Discovered that my 3 yr old VAIO will only identify my external burner (ie; 3 yr old USB PlugnPlay firmwareless LG-DVDRAM GSA-5160D SUPER writer) in My Computer window's "name" column as DVD-RAM Drive (H only after re-botting while the burner is online and powered up. Some combination(s) of either XPH, the laptop, program preferences, program hogware-ed-ness, or most likely 'simple' registry issues are preventing the burner from being consistantly/properly named as mentioned in the My Computer drive name column. As trival as this next part is (likely a normal thing), but regardless of how the burner is introduced to the laptop, whenever there is no disk in the burner, the drive's properties seem to oddly illustrates the drive disk as totally blue (as if the drive was 100% used), but tossed this in here so's to maybe if that too isn't detecting the drive properly, it might point to base issues with the laptop, XPH or SP2. Note also that if the burner is disconnected (even using "safely remove hardware"), thereafter when the burner's powered off, re-introduced to the laptop, burner then powered back on, the drive name's only then always identified as "CD Drive". And regardless of whichever of the two names that happens to be listed in the "name" column, the "type" column however always lists as "CD Drive". Also for some reason (I'd really like to know why), in the dialog box where the drive should be named (eg; 'DVD-RAM' or 'HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-5160D USB Device'), it's blank and while I can click inside the box and then a 'text focus line' then begins blinking, the box refuses to accept my typing in anything. And thinking that maybe a new burner might require it manually being added to the system when I looked at the media list in computer mgmt > Storage > Media, but not only wasn't the burner listed, but nothing was listed (even when I popped in a DVD and played it). Digging a little deeper, I clicked that utility's disk mgmt, right clicked the burner (CD-ROM 0 DVD(H), and noticed that the "Volumes" tab lists the status as "No Media" despite the DVD was playing. Then on a whim, I tick the box for "Enable digital CD Audio for this CD-ROM device", then when I clicked disk management's Computer Management window's file exit, prompted to restart the computer, did so and still the burner remains virtually unchanged as to how its detected, plus it still refuses to autoplay with the preferred handler (WinDVD5). As for WinDVD5 itself, I've ticked its own autoplay tick box, even changing the plsyer source back and forth between "Default" and my burner's drive 'letter', but never will simply popping in a DVD will it autoplay until I open WInDVD5 manually (no doubt registry issue caused). Obviously that's indicating the user needs to manually name the drive, but why isn't the laptop detecting the drive's details that I'm positive it generates? Of lesser annoyance, but still noteworthy, are two programs that fail at detecting my burner(MSWMM and DVD FLick). No doubt as these two progs are likely the least sophisticated/forgiving, if not caused by the bunky registry alone, then maybe there's a chance that hacking those two prog's handlers into the registry's autoplay and/or some other place too would get them squared away. With respect to those two comparitivel pale issues, I've tried the usual adjustments and/or fixes recommended by their makers w/o joy, so it's most likely those two programs are simply so buggy and/or inflexible that they simply are incapable of ever working with my burner (which incidentally the burner's newer than either of those progs). And no, never used or installed Nero or RealMedia. Nor do I have any CD Burning software installed (except for XP's explorer default write caching), but I did once have Click to DVD and Dragn Drop installed. So, in that I see no known software conflict/bugs preventing MSWMM & DVDFLick from detecting my burner, ie; none of my other media software has detection issues, ref. no such issues w/the burner's complimentary Interlead "WindDVd5" player, WMP10, WMPC, DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink, ImgBurn or ConvertXtoDVD. As everything seems pointing to registry issues undoubtedly courtesy of hogware, attrocious uninstallers, mostly (I hope) the ripped out (professionally physically uninstalled) laptop burner, then that leaves only the autoplay and new burner's registry entries. As such, it looks like I'm left to hacking the registry. But as the laptop runs XHP/SP2 and I'm barely capable of doing hacking the registry, obviously even though I've acculated/read most everything both available and that I'm capable of understanding/managing, at this point I'm left to asking for something that RegistryBooster (or any software) should be already doing, but doesn't, and that's to try manually straightening out the registry. I've searched the registry, made note of every entry for the burner(s) and anything autoplay related, but I need a little help with some of the value names and hexidecimal numbering before hacking away. There are some 30 or so keys and something like 60 or so value names I need to deal with, but I need a pro to answer things like how to deal with the old burner's entries (if it's there I should be adding the new burner or simply deleting the hexidecimal or even the entire value name), plus what to do about autplay value hexidecimals, plus there'one or teo value names I think need removed or their hexi' values changed. But because there are so many keys and values involved just in cleaning out and hacking the registry jsut for burner recognition and autplay entries, it's highly problematic, not to mention exceedingly labor and time intensive to try to do this via text. So what I'm most in need of, is an experienced registry pro who'll be willing to sit down with me for maybe an hour while going thru the registry. Ideally what is the simplist way to do this is remote desktop viewing, but as risky for both, that leaves Yahoo Messenger webcam or my phoning you.
