TOC error???

[Paulgo]

Hi Guys

Don't know if anyone's got any ideas on this, or had this problem - I've got a Kenwood KDC M7024 head unit which has started to refuse to play discs coming up with TOC error on load. At first I thought it was a problem with my MP3 discs, but as it does it to pretty much every disc, even brand new burns, it looks more like a hardware problem.

Driving me nuts! It will play most discs eventually but only after a lengthy sequence of load/eject/reload (usually accompanied by a lot of profanity ) by which time after about a half dozen to a dozen goes it finally accepts the disc and plays as normal. Occaisionally cleaning the disc, even tho it be a new burn, seems to help but this could be ny imagination! Started doing it occasionally but now it's every time I try to load a disc. I haven't tried it with non MP3 discs or originals tho, to be honest as I rarely play these.

Could this be a lens cleaning problem or something inside needing lubrication?? I bought the unit off a lad at work about a year ago so it's not exactly new. All suggestions welcome before I pull the unit and start proddin about!! (recipe for disaster!!)

cheers


Paul

[Nuvo]

TOC = Table of Contents, this is the first thing that is read on a disc to determine the number of tracks and there play time. Some players can be fussy wit CD-Rs, chances are the lens is in need of a clean.

Nuvo

[Paulgo]

chances are the lens is in need of a clean.

Cheers - quick reply!! - somewhere I have a cleaning CD I bought awhile a go. Is this recommended (never sure of these things!) or should I crack the cover and use isoplll.. stuff (cant spell it!!)

thanks

Paul

[Jamo]

The laser could be on the way out mate, TOC is the table of contents.

If your doing your own burn on CD's what brand are you using?

I only use datawrite CD/DVD as they are quality at a very cheap price and i have no issues which i used to get with brand X material.

[Nuvo]

Paul, I'd personally advise against opening it up at this stage as it could cause more harm than good.

If cleaning the lens fails to improve disc reading, then the laser diode or drive circuitry may be failing. The laser diode drive current ranges from 30 to 100mA at 1.7 to 2.5V. Be aware that the low power beam is mostly invisible and that the diode is extremely static sensitive.

The first thing to try is cleaning the lens with a specialist cleaning disc. Only use it once though.

Nuvo.

[dan_b]

Is it doing it with proper, bought from a shop CDs? Is it doing it only with burned discs that you've done on your own PC? I'm thinking it could actually be either your own CD-R drive that is suspect, or the media that you are using to burn your discs to. As mentioned above, TOC is Table of Contents, and this is the last thing that gets written to disc when you burn a CD, but the first thing that is read by your drive when you put a disc in to tell your player what is on there.

I would suggest running a cleaning disc through it as a first resort.

[Nuvo]

Dan, the writing software would fail the disc if there were write errors when appending the TOC.
If Paul is able to read the disc in any another drive this would suggest to me the disc is not at fault.

Some lasers cannot correctly detect the pits and lands of a recorded disc depending on the colour/type of dye used in the manufacturing process and the wavelength of the laser in use.

Nuvo.

[Paulgo]

Hi Guys

thanks for all the advice and suggestions! It came up with a TOC error on all cd's, originals and non MP3’s - and as I’ve been using the same brand (Ridisc) a little while I didn’t think it was disc related – also tried different burning progs to eliminate that.

Good news is that I finally found my cleaning/diagnostic cd and it worked a treat, so all seems sorted! I had little faith in it tho, after it failed to do anything with a previous player! So all’s well that ends well!!

Thanks again!

Paul

[Nuvo]

You're welcome, glad you got it sorted I've shared your cynicism in the past about the effectiveness of CD/DVD lens cleaners, but once you get the results you are looking for you become less suspicious of them.

As with everything else, there are good and bad cleaning kits out there, you pays your money you makes your choice as they say.

Nuvo.

[Paulgo]

You're welcome, glad you got it sorted I've shared your cynicism in the past about the effectiveness of CD/DVD lens cleaners, but once you get the results you are looking for you become less suspicious of them.

As with everything else, there are good and bad cleaning kits out there, you pays your money you makes your choice as they say.

Nuvo.

cheers Nuvo - This is an Alsopp cd and cost me about a tenner a few years back from a local Hi Fi specialist shop. Has tiny little carbon cleaning filiments sticking out near the centre of the disc that I didnt think would work or might get damaged the loading mechanism of a car player. Did work a treat - tho I had to suffer some woman with the most plastic American fulfillment accent Ive ever heard!! I stuck it as far as the pink noise tested then had to shut it off!! Also does DVD and dolby set ups which might come in handy in the future so a tenner well spent!

cheers

Paul