[botagozzz]

A firmware update to fix a drive that used to work fine, but now has a problem doesn't sit well with me. Did SP2 or a recent patch cause some problems making an update required? (not that I should be surprised by that.) I guess I could go look into that too...

Don't know about the update part as I have it on auto-update for Win XP.

The only other variable that I'm aware of is I changed brands for DVD blanks (just buy the cheap one).

[Gudronich]

DCPan,

This is a stretch, but I've seen it work before - try a different DVD-R disc, and by that, I mean try a different manufacturer's product. I've seen drives get a little flaky with one manufacturer's media but work fine with another's.

It is also possible the laser has become misaligned. This can happen and render a drive unable to write, and yet be still capable of reading discs...at least for awhile. This isn't terribly common, but I've actually had a high-end Plextor drive got tango uniform on me and require replacement because the laser got a little out of alignment.

As a next-to-last-resort, a len cleaning disc might help out, but most manufacturers discourage using these things.

And as a *final* resort, look to reloading the OS. Windows XP was pretty sleak when it first came out, but it's mutated into a beast with all the service packs and patches.

Long term, you might seriously consider some of the suggestions here and look into running a *NIX OS. The Linux server on my home network as an uptime of a little over a year now, if that's any indication of reliability. I've hacked around with several different distros since I started with Linux back in '94 (yes, I'm dating myself here!), and I prefer Debian or, if you don't really want to look under the hood, Mandriva (pka Mandrake).

Good luck with that DVD-R!

[Lapsiks]

WAIT!!!! Could you please tell me your system spec. 1st before you wipe your drive?
...I once saw a 8088 computer w/ windows xp on it.

I don't advocate anyone who doesn't thoroughly understand the process wipe their system and reinstall their OS. Most people lose a lot of data doing that.

I am very familiar with the process, and I tend to go all out to clean up odd system behavior. I install and uninstall way too much half-baked software to keep mine stable for too long, thus the OS/data partition separations. (My main toy is AMD64-3200+ on a Biostar IDEQ/NF3 chipset, 1GB, 320G sata raid0, and an aging 9800Pro AIW.)

[appabessy]

Firmware update.

A firmware update to fix a drive that used to work fine, but now has a problem doesn't sit well with me. Did SP2 or a recent patch cause some problems making an update required? (not that I should be surprised by that.) I guess I could go look into that too...

[leoto5Fm]

My solution will be to wipe the system and reinstall, as this isn't my only bizarre oddity.

Empathy doesn't help fix your problem much either does it?

Arrgghhh!!! Reinstall?

I don't have a ghost of my harddrive.

It'll be a pain to reinstall everything....

So it's a Windows XP problem?

[giftplas]

The reason for the firmware update, if my memory serves, was the older burners have problems detecting newer blanks made for faster burners.

I have a generic 2X burner on my desktop, and I use cheap 1X media from CompUSA for it. (in fact, i burn so little stuff these days I'm still using CD-Rs and DVDRs from 2-3 years ago. )

[reawnvam]

Hi guys,

We're trying to back up our data on DVD today.

For some weird reason, the computer is not recognizing the blank DVDs as blank.

I keep getting the prompt "This disc is not blank, please insert another".

The weird thing is, if I'm not in the burning program, and just insert the disc, windows will recognize it as a blank disc and prompt me to whether I want to burn a audio or data dvd/cd...so the reader is OK.

It's also not a DVD+R or DVD-R issue.

We tried adjusting burning speed...didn't matter.

We put a normal DVD in, and it played the movie fine.

I'm running Windows XP and using Roxio which came with the HP laptop. I also tried Nero Express to no avail.

Itunes also would not burn.

Any one run into a similar problem?

Thanks!

[AffipgyncDync]

It sounds great, but until it reaches a plateau where I could give it to an average user and have them functional use the system to the same level they could a Mac or Windoze machine, it's not prime time. It's getting pretty close, but not quite. It is at the level where I'd convert a standard office over though.
Their are some GREAT Distros for *NIX n00bs. I'm not thlking aboot Slack or Debian but something more around RedHat.

Oh, and I'm also a BSD zealot... As a zealot, it's OpenBSD, of course... ;-)
You are Evil..... BSD will kill you in you sleep if you use it.... Slack is more cool.... O slack how I love you... I love you so very very much.... I want to be with my dear slack....
.....
.....
er..
.....
sorry about that #^o^#

[Zarekylin75]

For some weird reason, the computer is not recognizing the blank DVDs as blank.

I keep getting the prompt "This disc is not blank, please insert another".

