How To Fix "Power Calibration Error" While Burning CD/DVD

it has been solved using
3-Change Startup Type to Disabled.
thanks buddy.

solved by method 3
Disable IMAPI Service
thanks!

i just blew out the laser ..... that's all..may be the laser is dusty..

Changing the burn speed setting from "Automatic" to a specific setting seems to be working at the moment. I burned 5 DVDs succesfully with it set to Auto, though, very strange...

You've gotten me working again, so thank you for posting this!

Followed the steps as described and problem is gone.

Thank you.

disabled IMAPI and rebooted and still getting error. Failed at 4x Burn Speed and it's a 16x SATA SONY NEC Optiarc drive. Going to try drive firmware.

there is no IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service in Xp pro sp3.

sorry it was there, but different name
-different language, so my mistake

Tried all the given steps, but the issue still persists. Though the Sony burner is burning the Sony DVDs & other media fails to burn.

How to Disabling IMAPI in VISTA?

I burned 3 DVDs in a row and when burning the fourth one I got this error. So I cleaned my lens with a lens cleaner CD (it is a kind of CD/DVD with a tiny brush fixed somewhere under it). So if you are subsequently getting this error then try cleaning the lens with a lens cleaner CD/DVD. Works for 90% cases. Its worth spending a dollar.

I had fallen behind in my music transfer since early summer, so 24 hours ago I started to burn ...but ended up making coasters. I tried 2 different fresh TDK packs, and a philips too. It was frustrating, either disc or power calibration errors everytime. This was the first serious burning problem that had ever happened.

I next spent a serious 5 frustrating hours today searching for the right fix. So many possibilities. I had come to the conclusion that my 2 year old Toshiba laptop & its pioneer DVR K-16A burner were getting too old..... that was until I found your advice.

The Disabling of "IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service" was the correct fix for me. What the H*** does this service do anyway?

I am running XP SP3, and I had had some major problems with SP3 crashing my computer back in July, so maybe this IMAPI problem is related to SP3?

Anyways, many thanks for the fix and making my day better!!!

I got power calibraton error. So I cleaned my lens with a lens cleaner CD (it is a kind of CD/DVD with a tiny brush fixed somewhere under it). So if you are subsequently getting this error then try cleaning the lens with a lens cleaner CD/DVD. Works for 90% cases. Its worth spending a dollar.

Ps. Sory i just copy/pasted this comment, but that same thing happened to me to. Leans cleaner CD/DVD was my solution to the problem!

So i say try this first.. sorry for my english..

running XP sp3 changed imapi works ok

Solved by writing at 4x & 8x
Thanks very much.....................
Love u buddy

I was getting the power calibration error so much I thought that my external DVD burner wasn't getting enough power because of everything else I had plugged into the surge protector. Everything was error, error, error, and it was stressing me out really bad.

I tried updating everything... power calibration error(s).
I tried changing the IMAPI thing... power calibration error.
I came here and read the posts so I opened up the tray, blew really hard inside of the external DVD case... what do you know? Works like a charm now.

My CD/DVD lightscribe works perfectly burning DVDs , but says "Power Calibration Error " when burning CDs !!

Some advice ?? Thanks !!

#3 worked for me. awesome. thanks man!

With step 3.So try to disable IMAPI service..Thanks a lot

it has been solved using
3-Change Startup Type to Disabled.
thanks buddy.

I went through about 15 $1 disks before I found this.
Great Information and directions easily followed...

Paul

It worked man. Kudos for this. You're a life saver.

Toshiba laptop satellite A105-S2712 with Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-845 CD/DVD. Had power calibration error with Nero. Downloaded and installed DVD-RAM driver from Toshiba website and can now burn CDs with no problem. Problem started after reloading XP. With XP could read CD/DVD but could not burn. The CD/DVD driver from Toshiba website fixed the problem.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/home.jsp

Click on download and choose your model :)

Disable IMAPI Service

this work, ty have problems over 1 year with many different media

That fixed my problem thanks so much

I actually had to turn the IMAPI service back on!

I am using vista. So IMAPI couldn't be turned off which I discovered from reading the posts.
I had the power calibration problem which I solved by using a lens cleaner cd(I was skeptical abt it but it did work).

Thanks for all the helpful posts.

