardware conflict or defective hardware.

5.2 It doesn't work: under DOS and friends

Try to use Linux. Installation and configuration of SCSI-drivers for DOS is the hell. Linux is too complicated? Ha!

5.3 SCSI errors during the burning phase

Most likely those errors are caused by

• missing dis-/reconnect feature on the SCSI bus
• unsufficiently cooled hardware
• defektive hardware (should be detected by 5.1.)

Under various circumstances SCSI devices dis- and reconnect themselves (electronically) from the SCSI bus. If this feature is not available (check controller and kernel parameters) some writers run into trouble during burning or fixating the CD-R.

Especially the NCR 53c7,8xx SCSI driver has the feature disabled by default, so you might want to check it first:

NCR53c7,8xx SCSI support                  [N/y/m/?] y
   always negotiate synchronous transfers [N/y/?] (NEW) n
   allow FAST-SCSI [10MHz]                [N/y/?] (NEW) y
   allow DISCONNECT                       [N/y/?] (NEW) y