Yeah, it drives me crazy too. I usually find if I reboot with the blank in it works, but lately even that's flaky. My solution will be to wipe the system and reinstall, as this isn't my only bizarre oddity. I haven't found any fix or hints in MS's knowledge base--all they say is get the correct media or install a supported app. It seems to be that the OS is failing to report disc status properly to apps, but that's a wild guess. Again, I'll just rebuild my system to get it nice and clean again soo.

IMO, they really wrecked CD creation tools with XP when they put the burning engine into the OS. Some people argue that it's the Roxio engine MS install that is the problem, but I just hate MS's methods. I mean Nero worked great up until...one day when I finally tried to burn a CD after several patches. Overall, I hate windows because of random crap like this, but it's the only OS the games run on...

Empathy doesn't help fix your problem much either does it?

[Mark_NyB]

It's simple..... go to Linux or some other *NIX system. You can even try a "Live CD" to try it out.

Free
Simple*
And lots of Tech Support

*May not be true with Distro

PS - You cn also have a Windows/Linux Computer (Dual OS'es)

[kazinopartnerkae]

Their are some GREAT Distros for *NIX n00bs. I'm not thlking aboot Slack or Debian but something more around RedHat.

You are so 2004. RedHat's gone. It's Fedora Core home users now. Debian won me over with apt-get. OpenBSD won me over when I had to do some firewalling and discovered pf. Use the right tool for the job, whatever that may be... Unfortunately for me to play every game that comes out, that means Windows... Gosh, I haven't used slackware since like 1993 when I moved to RedHat 3.


DCPan, my solution will be to reinstall. You're welcome to fight with yours as long as you dare... It is very, very much a pain to reinstall. For some us we do it so often, the pain wears down to a dull grimace. Kinda like those kendo guys who say getting hit with slightly off kote or do doesn't bother them too much. Seems kinda crazy to me as a non-bogu mudansha.

I now keep my data off my system drives. This facilitates simpler OS reinstalls. I lose less data. If you ghost a broken system back down, you'll get a broken system again. You need to back up all the valued data, then reinstall fresh or from a trouble free ghost point. Then patch up without breaking it or being rooted, reinstall apps, restore your data, and tweak the environment. It's as easy as making biscuits from scratch, which I can't do, but I can reinstall an OS and get a fully working system quickly.


I have no clue why Windows is such an annoying monstrosity sometimes, but I do know that I have the exact same symptom you describe. I haven't found a fix yet, so I intend to wipe and rebuild. I've tried changing drivers, wiping and reinstalling configs, and such, but no luck. I didn't have much luck with kb searches either. I did find several other people asking for help with this issue.

One other atypical issue, my media player install is wrecked too. It works, but it has issues. I can't upgrade or change it any way. Out of curiosity, what version of media player are you using, and have you successfully upgraded to v9 or 10? (I'm not suggesting you try an upgrade either.)

[styhorporry]

It's simple..... go to Linux or some other *NIX system. You can even try a "Live CD" to try it out.

Using a live CD like Knoppix (www.knoppix.org) might be a way to get a backup going, if you could quickly figure out the burning tool, and you could read your data disc still. (My RAID controller isn't properly supported.)

I wouldn't go overboard with either the simple or the tech support aspects. If you want tech support NOW, you're still going to have to pay someone, and knowledgeable techs are less common than the average MSCE's that are falling off trees.

It sounds great, but until it reaches a plateau where I could give it to an average user and have them functional use the system to the same level they could a Mac or Windoze machine, it's not prime time. It's getting pretty close, but not quite. It is at the level where I'd convert a standard office over though.

Oh, and I'm also a BSD zealot... As a zealot, it's OpenBSD, of course... ;-)

[RokgroofeTeme]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your help!

One of my friends saved me fom reinstall in the nick of time.

For others that have the same problem, here's an alternative solution.

Firmware update. That's what it was.

Thanks again!

[topcasinobonua]

WAIT!!!! Could you please tell me your system spec. 1st before you wipe your drive? W

Windows XP is not very informitave.... I once saw a 8088 computer w/ windows xp on it. (Funny story actually.... the dimmwit was wondering why it didn't worl, lol)

PS - 2004? I am more like 1995, lol

[FateHostera]

It is also possible the laser has become misaligned. This can happen and render a drive unable to write, and yet be still capable of reading discs...at least for awhile.

Hmmm, I can't see how this could happen to my system after lugging it to at least 22 LAN parties... I mean, I was careful...

Thanks for the tip. I'll want to consider and test that when I rebuild. (My system is still in need of rebuild due to other OS/software related flakiness.) Ignoring the physical drive considerations reminds me of the day I spent 10 hours building a system... I completed the assembly in 20 minutes, but I left the power supply switched to 220 rather than 110. I spent the whole day swapping parts trying to figure out why it wouldn't boot.