This issue was really weird in my case. I've had this version of XP SP2 on my pc for over a year. I've used Nero to burn DVD images at least 100 times in the last year. Ontop of that it's been the same version of Nero. I always use the same media (Verbatim +R's) as well.

All the sudden I wake up this morning and this issue is present. I did what the guide said and it worked perfectly.

Nothing adds up to why this error just RANDOMLY appeared when nothing has changed in almost a year. Anyway the fix worked wonders. Thanks again!

in my case, what i did was to follow the given steps right, yet nothing happened. from time to time, i rebooted my computer just to find out the effect but still nothing.

I decided to mess with the given options above and tried to instead "disalbed" it, i went to "automatic" it.

GUESS WHAT!!!?

IT WORKED!! LOL that's strange. .

i wouldnt fix this problem if it wasnt for you giving the idea of IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service.

many thanks man. .

thanks man, the item 3 really works!!!

Trued all but noting worked
using XP-SP3 Pro Nero 6.6
With a TEAC DV-W516GB
could burn CD's but not DVD's
Using same HP Invent disks (just love that red color Disks)
It turned out to be the fault of the Power Company, as it's winter the Power consumption is up and the company just can't supply a steady 220 V. :@. Can't wait for spring my hdd is filling up

Been using it for 3 years burned way over 5,000 DVD and started working so didn't have time to burn discs , keeped on getting that error , thought it had to do with program but in the end thoes 3 years of burning all I had to do is to open the drive and blow on the lense to clean it for the very first time and it burns like new again. Go figure eh?

Just wanted to add my experience. After reading this post, I tried to solve the Power Calibration Area Error by wiping my lens with a lint-free cloth. That worked!

It seems like there are a lot of different reason you can get this error but I'd encourage you to try to wipe the lens a couple of times with a lint-free cloth and see if the simple fix works for you like it worked for me.

Solved by disabling IMAPI Service...Thanks :-)

I actually solved this same issue by turning the IMAPI service back on!

I tried blowing into the drive with no luck. I then tried using a straw but still no luck. I taped a lint free camera lens cloth over half a clear cover disk from my bulk disk pack so the hole was not covered. Closed the draw and let it spin about a second the pushed the eject button. Problem solved! Now my Sony DRU-500A burns like a champ. Cheers Mate, I owe you one.

thanks for the tutorial,

follow the steps and do some blowing, i also clean the lens by using cotton buds.

thats it. wa'la....

A good hard blow and a bit of vodka on a piece of kitchen towel worked a treat!

I have been having problems for two weeks!! I started down the list, and the second one did it! Instead of MAX speed for recording - which I assumed the software would know was 4X - I CHOSE 4X. Works great!

Did I say thank you?

just as state in my subject. my dvd burner can read dvd but cant burn it. is the other have the same problem with me? i have the same problem with power calibration error too and i tried the 3 steps, but it failed. please help me!!!!!!
o yeah...im using MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857E.

???
disabling(IMAPI) didnt work for me.

IMAPI isn't needed for Nero or other apps !

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f48/imapi-cd_burning-com-xp-service-needed-nero-6-a-169190/

I have a slimmed down version of WinXP Pro SP3 and it doesn't even include this process. http://g.imagehost.org/0241/untitled_1.png See ? And by the way, this "Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface" (IMAPI) is only needed for Windows Media Player and the "Send to - DVD Drive X:" - which is pretty much useless. Nobody uses these methods. And if they do, they should consider using something else, like ImgBurn or InfraRecorder. Both freeware and bloat-free (unlike that Nero fat cow that it has become)

Also, mine doesn't write DVDs either. Only writes CDs (but reads anything you can possibly feed it). NEC ND-3550A. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm thinking of buying a cleaning disc from Carrefour. It's a disc with fur (or a piece cloth) attached to where the shiny side is supposed to be. Hope it works.

the link up there is not opening.

It's your DVD writer. Your writer is likely too old with outdated firmware, you're using new media to burn information too.

I was getting this error through Nero, ImgBurn, because I was using a generic branded dual layer burner released in Dec. 2004 to write to 8X Memorex and Verbatim DL blanks that were recently released.

My generic burner does not have information about the latest DL blank write speeds so it would create a coaster with the 8X Memorex discs, only writing at 2.4x speed.

