Software doesn't recognize my CD burner

Early B.

Damn computers. I hate 'em when they start thinking for themselves!!

I had been using Nero consistently for several years to copy music onto CDs with no problems. One day Nero decides to stop recognizing my external USB CD burner. OK, so I attach another CD burner. Doesn't work. OK, so I try another software program (Magix MP3). Still doesn't work. Well, it worked the first time, but now it doesn't work anymore. I get the dreaded "Drive is unavailable..." error or something like that. When I go into Windows Explorer and click on the drive, it asks me to insert a disk when a disk is already inserted! Aarrgh.

I've gone into the control panel and the computer recognizes the CD burners and says they're working properly, but the software doesn't recognize them. I've even tried different USB ports. Hell, I even tried it on another computer. Same thing. What happened to the concept of "plug-n-play?" Geez.

Anybody know what the hell is goin' on?

Thanks.

steveinaz

Mine is on the fritz again too. It'll read software installion files, and do an installation, but other types of data I get the "drive cannot be found" crap. Mine usually last about 1 year, then have to be replaced. This one surprised me though, being an ASUS---I thought it would last longer....

AsSiMiLaTeD

I've had the same burner in my machien for several years, never had an issue.

What OS are you running? If it's XP, does the burning within XP work?

CrBoy

You can also try to update the USB drivers, or uninstalled and install them back again... that should work... i guess

BIZILL

maybe you all need bill gates to help you. steve, i'll be c n u on sat.

Early B.

Polkmaniac wrote:

What OS are you running? If it's XP, does the burning within XP work?

I'm running XP. Not sure what you mean by burning within XP.

VR3

Isnt burning within XP just making a MP3 disc?

BIZILL

Early B. wrote:

I'm running XP. Not sure what you mean by burning within XP.

you can 'explore' (drag and drop files) from hard drive to disc.

Early B.

BIZILL wrote:

you can 'explore' (drag and drop files) from hard drive to disc.

Doesn't work. I get the "Insert a disc in drive F" message when there's already one in there. It used to work thru explorer, but now it doesn't.

BIZILL

stupid, but did you try restarting your computer? also check this: right click 'My Computer' and click properties. click hardware tab and then device manager and see if you can find your burner listed there.

Early B.

BIZILL wrote:

stupid, but did you try restarting your computer? also check this: right click 'My Computer' and click properties. click hardware tab and then device manager and see if you can find your burner listed there.

Yeah, done all of that several times.

BIZILL

does it show up?

BIZILL

nevermind, your first post stated all that.

BIZILL

did you try removing and then re-installing nero?

nadams

Well, if Windows won't even access the drive through My Computer, it would appear that something's screwed up between the machine and the drive, not with Nero or other burning softwares. I have given up on external burners... they never do seem to work right. Have you tried the burner on any other computers to see if it actually works? Maybe the driver is screwed up and preventing access to the drive.

Oh, I just read that you attached another CD burner. Was it of the same brand? If you right-click on my computer, left-click on manage, then left-click on Disk Management, it should give you a listing of all the drives in your computer. If you insert a CD (with data on it) it should appear as such in this screen. Is it possible that the USB drive is attempting to use a drive letter that's already in use by another drive? That can cause nasty conflicts... Drive letters can be changed within the Computer Management screen by right-clicking on the drive, and selecting "Change Drive Letter and Paths"

BIZILL

try this copied from microsoft...

1. From the Start menu, right-click My Computer, and then click Open.

2. In the Devices with Removable Storage area, right-click the drive, and then click Properties.

If your CD drive is recognized, you will see a Recording tab. On the Recording tab, verify that the Enable CD recording on this drive check box is selected.


It is also recommended that you check that your CD drive has all the updated drivers from the Windows Update Web site.

Finally, verify that the Image Mastering API (IMAPI) CD-Burning COM service is enabled. To enable the service, do the following:

1. Click Start, and then click Administrative Tools.

2. Click Services.

3. Right-click IMAPI CD-Burning COM service, and then click Properties.

4. Set the Startup type to Automatic.

5. Click Start to start the service, and then click OK.


You may have to log off and then log on for this change to take effect.

Early B.

OK, sumthin's screwed up.

Nadams -- I went into Disk Management and it listed the drives, but when I put a CD with data on it, there was no response. The computer sees the drive and says the drive is working properly, but it doesn't recognize that a CD has been inserted.

Bizill -- There's no Recording Tab showing up. I went into IMAPI and changed the setting from manual to automatic.

Not sure what else to do. I have two CD burners (Iomega and BusLink) and neither one of them is working properly, so it's probably an XP issue. Like I said earlier, it's been working fine for years, but now it won't work at all.

BIZILL

did you install new software for anything else recently? possible you have a bad drive, too...

bert26

Hey B -

Have you tried different cables between the drives and the box? Are your USB ports on a "card" or are they actually part of the mother board?

Have you received any Windows automatic updates lately? They can sometimes do more harm than good.

Chris

faster100

Ive learned from years of building and fooling with computers, It could most likely be anything and their is no clear cut answer.. with all the help though usually one thing works.. try em all,, Good luck, sorry i couldnt help

nadams

Do you not have the option to add an internal burner? it's not really that hard... they're much cheaper, and more reliable

faster100

Opps i read external from internal, Nvmd

Early B.

bert26 wrote:

Have you tried different cables between the drives and the box? Are your USB ports on a "card" or are they actually part of the mother board?

Have you received any Windows automatic updates lately? They can sometimes do more harm than good.

I have a 4-port USB thingie. Windows updates my computer automatically.

Bizill -- I have installed new software.

Nadams -- I'm going to look into an internal drive.

Faster -- I'll try 'em all.

As mentioned earlier, it sounds like an XP issue. I should also mention that the two computers have the same issue and are networked, so a virus maybe? I dunno.

BIZILL

so many variables. i may be able to help, if only i were there in person. good luck with your fiasco.

steveinaz

CDROMs can act very strange when they're getting ready to deep 6. Mine actually let me burn a CD last night (Saturday demo for Bizill), but reading each CD took 3 friggin minutes, then it took about 6 mins to "see" the CDRW disc that I was burning too.

The burn was successful though slooooowwwwww....it took about 20 minutes to burn 8 tracks.

Mine gives up reading CDR's that have pics on them. It blinks for 10 damn minutes and finally says the drive letter is invalid. POS. Time for a new burner.

steveinaz

Oh...which brings me to another point...TRAPT's CD and Blue Man Group can't be copied from ...bastads. At least not with my software (Nero express).

The individual songs are not on the CD as *.cda files, but as 1 HUGE executable. Nice.

CrBoy

steveinaz wrote:

Oh...which brings me to another point...TRAPT's CD and Blue Man Group can't be copied from ...****. At least not with my software (Nero express).

The individual songs are not on the CD as *.cda files, but as 1 HUGE executable. Nice.

So many ways to go around this... all of them illegal...

steveinaz

Yeah, remember about 20 yrs ago the "companies" said that they didn't mind people buying originals and then copying them for their own use.....

yeah, right. phucksticks.