cdrecord, power calibration area error -> timeout, fails to blank cd-rw

Binary package hint: cdrecord

Given an Edgy (to my knowledge this also failed to work in dapper, but in a pervious debian unstable burning cd's worked perfectly) with cdrecord installed:

Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed
|/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Description
+++-==============-==============-============================================
ii cdrecord 2.01+01a03-5ub command line CD writing tool

Capabilities of the drive:

Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03 (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Joerg Schilling
NOTE: this version of cdrecord is an inofficial (modified) release of cdrecord
      and thus may have bugs that are not present in the original version.
      Please send bug reports and support requests to <email address hidden>.
      The original author should not be bothered with problems of this version.

cdrecord: Warning: Running on Linux-2.6.17-10-386
cdrecord: There are unsettled issues with Linux-2.5 and newer.
cdrecord: If you have unexpected problems, please try Linux-2.4 or Solaris.
scsidev: '1,0,0'
scsibus: 1 target: 0 lun: 0
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.33
Using libscg version 'debian-0.8debian2'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial version of libscg (debian-0.8debian2 '@(#)scsitransp.c 1.91 04/06/17 Copyright 1988,1995,2000-2004 J. Schilling').
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'MATSHITA'
Identifikation : 'DVD-RAM UJ-830S '
Revision : '1.00'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.

Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A:

  Does read CD-R media
  Does write CD-R media
  Does read CD-RW media
  Does write CD-RW media
  Does read DVD-ROM media
  Does read DVD-R media
  Does write DVD-R media
  Does read DVD-RAM media
  Does write DVD-RAM media
  Does support test writing

  Does read Mode 2 Form 1 blocks
  Does read Mode 2 Form 2 blocks
  Does read digital audio blocks
  Does restart non-streamed digital audio reads accurately
  Does support Buffer-Underrun-Free recording
  Does read multi-session CDs
  Does read fixed-packet CD media using Method 2
  Does read CD bar code
  Does not read R-W subcode information
  Does read raw P-W subcode data from lead in
  Does return CD media catalog number
  Does return CD ISRC information
  Does support C2 error pointers
  Does deliver composite A/V data

  Does play audio CDs
  Number of volume control levels: 256
  Does support individual volume control setting for each channel
  Does support independent mute setting for each channel
  Does not support digital output on port 1
  Does not support digital output on port 2

  Loading mechanism type: tray
  Does support ejection of CD via START/STOP command
  Does not lock media on power up via prevent jumper
  Does allow media to be locked in the drive via PREVENT/ALLOW command
  Is not currently in a media-locked state
  Does not support changing side of disk
  Does not have load-empty-slot-in-changer feature
  Does not support Individual Disk Present feature

  Maximum read speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
  Current read speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
  Maximum write speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
  Current write speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
  Rotational control selected: CLV/PCAV
  Buffer size in KB: 2048
  Copy management revision supported: 1
  Number of supported write speeds: 5
  Write speed # 0: 4234 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 24x, DVD 3x)
  Write speed # 1: 2822 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 16x, DVD 2x)
  Write speed # 2: 2117 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 12x, DVD 1x)
  Write speed # 3: 1411 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 8x, DVD 1x)
  Write speed # 4: 706 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 4x, DVD 0x)

Supported CD-RW media types according to MMC-4 feature 0x37:
  Does write multi speed CD-RW media
  Does write high speed CD-RW media
  Does write ultra high speed CD-RW media
  Does not write ultra high speed+ CD-RW media

Test 1: Maxell CD-RW 700 mb 1x 2x and 4x compatible:

root@lapedb:/home/edb# cdrecord -v -blank=all dev=1,0,0
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03 (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Joerg Schilling
NOTE: this version of cdrecord is an inofficial (modified) release of cdrecord
      and thus may have bugs that are not present in the original version.
      Please send bug reports and support requests to <email address hidden>.
      The original author should not be bothered with problems of this version.

