Laptop burners can be finicky at times.

As far as the NeroHistory log is concerned. The log maintains the last several burns you attempted/accomplished. You only need to post the section that deals with one of the failed attempts. Each section begins with a header followed by the program serial number.

If it reads +R but not -R and you've tried various other brands of -R media, I'm leaning towards a faulty drive as the root cause. It should still be under warranty I think.

Laddyboy -

My problem is that the -R disc are not able to start - Nero or Windows is unable to read the -R format. So there probably isn't any log of the problem. It's either the drive or Windows. I'm thiking it's Windows XP related, perhaps a registry issue.

When I put a -R disk into the drive , I can hear it start to speed up like any other disc, but then it slows down. The speed up and slow down is repeated several times then just stops.

The disc is not being ackowledged by the OS or software.

Anyone else have a lappy you can install it in to see if it'll recognize -R media? I'd still try to contact the seller/manufacturer and see about a warranty replacement. I seldom use -R media so I'd probably never know if my burners went wonky over it. :)

I reveived an email from the dealer prior to your's and they said the same thing as you - try in another computer, I'll have to check around with some of my friends to see if they have the same computer. Dell Inspiron 8200.

The dealer also said they would test and replace the drive if necessary but to try and use it in another computer.

I've been considering reformating my hard drive which I may do this long holiday weekend. So if it's a registry problem, which I believe it is, then reformat and re-installing XP Pro should eliminate the problem.

Further - I'll switch to +R media. Which manufacturerers do you prefer?

I'll post the results here.

Hello Room335.

There's nothing wrong with -R media. I just seldom ever use it for whatever reason. For dual layer media, you must use +R DL in my opinion, since it's necessary to booktype it as DVD-ROM for many standalone players to be able to play it.

For dual layer media, the king is Verbatim +R DL. Nothing else compares to its quality at this time.

For regular single layer media, most of us here prefer Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, and Made in Japan labeled Fuji and Sony disks. There's a database at videohelp that indicates the actual manufacturer of branded media. If you look at it, you'll see that many brands use a variety of manufacturers for their media, ranging in quality from excellent (e.g., Taiyo Yuden) to very poor (e.g., CMC Magnetics).

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

If it's just a registry problem, you should be able to select an OS restore point in advance of when the drive stopped detecting -Rs. Rebuilding your system from time to time is a very good idea. I rebuild at least twice a year. I ride my systems pretty hard and lock 'em up in unrecoverable situations on a seemingly daily basis.

just an after thought...... I have System Mechanic that takes care of EVERYTHING and keeps my computer running like new!



this is such an extensive program that is does everything from registry clean up, defraging hard drives, spyware removers, clutter clean up and speed adjustments.... you can even set it and forget it and it will do it automatically! My computer never needs a system restore and never needs to reformat or reinstall windows! It keeps the computer lean and mean. since I installed this program (which I had used this program's other versions and was not happy with them!) I have never had a system freeze or anything like that!~ It keeps programs runnning smoothly and efficiently. I can't say enough about it..... and I am NOT advertising it...... just appoving it's functions and rating it high for keeping my machine clean so it never runs into a problem like DISK NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BY SYSTEM. The only way a disk won't be recognized by my computer is because of it's firmware.... but mine is up to date and recognizes every thing I put into my drive! sooooo if you're having problems like Room335

Quote:

---

I've been considering reformating my hard drive which I may do this long holiday weekend. So if it's a registry problem, which I believe it is, then reformat and re-installing XP Pro should eliminate the problem.

---

then this program will prevent something like that. Just my 2 cents.

IHoe,

Though I don't have system Mechanic I do have Tune Up Utilities, which cleans and repairs the registry as well as other functions. I've also run Win XP manager. As to the firmware I have the most recent version June 2006.

Like Laddyboy said, it's good to reformat periodically and it gets rid of all the junk that gets missed by the registry cleaners.

Room335.........

Quote:

---

it's good to reformat periodically and it gets rid of all the junk that gets missed by the registry cleaners

---

That's why I have System Mechanic!So I don't have to do a reformat.... but if you like reformating twice a year..... go right ahead. I'll just keep my System Mechanic keeping my machine like new. Your choice. LOL

This is why I don't intend to ever purchase a Sony product again (including a sony playstation):

this was the chat session with their online service rep from today:

This is an automated email sent from the Sony NetAgent
Server. The following information is a log of your session. Please
save the log for your records.

