CD-RW Issues

Question

I've got a new 8300 with a CD burner. I have no trouble working with CD-R media--music or data, but the drive won't recognize or use new CD-RW discs. DirectCD just reports that the disc(s) are unwritable and won't even give the option to format. I've formatted a CD-RW on another machine, but it won't use these either. It will, however, read data on a CD-RW disc that was created on another machine. The only CD-RW media I've tried is PNY (too cheap?), but my other computer works with it fine with the same software.

I know WinXP has built-in CD burning capabilities; could there be conflicts causing this? I dumped the Sonic software before I tried it with CD-RWs and installed Roxio because I was more familar with it. (By the way, what do others think of the Sonic software?)

Any suggestions?

TedN77 · Answer

Others will tell you different, I however stick with brand names TDK, Fuji to be specific. Also Look up the CD-RW Write speed of the drive and make sure you use the correct CD-RW Disc which has the same write speed.

Beatrice57 · Answer

I think the Sonic software is horrible - it causes conflicts with the DirectCD "lite" version in Win XP, DLA (Sonic's packet writing software) works about 50% of the time - and that's no good for backing up my files. I'm going to switch to Roxio - just hope my drive is compatible with the Roxio software.

Just my 2 cents.

TedN77 · Answer

Your 2 cents is valid! I have an older computer that came with Roxio and love it. I have heard the same complaint about Sonic from other forum members.

RChris · Answer

OK, I'll try some higher quality media.

unwritable · Answer

Well I have had a dimension 4300 (W/XP) for over 2 yrs and have not needed to burn cds until recently.  I have found that my cd-rom recognizes and plays prerecorded audio but can not recognize blank cd's.   My Roxio software can not format the disk.  Other burned disks created with Roxio on other pcs also do not work. Any suggestions would be helpful.

TedN77 · Answer

I agree with Jim Hardin. I don't understand this stampede to use packet writing. Since year 2000 I have written in UDF format about 4 CDs. 2 are now bad, the other 2 are still ok. UDF packet writing is tricky. After formatting you will loose additional space each time you record. You are better off not Formatting a CD Disk, and using a blank un-formatted CD and recording in the data mode of your software. After all, blank CDs on sale are 30 to 50 cents a disc. Never-the-less I encourage you to go to the Software vendor website and download any updates available.

Message Edited by TedN77 on 01-21-2004 06:44 PM

Jim Hardin · Answer

FYI: DCD and DLA are packet writers. You can only have one packet writer on any PC!!! No packet writer is reliable, or at least media used in that capacity. It is about as stable as a floppy disk.

Beatrice57 · Answer

The backup software I use, SecondCopy, and many others, I think, use packet writing - what's a good alternative?

RChris · Answer

I agree, I don't want to use packet writing.  But can't I use a CD-RW disc like a CD-R only erase and reuse?   I can't seem to get that going on this new computer.

Storage, Drives & Media

CD-RW Issues

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