Looking for repair/replacement for PX-716UF in UK

[gingerbeardman]

My 716UF will no longer recognise discs.

I still have many discs to dump, and need to keep this external unit as I use a laptop.

So is the most cost effective way to replace the drive mechanism itself with something else? Another Plextor? Asus?

Thoughts appreciated. I'm in the UK.

[user7]

This doesn't answer your question but many of us are using internal drives but with a USB adapter. Here are recommended brands/models. Check your localized Amazon for a cheaper price:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019HLE7Q


Avoid other brands / models.

[Maddog]

This doesn't answer your question but many of us are using internal drives but with a USB adapter. Here are recommended brands/models. Check your localized Amazon for a cheaper price:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019HLE7Q
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P0C4M5M

Avoid other brands / models.

Second link is not the correct product. I think this is the one user7 intended to link:
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Adapter-C … 01AW40QZW/
I have successfully used this specific adapter with several different internal Plextor models and I also do my dumping using a laptop running Windows 10.

For the faulty drive, there are basically 3 things to check, IMHO the only things in a drive that an average user can fix without much knowledge of electronics. If none of these fix the fault, drive is probably for the bin.
1) clean laser lens carefully and thoroughly with pure alcohol.
2) see that drive belt is not broken (ie that disc is actually rotating in the tray), in case it's broken try to source a replacement (this will be hard)
3) adjust the pot of the laser with a multimeter (need to see initial resistance, note it, then adjust slowly and with tiny turns of the screw, checking if discs become readable inbetween adjustments.

Hope this info helps you somewhat.

[gingerbeardman]

Thanks both, will look into these

[gingerbeardman]

I bought two other used Plextors:

PX-708A - had the same sort of problem (2 or 3 flashes)
Plexwriter 40/12/40A - had a different problem (9 flashes, motor problem)

ARGH

So, still looking for a solution.

[user7]

Make sure you get a refund.

Also reminder that bad/cheap USB adapters will fry your disc drives. This happened to a few of my plextors before I caught on (because they would work sometimes then randomly fry them later).

[gingerbeardman]

Yeah I got refunds on both.

I'm using an official ugreen adapter from Amazon.

Fingers crossed I'll be up and running again soon!

[Nextria]

I bought two other used Plextors:

PX-708A - had the same sort of problem (2 or 3 flashes)
Plexwriter 40/12/40A - had a different problem (9 flashes, motor problem)

ARGH

So, still looking for a solution.

Hello,

I know you looking for a fix in the UK, but for the PX-708(UF) i bought
a new laser aliexpress https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32964380 … 4c4dT8bKnV

I can confirm they working great, i bought my 708 and it came with a dead laser,
Replaced it and it is working great again!

for 10 euro you can not go wrong.

[scsi_wuzzy]

Hello,

I know you looking for a fix in the UK, but for the PX-708(UF) i bought
a new laser aliexpress https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32964380 … 4c4dT8bKnV

I can confirm they working great, i bought my 708 and it came with a dead laser,
Replaced it and it is working great again!

for 10 euro you can not go wrong.

Does anyone know if a replacement laser / OPU is available for the 716 anywhere? I recall a thread on MyCE some years back where several were lamenting being unable to find 716 parts, but I haven't kept up to see if anything has changed in recent times. I've two 716AL that are working except the OPU seems to be nearly dead and (more and more frequently) they decide they'd rather just not read anymore.

Also, what the hell happened to Plextor with the 700 series drives? It seems like my Ultraplex 40 will last until the end of days, but it seems like I'm going to have a bin of dead 716 and 760 drives by the time I'm done with my dumping.

[wiggy2k]

I finally got around to testing my pile of plextors. (like ~25 drives) the other day.

by far the biggest failure rate was from the PX-708A and PX-716A drives that i had piled up.
100% failure from the PX-708A   (1/1 drives faulty)
50% failure rate from the PX-716A (3 of 6 were completely knackered)

but then again the one PX-716UF I have has been a really stable drive.