Dvd Writer Problems

Lona · Mar 17, 2009, 22:46:02

Dvd writer recognises cds and also writes to them but for some reason will not write to a dvd but will read from them.

Burning programme used is Nero.

Drivers have been checked and seem ok. No yellow ! in device manager either.

john · Mar 18, 2009, 00:03:42

Hi Lona, apologies if this is stating the obvious but have you selected 'DVD' from the pulldown menu in the top-centre of the Nero StartSmart window ?

My version has the options 'CD/DVD', 'CD' and 'DVD', if it's set to 'CD' then it may not write to DVD's.

Lona · Mar 18, 2009, 02:52:08

I wish it was as simple as that. It's actually my friends pc and that's one of the first things I asked her.

When selecting dvd the speed time in Nero is blanked out and you can't select a speed. If you ignore that and try to burn it won't select the disc. The hour glass just goes on for ever and you have to abort. It's not a faulty disc either as brand new discs have been tried.

Glenn · Mar 18, 2009, 06:44:24

Another question, the drive fitted, is it a CD read/writer + DVD reader? A check on the model number should reveal this.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 09:37:52

Is there any Norton/Symantec software on the machine, Lona? It might be worth trying this technique:

If DVD/CDs become 'lost', code 39 error "Windows cannot load the driver. The driver may be missing or corrupted (Code 39)".

Go to Device Manager, uninstall CD & DVD drivers. Uninstall Primary and Secondary IDE channels under IDE/ATAPI Controllers - ignore requests to re-boot machine.

Go to Regedit, navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Look for the key which refers to DVD/CD-ROM drives. Delete the subkey UpperFilters, also LowerFilters if it is present.

Re-boot the machine. All should now be well.

Simon · Mar 18, 2009, 10:22:46

It also might be worth trying a different brand of recordable disc. The discs may be new, but some writers just don't get on with some brands of disc.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 10:25:37

I'd second that.

Lona · Mar 18, 2009, 11:55:40

Quote from: Rik on Mar 18, 2009, 09:37:52
Is there any Norton/Symantec software on the machine, Lona? It might be worth trying this technique:

If DVD/CDs become 'lost', code 39 error "Windows cannot load the driver. The driver may be missing or corrupted (Code 39)".

Go to Device Manager, uninstall CD & DVD drivers. Uninstall Primary and Secondary IDE channels under IDE/ATAPI Controllers - ignore requests to re-boot machine.

Go to Regedit, navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Look for the key which refers to DVD/CD-ROM drives. Delete the subkey UpperFilters, also LowerFilters if it is present.

Re-boot the machine. All should now be well.

I thought about that and did read about the above but there is no error codes come up and it does burn cds.

Simon, the discs being used are re-writables which have worked on this burner in the past and are quality discs.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 12:04:28

It might be worth doing anyway, Lona, Nero puts in some odd entries at times. I only know about it because I had exactly the same problem.

sobranie · Mar 18, 2009, 12:21:02

I find verbatim discs cause the least probs.

Lona · Mar 18, 2009, 12:22:58

Quote from: Rik on Mar 18, 2009, 12:04:28
It might be worth doing anyway, Lona, Nero puts in some odd entries at times. I only know about it because I had exactly the same problem.

Thanks Rik will try that and let you know how it goes. The worst thing that could be wrong is that the laser has gone in the burner but I hope not.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 12:28:01

Keep us posted. At least drives don't cost an arm and a leg anymore.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 12:28:15

Quote from: sobranie on Mar 18, 2009, 12:21:02
I find verbatim discs cause the least probs.

Likewise.

john · Mar 18, 2009, 12:36:27

Which OS and version of Nero is your friend using Lona ?

If it's burning CD's okay then it's probably not this but Nero 5 and 6 requires Nero Burning Rights to be installed otherwise only administrators can burn CD's/DVD's. If some options are blanked out then it may point to something like this rather than the disc.

Sebby · Mar 18, 2009, 13:46:25

Is it definitely a DVD burner, Lona?

Lona · Mar 18, 2009, 15:05:43

Quote from: Sebby on Mar 18, 2009, 13:46:25
Is it definitely a DVD burner, Lona?

Yes and has burned dvds in the past.

Matshita dvd-ram-UJ-845S

sobranie · Mar 18, 2009, 15:51:01

Just a thought, are there 2 drives in the machine? If so, nero may be looking at the wrong one.

Steve · Mar 18, 2009, 15:54:26

Or try a different burner. Its free!!

Lona · Mar 18, 2009, 18:48:12

Quote from: sobranie on Mar 18, 2009, 15:51:01
Just a thought, are there 2 drives in the machine? If so, nero may be looking at the wrong one.

One drive combi.

Rik · Mar 18, 2009, 18:49:13

Time for us all to gather round the machine and chant incantations at it, Lona.

