Hi Windsurfer,

This may not be your issue, however the media you are using tends to cause the most problms, Memorex does not receive good review. I would try a different brand first. If that does not work, Dell I believe has updates for the Sonic software from the Drivers & Downloads link on the left side of this page that has helped some.


Merry Christmas !

---

CD/RW Link

The same problems are encountered when using FujiFilm DVD-R discs that are supposed to be compatible with 16X drives and recorders.

Not really sure what programs come in that OEM bundle…

I think the one you need to launch will be RecordNow. You want to set it for a Data project before you attempt to add any files.

Then add the files and under the 'Wrench' icon, set it to Read Only. This should produce a Data DVD that is readable by nearly all PCs.

Since posting the last message, I've discovered that my Dimension E510 computer came with the DELL Edition of Roxio Creator LE, and it has a tool for writing data to a DVD in a "packet data" format. It works with DVD -R discs but, even after running the Roxio/Sonic tool, "make compatible," the resulting data disc cannot be read by my other computers even though those machines can play video discs. I've not yet had an opportunity to check if the disc created by the Roxio software can be read by another machine with a DVD-RW drive, but without the Roxio / Sonic software.

Ultimately, I hoped to be able to save QuickTime files to a DVD CD for playback on my lap top.

DLA is a packet writer. Like all packet writers, it is probably the least reliable form of burning ever devised… Unless you really know what you are doing, you will better served by going to Add/Remove Programs and removing DLA.

Then try what I suggested with RecordNow.

Packet writing may be unreliable, but right now it is the only way I have to write DATA to a 4.7 GByte CD. I have yet to find a "RecordNow" option. The closest I come is the "write these files to a CD" option in Windows Explorer.

Ponder the following:

With no disc in the drive, Windows explorer displays ICON with
DVD-RW Drive(E) label.

If I put a blank DVD disc into the drive, the label changes to
CD Drive(E)

If I inquire as to the "properties" of the blank DVD CD, it shows it a full.

If I try to paste files to the blank DVD into the "CD Drive(E)" folder, I get the message,"Windows encountered problem when trying to copy file."

If I remove blank 4.7 GB DVD disc and place a blanck 800 MByte CD disc into the drive,
and inquire as to the "properties" of the blank CD, it shows that I've got an 800 MByte empty CD in the drive.

After pasting files into the CD Drive(E) directory, a right click brings up the option, "write these files to a CD" and I know from experience, it will write about 700 MByte files to the 800 MByte CD.

Since my last post, I have found that data written using a Maxtor DVD drive on my old computer to a DVD disc can be read using the DVD drive on my DELL computer. Those Maxtor DVD generated discs and well as the DELL generated DVD discs are not recognized by my IBM brand computer with a move conventional CD drive, even though that computer will play videos.

It is frustrating to have to use a trial and error methods to find out what works and doesn't work. I've been looking for a book or website that discusses these issues without success. As a person with engineering training, I like to understand what is going on, and so I'd like to understand the difference between the 800 Mbye and 4.7 GB recording processes.

Bottom line... I haven't found any software with a "Record Now" option other than the Red "Record" button on the Roxio Creater software. Suggestions for how to better understand what is going on would be welcome.

Message Edited by windsurferLA on 12-25-200603:27 PM

Message Edited by windsurferLA on 12-25-200603:29 PM

Message Edited by windsurferLA on 12-25-200603:30 PM

XP has no ability to write to any DVD media! So it is normal for it to respond as you are seeing.

I have not seen anything detailing what the OEM "Roxio Creator" consists of, so you are going to have to help me.

There should be something regarding DATA. Click it!

Once it opens click on Help – About and tell me the name of the program and its' version number.

While you have it open, click on Help and read the instructions under Contents.

You seem to be new to burning, and that is OK because we all had to start at one time… He is the first thing you have to understand. The only similarity between Magnet media and Optical media is that both are round!

So anything you know about handling files with magnetic media is useless when dealing with optical media!

I have the same problem, exactly as you've described, only I don't use Roxio. I deleted it off the computer because there are much better programs available.

 

At the moment the only writing software i have is MagicISO CD&DVD Burner.

If I put a blank DVD in it tells me the disk is full and it can't write. If I put in a DVDRW it tells me the disk has data, I press erase, it shows up as having erased the disk, tells me it's ready to write but the 'Burn It' button is grey and it won't let me press it.

 

Anyhow, the first thing to figure out is whether it's a software or hardware problem. If it's software it's obviously a driver as it happens both with Windows and with third party software.

If it's a hardware problem it's more than likely the laser(Wouldn't it need a different laser for burning DVDs than for burning CDs?). If it's the laser it's time to buy a new drive.

Hi, Fits:

It would have been better to start a new thread, rather than resurrect a two year old thread, but anyhoo.......

Please grab DVD Identifier, link in my sig, and see if that utility is able to read the media code of a blank DVD in your drive.

While a lot of DVD burning geeks love Ritek, they're classified as second-rate according to the DVD Media quality guide. If you really need RW discs, I recommend Maxell or Verbatim.

Now that we've established your drive is functioning properly, can you give me a few more details about your system, the drive, your OS, and what type of disc you're trying to write?