It would error out instantly when I tried burning to 8X Verbatim which it could detect only 2X burns.

Bought a Pioneer DVR Lightscribe writer. It has resolved my problem.

Still now iam fasing calibration error so plz tell me any one how to solve this problem.iam using nero6

i too was facing d same prob..
i chekd my IMAPI setting...it was already disabled..
i used d disk cleaning cd then...it did'nt worked out..
then i changed d IMAPI setting to Automatic.....hahaha...n guess what ????it workrd!!!!!
mine was SONY CD/DVD ROM

hope it works for u..

I'm always wary about interference from Microsoft's inbuilt "services" (help crash the PC or do some other harm most of the time anyways). I didn't realise that turning writing off using the inbuilt explorer "burn to CD" option didn't actually diable the Imapi service - it was apparently loaded when writing to a disc! Disabling the Imapi service + blowing hard into the burner helped to burn Cd s on my DVD burner again. Thanks!

Btw, for those who had to turn the imapi service on for the fix - your brand of burner just happens to fall into the (M$ supported) category of brands that use the same technology as the brand (adaptec?) that M$ wishes to push on to it's customers.

Thanks again!

Look like -
(A)You need adequate power for your Burner (attach as master IDE device, check if power adequately by your power supply with a separate/dedicated power cable to the burner)
(B)You need to stop interference to the actual software that can burn on your burner properly (turn off Imapi, get a program that better supports your burner's method of burning)
(C)The burning lens should not have a problem reading and burning onto your disc (make sure that dust buildup in the drive doesn't hinder the lens, the media you burn to should be readable by your drive - price point = urban myth (MY opinion), use lens cleaner appropriately)

..should do for now :->)!

Thanks all! Out.

PS: reposted without unintended formatting!

Third 3333333333333 method works perfectly.

Please tell why this happens

MY email is samprince1991yahoo [dot] com

Please tell

disabling imapi worked perfect for me as i was just thinking i need to get a new laptop since this one only writes cds for some reason. I have used it to write dvds quite a number of times so i thought it was ageing. I was surprised when i followed these steps and finally i can burn dvds again.

my DVD writer is mashita on toshiba m50 series

thanx a lot

yaaaay

If media is lousy you can also try the simulated burn option to determine the fastest viable speed; with some fairly crappy disks this turned out to be 3.9x. IMAPI disabled also helps. The first disk from the same package burned flawlessly at 16x so it may also have to do with the data stream (file) you're burning from. Peace

reduced speed to minimum and worked fine

not any way has worked really i am very upset to know that my drive has lost........
sorry..........but i will try this time to clean my lance throw a cloth....perhaps it will do .....but buddy .......i have got a lesson that we should not lose our hop......and try till get success...i am Ausaf from India

I have tried the steps, cleaned the lense with a cd/dvd drive cleaner, unsucessful, i then lowered the write rate to 2 sucessfully burned 3 discs then the 'error' then lowered again to 1 and burned one disc sucessfully and then the 'error' again. I have been searching google for ages and im at a loss as to what to do now!!!!!

yyyyyyyyy

Cant find the imapi in the services section in Vista. Please advise!!

I solved mine by tightening the small screw at the bottom side of my dvd drive (TSSTcorp TS-L632D) on my Toshiba Satellite A135-s4656. I tried all, but nothing worked, then I looked on the bottom side of my dvd drive and I noticed that one of the small screw is loosened so I tightened it up and to my amazement it worked. Hope this may help others who already surrendered with the problem.

I'm hoping that this may help others who have the same problem as mine.

-Rainchard

I tried with different disc types, i have used sky vision and I had this type of problem, I done nothing of theese (IMAPI,cleaning) but I have used verbatim instead of other dvd media,and it works fine.

Guys I'm not sure if you're aware but toxic dumps are coming back. Can you use your computers to save them please.

I'd be in a rage if I had to turn my writing speed down. Have you tried enabling "toxic" dumping?

Lads, anyone heard from the Toxic Trio lately?

They've been a bit quiet recently and I'm quite worried about the fate of their toxic dump... hope everything is OK!

It is not burning. Also it is not able to read. I am using moserbaer media. Is it most likely that the laser needs a check up?