Glenn · Mar 18, 2009, 22:40:31

Is this any help? http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-18963-matshita-dvd-ram-uj-850s-ata-device

Lona · Jun 18, 2009, 19:26:48

Here's an update on my friends problem........................

I went down to her house today, uninstalled Nero and ran the nero cleanup programme. Made sure that all evidence of Nero was removed, then deleted dvd drive in device manager and followed Rik's advice. No upper or lower filters were found in the registry.

Before re-installing Nero, checked that the drive could read both dvds and cds. All was well so re-installed Nero. Tried to burn a dvd but it would only burn cds.

Uninstalled Nero again and installed the free programme that Steve suggested. It doesn't burn dvds, only Cds.

I then tried to re-install Nero. Inserted disc and it came up saying it was blank. Tested disc in another machine and it worked fine, so now she can't even burn cds. I'm at a loss as to what to try next.

Steve · Jun 18, 2009, 19:36:35

Uninstalled Nero again and installed the free programme that Steve suggested. It doesn't burn dvds, only Cds

Looking as the FAQ it should also burn DVD's,blu Ray and HD-DVD.

Lona · Jun 18, 2009, 19:38:37

Quote from: stevethegas on Jun 18, 2009, 19:36:35
Uninstalled Nero again and installed the free programme that Steve suggested. It doesn't burn dvds, only Cds

Looking as the FAQ it should also burn DVD's,blu Ray and HD-DVD.

Thanks, Steve, so I guess the free programme is doing exactly like Nero was. It kept thinking the dvd was a cd. it just refused to burn a dvd.

Simon · Jun 18, 2009, 20:16:37

Seems the only thing left is to try another drive, Lona.

D-Dan · Jun 18, 2009, 20:17:31

Time to try a different drive me-thinks. Do you have one you could take out of yours to test with?

Steve

Sebby · Jun 18, 2009, 22:56:47

Yep, it sounds like a different drive is going to be the only option next.

Lona · Jun 19, 2009, 01:04:50

My friends pc is an evesham Ebox with a slot dvd so wouldn't be able to fit an ordinary dvd burner.

I still find it weird that it can read dvds and cds containing music files but was unable to read the nero installation disc.

Steve · Jun 19, 2009, 05:23:19

I have an external usb DVD burner and it works very well. HP DVD1040E

kinmel · Jun 19, 2009, 09:22:15

Try this freeware program burn4free.

I use nothing else to burn DVDs and CDs

Simon · Jun 19, 2009, 10:03:13

Will that one burn MP3s to a CD without a gap or an audible click between tracks, Alan? I have quite a few live recordings in MP3 format, and regularly come across that problem.

Sebby · Jun 19, 2009, 14:00:11

Quote from: Lona on Jun 19, 2009, 01:04:50
My friends pc is an evesham Ebox with a slot dvd so wouldn't be able to fit an ordinary dvd burner.

You'll probably find that, behind the front of the case, it is just a stand slot-loading drive.

Lona · Jun 19, 2009, 21:22:11

I'm definitely going mad here.

Was down today again. Did a system restore and took it back to March.

I tried the new burner programme but got the same thing. Would burn cds but not DVDs

I think I said before I could get it to read dvds but not burn them, well today it would only read some dvds but not the ones it had read yesterday.

I have got it reading cds again but when I put in dvds it recognises them as cds except for the odd one or two.

D-Dan · Jun 19, 2009, 21:27:52

OK - here's what to do. Forget about the drive that's there. If there's an IDE port - for testing purposes, take the side off, and connect a different drive to it. Don't worry about it just hanging there (prop it up on a cardboard box or something) - and test it.

For the avoidance of doubt (and so you don't sue me) - disconnect from power before connecting the test drive.

The purpose here is to either confirm, or eliminate the drive as the problem. It doesn't have to be pretty.

Steve

Lona · Jun 19, 2009, 21:38:45

That's way beyond me, Steve. Software problems I can usually solve but when it comes to hardware, I'm chicken. The most I've ever done inside a pc is add memory and a graphics card or cleaned inside with canned air.

Ted · Jun 19, 2009, 23:09:41

Quote from: Lona on Jun 19, 2009, 21:38:45
That's way beyond me, Steve. Software problems I can usually solve but when it comes to hardware, I'm chicken. The most I've ever done inside a pc is add memory and a graphics card or cleaned inside with canned air.

Lona, if you can change a graphics card you can change a DVD drive. Just unplug the ribbon cable and power connector from the old drive and put them in the new drive, job done.

As sebby said, its probably just an ordinary drive behind a fancy flap. The hardest part is getting the front off the machine to slide the drive out, but if you look closely enough you can usually spot the catches.

Lance · Jun 20, 2009, 00:02:04

Also you should leave it plugged in but with the switch off. That way the stactic has a route to earth.