I know it's not the cd itself, because I have tried many more cds. It does the same thing for all of them.

You may have a driver conflict especially if you have easyCD installed.
Or, you ASPI layer may need updating (get ASPI check from cdmediaworld)

Failing that, I'd de-install ALL burning progs and reboot.
Then re-install them one at a time. If you still cannot read with only one prog installed, then your hardware setup is at fault, else you'll soon find which prog is the culprit as you install one at a time.

hey i think that's a hardware fault i have never heard something like this again!any way after trying all your m8's answers get this burner out!

Hi Crispy.
Good man. I was just getting to the ASPI Layer next.
Failing that I think themis_t's idea is next. Change the burner.
It's been set as slave & master, on it's own & all sorts.
If it is not the cdr, & Crispy's ideas don't work, then I think ya burner has a fault. Take it out & try in a friends pc to be sure.
If it does the same thing, get a new one. It's quite a new burner so i am guessing it is still within the 1st year guarantee. Take it back.
You could try a different brand of cdr's, but i don't think that is the problem.

Regards,

Einstein

Hi Einstein...great work with relativity, by the way ;)

I think the answer to this chaps probs lies in being methodical. Do as I suggested to rule out software conflict or out of date ASPI layers, and then, and only then, when all software possibilities are exhausted, start ripping your pc apart.
Hardware is usually the stronger link in the chain, and software conflicts the usual cause of problems.

Thanx Crispy ;-).
I agree. Methodical should be the way to go.
It was looking like a hardware fault as he tried fresh install of windows, different software etc, & nothing was making any difference. The ASPI layer didn't cross my mind until I had gone through the other stuff & you mentioned it.
Nice to have some fresh ideas from someone else.
Nothing been posted for a couple of days so hopefully it might be in process of getting sorted.

Regards,

Einstein

i hope our friend posts something telling us how this problem lasted!

Hi themis_t.
Yeah, me too.
By the way, he isn't really my friend. I just read his post & tried to help, but I suppose that is the way u make friends, so yeah why not.
Thanx for your contribution too.

Regards,

Einstein.

Hey guys, it is still not working. I have one more idea which I will try in a few hours. That is to change the jumpers around. But after that, I think I might have to just guve up. :-/

If you have genuinely tried all our suggestions above, then a hardware problem is possible.
I'm not sure I'd be messing about with jumpers if you're not truly sure what ya doing.
In the end, you could try the drive in another pc, and my guess is that it'd work. WHy? Because you can drag and drop files in explorer. Therefore your burner IS reading the discs. That's why I think you have an aspi or software conflict, as the problem arises when a third party app attempts to read from the disc.
Has this drive combo ever worked, or has it just started playing up?

I'm afraid I cannot help you much more as I have no experience with Windo$e XP.
There are many freeware apps available which can run a diagnostic on your drive and associated hardware and drivers.

####://webdirectory.datasegment.com/webdirectory/Computers/Software/Diagnostics/


for starters

Just an idea...but.........windows has an option in control panel/system/cd-r units in which "disable unit" could be ticked.....

Try it.....sometimes windows disable it and we do not know why it does...Untick this option and reboot....then try to burn....hope it will be the problem

Good luck!

i don't really think you catched him up!!!

I think i cached it....he can read from cd-r unit but he can't burn...isn't it?
The option i said is not so strange and could work.....i have seen problems like this othertimes....just an idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry if i can't correctly explain myself!

I think i cached it....he can read from cd-r unit but he can't burn...isn't it?
The option i said is not so strange and could work.....i have seen problems like this othertimes....just an idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry if i can't correctly explain myself![/quote]

it's ok m8!

For pity's sake.

He's stated quite clearly that he can burn with explorer, just cannot burn an image file from HD to cdr.

Therefore......it cannot be a hardware problem specific to that burner as the cd burner works under one condition, but not when 3rd party apps try to command it. QUOTE "burning through explorer is slow, and a pain"......it does burn data, just not with a third party burning program.


Therefore....software problem.

Sorry for the tone.......I'm old, tired and getting grumpy in my old age ;)