DVD-RW not burning CD's

Question

I had my dell dimension for over a year now, and had no problems with until now. I have always used my DVD-RW to burn Cds and DVDs without a problem. LAst month I installed the dell firmware update for my dvd-RW drive which is sHL-DT-ST gwa4164b. When I have gone to burn a cd it wont happen, not recognising the blank cd. It will play a dvd and cd no problems. I tired to install a previous version of the firmware update to see if that was the problem and I no luck there. So any suggestions on how to get this working again?

Predator · Answer

Hi Stu,Unfortuantely this drive has not faired well and you seem to have the classic problem we have seen.Since you have tried the firmware, lets run a couple of standard steps to give you clean/fresh drivers and Clear the NVRAM.Please click on the CD/rW link in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 1; Section 20, article 3; Section 11, article 2.If none of the above helps, run the Dell diagnostic on the drive, same CD/RW link, Section 12, article 3, steps 2 or 3.If you receive any error messages, and under warranty, contact Dell and give them the code messages.If out of warranty, consider picking up a new drive at any local store or on-line at New Egg.They run less than $40, NEC, Lite-on, Pioneer to name a few....Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

WellHackedOff · Answer

Hi   I appear to be having the same problems as Stu. I have the GWA4164B CD/DVD Writer and I have been able to write CDs in the past, but now it just keeps telling me to insert a blank CD and when I do it doesn't recognise it and then locks up so I can't eject the CD. I then have to reboot.   I have a 3 year warranty and I have spent over an hour today on the phone to Dell support. The support person was very helpful, took over control of my PC and encountered all the same problems I've been having. He tried reinstalling the drivers (at least I think that's what he was doing) and this had no effect.   He is now suggesting that he does a restore back to the day I purchased the Dell. That was over a year ago and apparently I would lose all my files and all the comercially purchased software I have installed. I know I can back up my data and reinstall all the software, but I remember having all kinds of problems getting my broadband and email working satisfactorily in the first place. Hours on the phone to NTL (now VirginMedia) support person at 25p per minute - no thank you.   As far as I can see my only options are to:   Buy a new CD/DVD Writer which may or may not fix the problem or   Let Dell restore my computer to day 1 leaving me with days of work to get everything working properly again while my other half moans at me because it's vital he can read his e-mithers. And can I guarantee this will work anyway?   Any advice gratefully accepted.   BR

Predator · Answer

Hi BR,If you run the Dell diagnostic on the drive and it does list code errors; these can be used to justify replacing the drive without having to reinstall the OS.Did the Tech ask you to run the test?Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Predator · Answer

Hi BR,Here is the steps for running it from your hard drive, you did not mention which system so I just used the E520 as a reference.Dell DiagnosticIf for some reason you cannot, you can try using the Resource CD; click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 12, article 3 for the instructions.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

WellHackedOff · Answer

Hi   Thanks for replying. No, I wasn't asked to run any diagnostic tests. If you can tell me what to do or point me to the instructions I will try that next.   BR

stu77 · Answer

I tried all the above solutions, even talked to dell tech support, who went through all the troublehsooting with him, including diagnostic etc. In the end he said it wasnt hardware but software related...........I have tried doing a Xp system restore, but I think my system restore files have become corrupt as it wont restore back to anytime.   This is very strange and I am with BR, dont feel like doing doing a complete re-install.   I tried burning a dvd last night and it worked, but still unable to burn a CD.   Stu

WellHackedOff · Answer

Hi again   I think I have isolated my problem as a hardware fault. I tried the diagnostics but this didn't find any errors. However my brother has a Dimension 9100 (mine is a Dimension 9150) and we took the NEC CD writer out of his computer and put it in mine and it worked fine.   I will phone Dell support and ask for a new CD writer. I assume I should request a different model to the GWA4164B as I see from other threads on these forums that a replacement of the same model can end up with the same problems again.   Many thanks for all the help.   BR

Predator · Answer

Hi Stu & BR,You both have the classic issue with this drive which requires the drive to be replced under warranty. This is normalling not in my character but I would tell the Tech the darn thing stopped working period and ask what is the name/model of the drive you are going to replace it with !!No way would I reinstall the OS over this issue, but I guess that is easy for me say but I have been on this forum since the very first DellTalk, back May of 1998, one of the worst drives yet. Usually we can find a hack that converts the drive or actually fixes it but even the famous Danagerous Brothers does not have a working one yet.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Storage, Drives & Media

DVD-RW not burning CD's

Was this post helpful?