Weird.

i had these problems, so i took both drives apart and
removed any dust plus wiped the lenses. both drives are now running sweet...I hope this helps.

yeah i blew on my lens and burnt a dual layer at 2x, frakkin slow though lol
thanks dude

My Sony DVD+RW is burning CD's fine but I'm not able to burn DVD's. I'm using Nero and the "IMAPI" step didn't help either. Any suggestions ? Thanks in advance.

I did all of the things mentioned in this article. Rebooted. And voila! Thanks so much!

thanks a lot man

i didn't find the imapi service in vista and i just blown two three times my lense..now it is working...thamks...

IMAPI disabled made the trick. ThX!!!

A hard and long blowjob o my Satellite with Vista worked as nothing else before. Good by Power Calibration Error!!!!!

thanks very much, the advice helped a lot. was facing the problem initially with even changing make brands. but after i gave a blow on the cd drive lens it worked!!

12:01:02 AM #38 SPTI -1 File SCSIPassThrough.cpp, Line 323
D: CdRom0: SCSIStatus(x02) WinError(0) NeroError(-1)
Sense Key: 0x04 (KEY_HARDWARE_ERROR)
Sense Code: 0x03
Sense Qual: 0x01
CDB Data: 0x2A 00 00 02 B4 E3 00 00 1B 00 00 00
Sense Area: 0xF1 00 04 00 02 B2 8A 0A 00 32 00 13 03 01
Buffer x08fb0000: Len xf810
0x1A F9 EA 09 9D F9 FB 0A 0C FA E1 0B BA F8 48 0C
0x16 F6 2B 0C A9 F4 D9 0A 9C F6 CF 06 43 FB 62 00
0xBE FF 17 F8 E0 00 A4 EF 6E FE 9C E8 CE F8 63 E4

12:01:02 AM #39 CDR -1 File Writer.cpp, Line 302
Unspecified Recorder Error
D: MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D

12:01:02 AM #40 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 228
all writers idle, stopping conversion

12:01:02 AM #41 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 222
conversion idle, stopping reader

12:01:02 AM #42 Phase 34 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1725
Simulation failed at 8x (1,200 KB/s)

12:01:02 AM #43 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 867
DRM: DRM burn session terminated.

12:01:02 AM #44 Text 0 File AudioCompilationImpl.cpp, Line 896
DRM: Closing entire DRM handling. Bye.

Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\CDRALW2K.SYS': Ver=8.0.0.212 , size=9464 bytes, created 2/2/2007 3:00:00 AM
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=3.00.56a, size=43528 bytes, created 2/13/2008 3:00:00 AM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)

Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

====== *** Nero Burning ROM, History File *** ======

I have 2 optical drive on my PC.the first is Pioneer 112BK, the second is 117BK.

As long as I used the 112 BK, the burn process always succesfull, until I bought the 117BK.

When I tried to burn dvd with 117BK, the Nero said "internal target error". Then, I tried to burn with 112BK, it said "Power calibration error".

The problem in 112BK solved by disabling IMAPI service.

But, I can't solve the problem in 117BK.
Anybody can help me?

Note: The weird thing was, I tried to "copy disc" with Nero 8, and it works! 112BK as the source, and the 117BK is the destination.

sorry for my English.
Thank you...

Fixed by cleaning laser. Used can of compressed air and CD laser cleaner. Very grateful.

Thank you!!!

Third method works perfectly.

Br,

Mitsos

Solved by buying new Burner

My problem was solved by upgrating the firmware. I burned one dvd after that. The burn was successful. Speed 8x, time about 10 minutes. No errors. However, can't say for sure that everything will be o.k. in the future. Will be back here after couple of days. During that time I plan to burn more dvds/cds. Will tell how it went. Anyway, thanks for this post. It realy helped my a lot.

I tried everything but i cant still burn dvd on my Sony dvd-rw dru-170.. burning cd is fine only dvd have a problem.

A combination of lower writing speed and imapi disabling, seems to be working [Nec dvdrw OPTIARC AD-7173a rev4]

IN SERVICES IN VISTA I DON'T HAVE IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service !!! HOW ABOUT THAT !??

i've disabled IMAPI service..
but the problem is still there..every time i tried to burn DVD-R,it failed..
but there is no problem in burning DVD-RW.It burns RW smoothly..
why this is happening ??
Pls help me out..
Pls reply with solution to

WORKING AGAIN!!!
SORY MY ENGLISH MAY BE WRONG!