Session ID: 213495

06/29/2006 06:17:26PM Session Assigned CSR (Jerry)
06/29/2006 06:17:26PM Enter Session CUS (eric)
06/29/2006 06:17:28PM Session Accepted CSR (Jerry)
06/29/2006 06:17:28PM Enter Session CSR (Jerry)
06/29/2006 06:17:28PM Message Sent CUS "i have a dru 710a that is
failing on the drive check program"
06/29/2006 06:17:29PM Message Sent CSR "Hello, my name is Jerry.
May I have your full name and phone number please?"
06/29/2006 06:17:41PM Message Sent CUS "Eric xxxxx
xxxxxxxxx" -- deleted
06/29/2006 06:20:28PM Message Sent CSR "I see you sent an email
with some test results but they do not have any info that help us."
06/29/2006 06:20:33PM Message Sent CSR "I would recommend running
the sony drive check with this drive. After that email the results to
storage.support@am.sony.com. Here is a link to the test.
http://sony.storagesupport.com/cdrw/diagnostics.htm"
06/29/2006 06:20:47PM Message Sent CSR "Also this drive is out of
warranty,"
06/29/2006 06:20:51PM Message Sent CUS "I also sent another email
with results.."
06/29/2006 06:21:01PM Message Sent CSR "We only support the drives
for 1 year. You will need to contact us via phone for pay-for-support
at 800-588-3847. If you have a receipt of purchase within the year
warranty period fax it to 712-655-3047. Include your name and Phone #
on the cover sheet"
06/29/2006 06:21:17PM Message Sent CUS "it failed on the read..
does that mean the drive is done?"
06/29/2006 06:22:14PM Message Sent CSR "The email results that we
have are not saying if it is faulty or not."
06/29/2006 06:22:23PM Message Sent CSR "I would recommend running
the sony drive check with this drive. After that email the results to
storage.support@am.sony.com. Here is a link to the test.
http://sony.storagesupport.com/cdrw/diagnostics.htm"
06/29/2006 06:23:36PM Message Sent CUS "I ran the drive check...
and emailed 3 separate emails in.. the drive check was only a text file
with about 8 lines in it... it said it failed on read... another time it
wouldn't recognize a blank so I couldn't even run the test..."
06/29/2006 06:23:57PM Message Sent CUS "I basically want to know
if it is a high chance that the drive has breathed it's last breaths.."
06/29/2006 06:24:40PM Message Sent CUS "or in other words.. from
previous experiences.. is it a good chance that means the drive is
busted.."
06/29/2006 06:25:21PM Message Sent CSR "I really can not tell you
that with out troubleshooting the drive. To trouble shoot the drive you
can call in and pay 19.95 or you can determine this on your own by
looking through the FAQ on our website."
06/29/2006 06:25:56PM Message Sent CUS "were's the faq?"
06/29/2006 06:26:15PM Message Sent CSR
"http://sony.storagesupport.com/"
06/29/2006 06:27:08PM Message Sent CUS "what steps are involved in
the $20 trouble shooting?"
06/29/2006 06:27:37PM Message Sent CSR "We will go through any and
all troubleshooting steps"
06/29/2006 06:28:39PM Message Sent CUS "it's pretty obvious the
drive is busted... and sony wants $20 more bux for a drive that didn't
even burn 50 dvds in a period of over 1.5 years.. so I think I'll pass
on that and on Sony from here on out"
06/29/2006 06:29:03PM Message Sent CSR "Thank you for using the
Sony Technical Support chat service. In a few minutes, a transcript of
your chat session will be emailed to the address that you provided at
the time of login. Have a nice day."
06/29/2006 06:29:03PM Message Sent CUS "and maybe on Lite-On since
that's what this drive really is"
06/29/2006 06:29:34PM Message Sent CUS "good.. I'll post it on the
internet.."
06/29/2006 06:29:47PM Leave Session CSR (Jerry)
06/29/2006 06:29:47PM Leave Session CUS
06/29/2006 06:29:47PM Session Ended

