Recording failures in Nero Burning ROM are most often tied to media quality, burn speed, drive firmware, and device access, which show up as telltale messages like “Burn process failed” and DAO/TAO errors in logs. Basic hygiene—using high‑quality media, lowering burn speed, updating firmware, and verifying DMA/cables—resolves most cases quickly.
Error – Burn process failed
This is Nero Burning ROM/Nero Express’s generic failure message, and the details live in the saved log, often pointing to media, speed, or device access problems.
Solution
- Switch to high‑quality media and re‑burn at a lower burn speed, then retry the same project to confirm stability.
- Update the drive firmware and verify the selected write speed and disc type are supported in Nero Burning ROM.
- Close background burning tools and temporarily pause antivirus, then test again in Nero Express.
- Use “Save Log…” after failure and scan for markers like “DMA,” “CRC,” or DAO/TAO lines to target the root cause.
Error – Power Calibration Error
This indicates a laser calibration issue—commonly caused by poor‑quality discs, mismatched speed, dust on the lens, or an aging drive.
Solution
- Try a different brand/batch of discs and lower the burn speed by one or two steps from nominal.
- Update drive firmware, clean the optical lens carefully, or test on another SATA/USB port or a second drive.
- Prefer high‑quality media to stabilize calibration and avoid “Medium Speed Error” side effects.
Error – Could not perform End of Disc‑At‑Once
This finalization (lead‑out) failure is common on DVD±R/±RW when media or speed is marginal or when recording services conflict.
Solution
- Lower the burn speed and retry on a fresh, proven‑compatible disc.
- Update firmware and, if burning Audio CD, temporarily try Track‑At‑Once as a workaround.
- Ensure the project is set to finalize disc and disable conflicting background burning services.
Error – Illegal Disc
Nero flags an “illegal” or incompatible disc when the media type or its write strategy is not supported by the drive’s firmware or quality is inconsistent.
Solution
- Verify the drive supports that exact media type (e.g., DVD‑R vs DVD+R) and update firmware if support is lacking.
- Switch brands or disc types and remove/reinstall the drive in Device Manager to reinitialize.
- Eliminate driver conflicts and third‑party burning tools, then re‑test the burn in Nero Express.
Error – DMA‑driver error, CRC error
These Nero log lines point to I/O integrity issues—often due to disabled DMA, bad/loose cables, failing USB‑SATA adapters, or unstable controllers.
Solution
- Enable/verify DMA mode for storage controllers and, if needed, reinstall the IDE/SATA controller.
- Replace data cables, change the motherboard SATA port, and avoid hubs or long USB extensions.
- Update chipset/storage drivers and retry at a modest burn speed to reduce error rates.
Error – Fixation error / Could not perform fixation
Fixation (closing session/disc) can fail due to Windows IMAPI conflicts, marginal media, or too‑aggressive speeds.
Solution
- Disable the IMAPI service, reboot, and attempt the burn again through Nero Burning ROM.
- Reduce burn speed, replace the media, and ensure no other burning programs or services are active.
- Confirm the project is set to finalize and avoid unnecessary switching between DAO and TAO modes.
Our Disk & File Management section will allow you to find other more specialized programs that will help you with both everyday tasks and more rare and specialized ones.
Error – Device not available
Nero logs this when the recorder is inaccessible—often after system updates, port changes, or driver/firmware mismatches.
Solution
- Update or roll back the drive driver/firmware, reseat the cable, and try a different SATA/USB controller.
- For Audio CD, temporarily switch to Track‑At‑Once (TAO) instead of Disc‑At‑Once (DAO) as a stopgap.
- In multi‑user environments, configure Nero BurnRights so non‑admin accounts can access the recorder reliably.
Conclusion
From “burn process failed” to “DMA driver error CRC error,” most Nero Burning ROM errors are fixed by media quality, sensible burn speeds, and up‑to‑date firmware with DMA properly enabled. For specific messages—“could not perform end of disc‑at‑once,” “fixation error,” “illegal disc,” or “device not available”—adjust DAO/TAO, disable IMAPI, validate media compatibility, and set up Nero BurnRights where needed. Following these steps helps beginners quickly localize root causes, restore stable burns in Nero Express, and avoid repeat failures on future projects.