I TURNED OFF IMAPI - RESTART ( STILL NOT WORKING)
I LOOK FOR FIRMWARE (DIDNT FIND ANY)
I DID BLOW JOB :))) ( STILL NOT WORKING)
LOW SPEED (NOTHING)
THEN I WAS DESPERATE AND I TOOK CIGARETE FILTER !!! AND CLEAN MY LENS ! WOW ITS WORKING NOW WITH FULL SPEED ( 8X :( )
IF YOU DONT SMOKE, DONT START BECAUSE OF THIS!
AGAIN SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH ! GOOD LUCK!

Tried everything. Even blew on the lens with a gale-force wind. Read comments and someone suggested cleaning the lens with a cotton bud. Tried that. SUCCESS!!!! Thank you, I was about to rip out my drive and throw it in the skip.

Moved my usb burner to a different usb port and the error stopped. Apparently "Power Calibration Error" can also mean "Not enough power available from usb port to calibrate the freakin laser beam".

DVD stopped burning suddenly ..tried with different softwares with different speed with no luck...and since I use vista I didn't have any hope of it working..but still cleaned the drive ..and hey it actually worked ..thanks a lot!!

Thanks buddy u saved my ass......

What a great article! so many people have gotten their drives fixed from such simple fixes! I tried different media, then cleaning it up because it was dusty and after dust cleaning it would let me do 4x. But then I did a nice firmware update and now I am able to burn at any speed again like it was new! =) (although I like to stay at 8x most of the time for iso burning isos accurately)

I've got cheap discs but setting the burn speed lower worked. Thanks!

Using XP and a Sony DRX 710ul I can sucessfully burn CDs and DVDs but for Dual Layer DVDs I get the power calibration error. I tried all the above fixes, blow jobs, laser cleaning cd etc and it still will not work. It only will burn in 2.4x to begin with, and when I try to select 1x it goes right back to 2.4 - using ImgBurn or Nero.

Is the drive just too old now? I hate to get rid of it since it works for cds and regular dvds, and I only need to burn a dual layer once in a while...but it's making me very mad.

Tried everything. Then used a "DVD Laser Lens Cleaner" from Radio Shack. No problems now..
Big Props

'IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service' is not available in services...! How to restore it...?

i did number 3 and disabled now i have a new
error

W 10:46:37 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Unknown (ASC: 0x91, ASCQ: 0xC4)

i did everything even blew the lens =( but now i have a new error

W 10:46:37 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Reason: Unknown (ASC: 0x91, ASCQ: 0xC4)

anyone have suggestions? please =,( im realy frustrated with this

the disable thing worked like a charm for me!

couldnot find IMAPI...please help

tried all things above still didn't work !!!
what i tried is leave the dvd inside the drive for about 40 minutes and then it worked!!!!!

leave the dvd inside the drive for at least 40 minutes before burning you can try a lesser time but try first 40 minutes if it doesn't work try an hour

also rename the files and folders that will be burnt use short names ,no spaces only small letters no numbers or other charachters

also make an iso files and folders that will be burnt burn the iso or the image

you may use poweriso magiciso ultraiso isomaker or alcohol 5.0 to make the image

try burning with the lesser speed possible usually 1x

for those who could not find IMAPI service it depence on the languages in services just scroll down sometimes it begins with the word service

leave some comments tell me if it worked!!!!!
thank you

Hi there ,
I cant seem to find this IMAPI location.. gone through all descriptions too that will give some indication on this, but to no avail.
I am running vista home premium SP2
any ideas what im doing wrong?

Burning speed set to 4×, and the problem appears to be gone

My problem was that in the "Secondary IDE Channel"'s Advanced Settings tab the transfer mode was "PIO mode". So I did this:

First: setting Transfer Mode from PIO to DMA on the Secondary IDE Channel
Second: updated the driver by choosing manually the "Secondary IDE Channel" driver
Third: restart

After the restart the DVD writer shows "Ultra DMA Mode 2" instead of "PIO mode" on the Secondary IDE Channel