If you have any questions, please email storage.support@am.sony.com, or
revisit the
Sony NetAgent System for live support.

what did you expect? magic? come on.... you're drive is older than a year so they are telling you to call them up and pay for their support. it's a business...... get it...... DELL, HP, MAC and all the rest do the same thing. You think Sony is unique or the only one that does that? Get real..... once you buy it basically you're on your own after the warrantee is up. I have plenty of Sony products from TVs to DVD players and Sony makes a good product. I'm not defending them..... they all do the same practices when it comes to fixing something. DELL, that used to have the best customer service now send out all their telephone responces to Canada, India and some other Asian nations! I would never waist my time with them. And that's what it is a waist of time. My brother bought the same computer as I did, last year, except he bought the 30" tv monitor. Well guess what, his TV monitor went haywire and he couldn't get DELL to give him a replacement one and that was after he got it delivered right out of the box it never played!!!! He had cancell the credit card to make DELL realize that the TV monitor was delivered defective and they should replace it at their cost not his. They responded when they got a charge back from the credit card! Then it was, "HOW CAN WE PLEASE YOU??!" Lesson learned. The only thing is..... I love my DELL computer and it's the best I ever had! Live with it!

Ok, interesting stuff here folks. I have the same issue on 2 different laptops. One is an HP DV4129us with a Teac DW-224E-C and a Compaq V2607CL that I purchased for a customer on Tues 6/27/06. I have been able to read DVD -R, +R, -RW and +RW media on the HP laptop in the past. The Compaq laptop was able to read a fer TDK disks but not any Memorex disks. Wednesday the HP laptop would read some of the TDK disks that the Compaq would not read. Now both laptops will not read any DVD -R or +R blank disks. I am having a hard time believing that both drives died at the same time. BTW, both laptops came with the Sonic Digital Media 7 installed from the factory.

One more note, I have a Compaq desktop that is able to read any DVD or CD blank disks I put in. Even the ones both laptops won't read! Something has changed in the last week??????? Any ideas? I have removed the Sonic software from my HP but the same thing is happening.

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread since there are others with the same issue.

Thanks for any ideas ;-)

I would say try the drive in the laptop that works if that's possible.

If it works then that would speak volumes against the other Laptop... it could be software or hardware related in the laptop that won't work.

conversely, try the good drive in the laptop that isn't working.. if it works.. then we could say that the "bad" drive is really bad..


-- I just bought a new drive and replaced my piece of crap sony and it is burning just fine... with the same disks... I do intend to use the "better" media only though... I suspect the questionable media could reduce the life of the burner which may have been why my sony burner only lasted about a year with less than 50 dvd disks burned..

"I have the same issue on 2 different laptops." That means NEITHER laptop will recognize DVD -R or +R blank disks!

@Ranbos

You've only discussed burned +R and -R media. Does either laptop recognize commercially pressed DVDs or CDs?

Both laptops will read commercialy pressed dvd's and CD's. It will also read and play movies created on another system using DVD -R or +R media.

I have tiried everything suggested in this thread, removing the drive in device manager in safe mode and restarting, removing the registry keys for Upper and Lower Filters, and, running XP_CDDVDFIX.EXE. I have also tried Sony, Fuji, Memorex, TDK and HP blank DVD -R and +R media. The drives will simply nor recognize the blank DVD -R and +R media.

I posted this comment originaly because I thought it was strange that a brand new Compaq laptop read DVD -R and +R media for 2 days then on the thisd day it would not. Also at almost the same time the HP laptop stopped reading the DVD -R and +R media. I am not a real believer in coincidence on this issue!

Laptop drives are sometimes finicky. Burned disks are a bit harder to read than commercially pressed disks. Since your laptops have DVD readers only and not DVD burners (this is correct is it not?), they will not be as adept at reading burned media, especially if the burns are not of the highest possible quality. DVD burners, on the other hand, are much more adept at reading burned disks. DVD-ROM only lasers seem to be a little weaker.

Probably the three most important factors for getting good quality burns are:

1. using good quality media like Taiyo Tuden, Verbatim, and Made in Japan labeled Fuji and Sony.
2. burning at half or less the rated speed of the media. I almost always burn at 4X myself even for 16X media.
3. having up to date firmware for the DVD burner.