cdrecord: Warning: Running on Linux-2.6.17-10-386
cdrecord: There are unsettled issues with Linux-2.5 and newer.
cdrecord: If you have unexpected problems, please try Linux-2.4 or Solaris.
TOC Type: 1 = CD-ROM
scsidev: '1,0,0'
scsibus: 1 target: 0 lun: 0
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.33
Using libscg version 'debian-0.8debian2'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial version of libscg (debian-0.8debian2 '@(#)scsitransp.c 1.91 04/06/17 Copyright 1988,1995,2000-2004 J. Schilling').
SCSI buffer size: 64512
atapi: 1
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'MATSHITA'
Identifikation : 'DVD-RAM UJ-830S '
Revision : '1.00'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Current: 0x000A
Profile: 0x0012
Profile: 0x001B
Profile: 0x001A
Profile: 0x0013
Profile: 0x0014
Profile: 0x0011
Profile: 0x0010
Profile: 0x000A (current)
Profile: 0x0009
Profile: 0x0008
Profile: 0x0002
cdrecord: This version of cdrecord does not include DVD-R/DVD-RW support code.
cdrecord: See /usr/share/doc/cdrecord/README.DVD.Debian for details on DVD support.
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-3 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO
Drive buf size : 1310720 = 1280 KB
Current Secsize: 2048
ATIP info from disk:
  Indicated writing power: 5
  Reference speed: 2
  Is not unrestricted
  Is erasable
  ATIP start of lead in: -12900 (97:10/00)
  ATIP start of lead out: 359849 (79:59/74)
  1T speed low: 0 (reserved val 0) 1T speed high: 4
  2T speed low: 0 (reserved val 5) 2T speed high: 0 (reserved val 12)
  power mult factor: 4 5
  recommended erase/write power: 3
  A1 values: 02 4A B0
  A2 values: 5C C6 26
Disk type: unknown dye (reserved id code)
Manuf. index: -1
Manufacturer: unknown (not in table)
Manufacturer is unknown because of the orange forum embargo.
As the orange forum likes to get money for recent information,
it may be that this media does not use illegal manufacturer coding.
Starting to write CD/DVD at speed 4 in real BLANK mode for single session.
Last chance to quit, starting real write 0 seconds. Operation starts.
Performing OPC...
cdrecord: OPC failed.
Blanking entire disk
cdrecord: Input/output error. blank unit: scsi sendcmd: no error
CDB: A1 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
status: 0x2 (CHECK CONDITION)
Sense Bytes: 70 00 03 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 73 03 00 00
Sense Key: 0x3 Medium Error, Segment 0
Sense Code: 0x73 Qual 0x03 (power calibration area error) Fru 0x0
Sense flags: Blk 0 (not valid)
cmd finished after 0.014s timeout 9600s
cdrecord: Cannot blank disk, aborting.

Test 2: Imation CD-RW 700 MB 4x- 12x compatible:

root@lapedb:/home/edb# cdrecord -v -blank=all dev=1,0,0
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03 (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Joerg Schilling
NOTE: this version of cdrecord is an inofficial (modified) release of cdrecord
      and thus may have bugs that are not present in the original version.
      Please send bug reports and support requests to <email address hidden>.
      The original author should not be bothered with problems of this version.

cdrecord: Warning: Running on Linux-2.6.17-10-386
cdrecord: There are unsettled issues with Linux-2.5 and newer.
cdrecord: If you have unexpected problems, please try Linux-2.4 or Solaris.
TOC Type: 1 = CD-ROM
scsidev: '1,0,0'
scsibus: 1 target: 0 lun: 0
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.33
Using libscg version 'debian-0.8debian2'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial version of libscg (debian-0.8debian2 '@(#)scsitransp.c 1.91 04/06/17 Copyright 1988,1995,2000-2004 J. Schilling').
SCSI buffer size: 64512
atapi: 1
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'MATSHITA'
Identifikation : 'DVD-RAM UJ-830S '
Revision : '1.00'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Current: 0x000A
Profile: 0x0012
Profile: 0x001B
Profile: 0x001A
Profile: 0x0013
Profile: 0x0014
Profile: 0x0011
Profile: 0x0010
Profile: 0x000A (current)
Profile: 0x0009
Profile: 0x0008
Profile: 0x0002
cdrecord: This version of cdrecord does not include DVD-R/DVD-RW support code.
cdrecord: See /usr/share/doc/cdrecord/README.DVD.Debian for details on DVD support.
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-3 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO
Drive buf size : 1310720 = 1280 KB
Current Secsize: 2048
ATIP info from disk:
  Indicated writing power: 2
  Reference speed: 6
  Is not unrestricted
  Is erasable
  Disk sub type: High speed Rewritable (CAV) media (1)
  ATIP start of lead in: -12374 (97:17/01)
  ATIP start of lead out: 359849 (79:59/74)
  1T speed low: 4 1T speed high: 10
  2T speed low: 2 2T speed high: 10
  power mult factor: 2 6
  recommended erase/write power: 5
  A1 values: 24 2C DC
  A2 values: 14 A4 4A
  A3 values: 02 D2 80
Disk type: Phase change
Manuf. index: 69
Manufacturer: Moser Baer India Limited
Manufacturer is guessed because of the orange forum embargo.
The orange forum likes to get money for recent information.
The information for this media may not be correct.
Starting to write CD/DVD at speed 8 in real BLANK mode for single session.
Last chance to quit, starting real write 0 seconds. Operation starts.
Performing OPC...
cdrecord: OPC failed.
Blanking entire disk
cdrecord: Input/output error. blank unit: scsi sendcmd: no error
CDB: A1 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
status: 0x2 (CHECK CONDITION)
Sense Bytes: 70 00 03 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 15 12 73 03 00 00
Sense Key: 0x3 Medium Error, Segment 0
Sense Code: 0x73 Qual 0x03 (power calibration area error) Fru 0x0
Sense flags: Blk 0 (not valid)
cmd finished after 0.021s timeout 9600s
cdrecord: Cannot blank disk, aborting.

