Dvd Writer Problems

[Lona]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Rik]

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]

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]

I'd second that.

[Lona]

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]

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]

I find verbatim discs cause the least probs.

[Lona]

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]

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

[Rik]

I find verbatim discs cause the least probs.

Likewise. 

[john]

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]

Is it definitely a DVD burner, Lona?

[Lona]

Is it definitely a DVD burner, Lona?

Yes and has burned dvds in the past.

Matshita dvd-ram-UJ-845S

[sobranie]

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

[Steve]

Or try a different burner. Its free!!

[Lona]

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

One drive combi.

[Rik]

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

[Glenn]

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

[Lona]

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]

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]

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]

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