Fuji, HP, TDK, and Memorex often rebrand media by lower quality media manufacturers. Sony is usually pretty good since their media either has their own code or that of Taiyo Yuden. That's why most of us suggest making sure any Fuji or Sony media is labeled as MIJ since it's usually if not always made by Taiyo Yuden. Otherwise, it can end up being made by CMC Magnetics, Optodisc or some other lower quality producer. The only way to know for sure who made the media you're using is to ID the media code. Many programs will do this. DVD Decrypter displays it in the righthand window when in Write mode. DVDIdentifer is a quick executing program that'll do it as well.

http://dvdidentifier.cdfreaks.com

Laddyboy, The laptop drives ARE both burners! I'm not sure how you got the impression they are readers but, I hope this clarifies it.

I will put my neck on the line here and say this...

I would give better than 75% chance that your drives are bad...

now.. that said.. there is some slight room for hardware configuration error or spyware intervention error...

one thing to at least attempt would be to go into the hardware device manager and find the secondary IDE channel... under IDE ATA/ATAPI drives and switch bank and forth from PIO and DMA for the controller.. just to give it a shot..

also.. if the drive manufacturers offer test programs like Sony did for the DRU710, try to run those. If those fail, then my 75% will turn into at least a 90% that the drives are done.. but again with laddyboy, I agree... get the best discs and try them.. .. I just bought a spindle of 50 Maxell DVD+R discs which supposedly are decent quality from Staples for $15...

another thing to note is all of these drives seem to be pieces of crap for some reason, so don't buy the "most" expensive one if you have to replace the drive... because they all seem to have a life of < 1.5 years..

Hello Ranbos.

The Teac 224E in the HP lappy is not a DVD burner, but is a DVD reader and CD burner.

What is the brand and model of the drive in the Compaq laptop?

I have been discussing that with HP this morning. I faxed the specs from the manual I got with the laptop and it show it should be a DVD +/- RW drive. The tech is saying it is a miss print. I will work this out with them.

The compaq is a Presario v2607cl. Device manager shows: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4082N. The specs from the Compaq website are: Multimedia Drive DVD±R/RW and CD-RW Combo Drive with Double Layer Support.

This is really annoying.

OK I have the same problem as most of the people here. I have a Toshiba SDR5372v w/ updated firmware. I just reformatted my computer and installed Nero 6.0.0.5. My dvd drive can read every disc. The problem is that when I put a blank DVD-R into it the light doesn't go off (like its still working). When i explore into the disc its recognized as a blank dvd in "my computer." Nero recognizes the drive except when I put a blank DVD-R into it. I can burn cd's no problem and even when I put in the same kind of dvd with information on it the drive will read it like normal and the light will turn off. I don't understand why its only blank dvd's that its not reading right. I was able to burn with this setup before my reformatting. I really think that its a Nero problem but have not be able to find a fix anywhwhere. If anyone here would help me out it would be very appreciated.

Note: I can even put in what I want to burn and go all the way until Nero asks me to put in a dvd. Once I put one in the light won't turn off and Nero will stop responding.

The firmware HN03 for the LG burner in the Compaq lappy is here:

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=2257

I don't know if that's the version you have or not. Download DVD Identifer to both ID your media code and to obtain the firmware version of your burner. Or use DVD Decrypter in ISO Write mode to do the same thing.

http://dvdidentifier.cdfreaks.com
http://filehippo.com/download_dvd_decrypter/

It seems like a media problem to me, especially since neither has problems with commercially pressed DVDs?

Does the Compaq laptop recognize blank disks for burning?

I was having the exact same trouble,so I erased everything and put my computer back to the way it was origanly.When I first turn on my computer and goes to the boot menu I hit ctrl-f11.I lost all my music and files,but burner is working fine and even faster.I got an external harddrive before I done this.

@mtea32

The version of Nero you have is seriously out of date. Upgrade to version 6.6.0.18, not the newest version which is problematic.