Test 3: Imation CD-RW 650 MB - 74 min - 10x-24x compatible

root@lapedb:/home/edb# cdrecord -v -blank=all dev=1,0,0
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01.01a03 (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Joerg Schilling
NOTE: this version of cdrecord is an inofficial (modified) release of cdrecord
      and thus may have bugs that are not present in the original version.
      Please send bug reports and support requests to <email address hidden>.
      The original author should not be bothered with problems of this version.

cdrecord: Warning: Running on Linux-2.6.17-10-386
cdrecord: There are unsettled issues with Linux-2.5 and newer.
cdrecord: If you have unexpected problems, please try Linux-2.4 or Solaris.
TOC Type: 1 = CD-ROM
scsidev: '1,0,0'
scsibus: 1 target: 0 lun: 0
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.33
Using libscg version 'debian-0.8debian2'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial version of libscg (debian-0.8debian2 '@(#)scsitransp.c 1.91 04/06/17 Copyright 1988,1995,2000-2004 J. Schilling').
SCSI buffer size: 64512
atapi: 1
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 5
Response Format: 2
Capabilities :
Vendor_info : 'MATSHITA'
Identifikation : 'DVD-RAM UJ-830S '
Revision : '1.00'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Current: 0x000A
Profile: 0x0012
Profile: 0x001B
Profile: 0x001A
Profile: 0x0013
Profile: 0x0014
Profile: 0x0011
Profile: 0x0010
Profile: 0x000A (current)
Profile: 0x0009
Profile: 0x0008 (current)
Profile: 0x0002
cdrecord: This version of cdrecord does not include DVD-R/DVD-RW support code.
cdrecord: See /usr/share/doc/cdrecord/README.DVD.Debian for details on DVD support.
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-3 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO
Drive buf size : 1310720 = 1280 KB
Current Secsize: 2048
ATIP info from disk:
  Indicated writing power: 1
  Reference speed: 0
  Is not unrestricted
  Is erasable
  Disk sub type: Ultra High speed Rewritable media (2)
  ATIP start of lead in: -11076 (97:34/24)
  ATIP start of lead out: 336075 (74:43/00)
  1T speed low: 16 1T speed high: 16
  2T speed low: 8 2T speed high: 24
  power mult factor: 4 5
  recommended erase/write power: 1
  A1 values: 66 4A 99
  A2 values: 38 80 00
  A3 values: 04 C4 A0
Disk type: Phase change
Manuf. index: 11
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
cdrecord: Probably trying to use ultra high speed medium on improper writer.

-> Concerning the last test, the disk is Ultra High Speed, which should work according to the -pcap (only ultra high speed+ shouldn't work). Anyhow, I can live with the fact that the last one doesn't work. But I can't live with the fact that the first two tests failed. One of the cd's was brand new, a previous cd-rw has already been used (on the same laptop/drive under debian unstable).

Note this laptop is a toshiba tecra s2, running edgy.

[17179575.396000] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0x18F8 irq 15
[17179575.716000] ata2: dev 0 cfg 49:0f00 82:0000 83:0000 84:0000 85:0000 86:0000 87:0000 88:0407
[17179575.716000] ata2: dev 0 ATAPI, max UDMA/33
[17179575.716000] ata2(0): applying bridge limits
[17179575.880000] ata2: dev 0 configured for UDMA/33
[17179575.880000] scsi1 : ata_piix
[17179575.880000] Vendor: MATSHITA Model: DVD-RAM UJ-830S Rev: 1.00
[17179575.880000] Type: CD-ROM ANSI SCSI revision: 05