easier solution... backup all your data that you need... and then reformat and reinstall XP Home, after 3 years its prolly in dire need of it... you'd be surprised at how much faster your VAIO will run... and it'll give you a nice clean registry...
dude......get a this -------------------- i bet a fresh install will take less time then playing around with registry just dont cross pollinate hives and you can also do some fun things with this http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/ otherwise my registry is limited sorry thats all the knowledge i can hand on down to you -tripplite
Thanks, but already disconsidered those options as not only don't I have to spend hrs replacing artwork and straightening out iTunes library, plus it just much simplier to spend an hr fixing the registry (assuming I can find a helpful hacker, no oximoron intended).
ahh backup the information? you describe several issues with your registry, some don't even seem like registry issues btw editing the registry is some pretty crazy and hard to do from a distance.....very hard to do from a distance....I know you dont want to but when the windows registry's reaches a certain point in size when correcting errors in it becomes difficult! and more then likely over time more and more issues will occur in a bulky registry! i've tried fiddling my registry.....not a wise decision i assure you! fresh install best of luck! -tripplite
I haven't heard of (per say) non-program related registry changes ever causing system issues that can't be undone by re-installing the registry from a full registry back up. As for the time involved in reinstalling the system (verses registry hacking). At least for me, there's no comparison as it took me days and days to reinstall because for one, its an OEM XP (no XP disk) which necessitates a mind boggling specific order in which Sony's software, Sony's and MS's patches and upgrades being correctly installed. In that only an hour's work on the registry surely can't hurt, I'm resolved to going that route. But thanks for replying.
honestly man... hacking the registry is way too risky to mess with... if you insist on going that route, i HIGHLY suggest you backup all the data you can, either on dvds or an external drive... as for not having an OEM disk, drivers can be downloaded from sony's website and you own a serial key... hint* hint* borrow a disk and copy it, as per Microsoft's EULA you are allowed ONE BACKUP COPY PER LICENSE... it would make things alot easier...
Thanks for replying. My Docs are always backed up. As for system, I even have one for the forst week of my last install. As for that option, still is way too much time/effort to figure out how to install that backup, then re-install all programs. Besides, my 'Adam & Eve' backup unfortunately incluses the old burner. Added, note even if things go south and the restoring the registry with my complete registry backup, I'd still have system restore. Again, thanks for replying.
No problem... That's what we're here for, to help others and get help ourselves when we need it... The one issue I'm having issues with is that if you mess up the registry, chances are that you may not be able to even boot to restore... I've had that issue before, just prepare for the worst is all I can say. In your case, that would be having to reinstall XP from scratch. In which you could then apply your Restore Point to it then. As for the restore containing your old burner, that wouldn't be an issuse being that CD/DVD drives are considered Plug & Play. So it wouldn't even phase the computer that it wasn't there anymore. Unfortunately I'm not to well advised at registry hacking so I'm not going to voluenteer myself on this one, I've given all the advice I can reallyat this point. I'll keep an eye open however and see if I can contribute later at any point...
Thanks for replying. The old burner was the OEM's on-board 'carriage deck' and new one's the USB. As for booting, I have a Sony disk to boot up from, but thanks for reminding me of that potential, remote as I expect it to be.
Question: Can I provide my clients with a backup copy (of mine) of XP so long as they have a valid physical cd-key?
Appreciate replies. Really. Have gotten things restored with of my own (actually MS 'hacks'), at least the drive again lists as DVD/CD-ROM and autoplays work. As for but two reasons I don't finish the job (some more MS 'hacking'), is that it doesn't tell me what to do about the old burner's entries, and the fact that I've yet to find anyone who can tell me if and how one set's up a "Phoenix version R0110X1" BIOS for it assuredly seeking and using my new (EHD) burner as the 'F' drive its currently set to using for a/the emergency boot disk use. Could it be so simple as the BIOS would seek out any optical drive (even the USB) in that the old burner's missing? Or must I (as I suspect) re-set the BIOS to 'tell it' that a given USB port is now the backup boot drive? Or is there a way I can safely test it out to see if it will automatically detect a USB connected drive containing the boot disk??? I've linked some screenshots of the BIOS, so if anyone happens across my issue, and is condifent about how to re-set it (as I suspect it must be), I'd appreciate it. Screenshots below. Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. That's the thing sometimes. Try. In my case, it'd be dare vs. try.
Wguru, Yes, you are correct in assuming you will have to reset your BIOS under the boot menu to accept your new drive. Within the hard drive settings you will have to choose your USB port. (As long as it is being detected.) You can choose what order you want to boot in. 1st, 2cd, etc. Also, after reading about your registry issues I would recommend using a maintenance program to clean it out and defrag on a regular schedule. I myself use Tune Up Utilities. It has a cleaner, defrag, and editor. You can schedule it to run at certain times and keeps your computer running smoothly. But again, yes on the BIOS reset if you wish to change your backup boot disk. Hoped that helped a little and good luck!