Run the Nero 6 Clean Tool first. Write down the program serial number first. Here are all the links:

http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/us/Nero_6_CleanTool.html

Pack 1: http://httpdl1.usw.nero.com/software/Nero6/Nero-6.6.0.18_no_yt.exe

Pack 2: http://httpdl1.usw.nero.com/software/Nero6/NVE-3.1.0.21_no_yt.exe

Also it might be helpful to download DVD Identifier and report back the media code for your blank disks or use DVD Decrypter in ISO Write Mode.

http://dvdidentifier.cdfreaks.com

Does Nero generate an error message at all when you insert the blank media? Does it generate a failure error? If so, post the Nero History log for that burn. The Nero History log is divided into sections, one for each burn for the last several burns. It's located in this path:

Program Files > Ahead > Nero > NeroHistory

Be sure to delete the program serial number before posting.

I want to start off by thanking you for your help.

After the Nero clean up and upgrade it didn't make Nero not respond anymore... It just sat at the asking for a certain medium screen. Same light on the drive was present. I also identified the dvds I've been using and they are from the Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. I had to use one that already had information on it becuase when I tried to use a blank dvd it said " ERROR : Unable To Initialize Disc In Time : Not ready - Medium not present [02/3A/00]" and trust me the medium was present." I will try using a better DvD because i don't know how good the ones i have are. Hopefully this will bring up a fix.

Nero History:

Windows XP 5.1
IA32
WinAspi: -
ahead WinASPI: File 'C:\Program Files\Ahead\nero\Wnaspi32.dll': Ver=2.0.1.74, size=164112 bytes, created 10/26/2004 6:35:34 PM
Nero Version: 6.6.0.18
Internal Version: 6, 6, 0, 18e
(Nero Express)
Recorder: <TOSHIBA CD/DVDW SDR5372V>Version: TU15 - HA 0 TA 2 - 6.6.0.18
Adapter driver: <nvatabus> HA 0
Drive buffer : 2048kB
Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ?
CD-ROM: <CD ROM DX-CDR100 >Version: 1.08 - HA 0 TA 3 - 6.6.0.18
Adapter driver: <nvatabus> HA 0

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral : WDC WD1600JB-00EVA0 nvatabus Port 0 ID 0 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : TOSHIBA CD/DVDW SDR5372V nvatabus Port 0 ID 2 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : CD ROM DX-CDR100 nvatabus Port 0 ID 3 DMA: Off
CdRomPeripheral : EH1090O KBV935D 1.0 dtscsi Port 3 ID 0 DMA: Off

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
TOSHIBA CD/DVDW SDR5372V D: CDRom0
CD ROM DX-CDR100 E: CDRom1
EH1090O KBV935D F: CDRom2
=======================

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 1023MB (1048048kB)
Free physical memory: 616MB (631540kB)
Memory in use : 39
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

2.7.2006
ISO compilation
8:43:17 PM #1 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6359
Iso document burn settings
------------------------------------------
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : FALSE
Multisession : TRUE
Multisession type: : Start multisession
Burning mode : DAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet : TRUE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : TRUE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : TRUE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE

8:43:17 PM #2 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 127
Reader running

8:43:17 PM #3 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3309
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

8:43:17 PM #4 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3233
Turn on Disc-At-Once, using DVD media

8:44:06 PM #5 Phase 40 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Aborted by user

8:44:06 PM #6 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 282
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)

8:44:06 PM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2483
Recorder: TOSHIBA CD/DVDW SDR5372V;
CD type reading failed
ATIP Data: ?

8:44:06 PM #8 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 448
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================
Insert the disc to write to.
(Medium in drive: Unknown. Medium required by compilation: DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL.)


Existing drivers:
File 'Drivers\CDRALW2K.SYS': Ver=8.0.0.212 , size=2560 bytes, created 5/19/2006 2:16:24 PM
File 'Drivers\PXHELP20.SYS': Ver=3.00.11B, size=46080 bytes, created 5/16/2006 1:23:54 PM (Prassi/Veritas driver for win 2K)
File 'Drivers\nvatabus.sys': Ver=5.10.2600.0446 built by: WinDDK, size=79360 bytes, created 6/2/2004 7:40:46 PM (Adapter driver for rec)

Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\AllocateCDROMs : 0 (Security Option)

====== *** Nero-Burning Rom, History File *** ======