28 replies to this topic

[Reagon]

Final try...will turn off all other programs including antivirus and fire wall. Then Ill try a cd followed by a cdrw then dvd and dvdrw. Wish me luck.

[ogdens]

Reagon, on 02 March 2011 - 12:06 PM, said:

Final try...will turn off all other programs including antivirus and fire wall. Then Ill try a cd followed by a cdrw then dvd and dvdrw. Wish me luck.

Just try the RW's, you can re- use them.

[Reagon]

Ok...some progress as I suspected. My built in laptop dvd writer burns to both dvdrw (Packard Bell media)and cdrw (TDK disc). I just cant get the new external dvd writer to burn on either of these. I delieve that its Sonic DLA (drive letter access) that's the issue and in both instances when it burnt data, the drive was in DLA mode. Strange thing started happening though. One or both drives started disappearing from view in My Computer window and both still recognisable by Sonic. Furthermore, the recording tabs kept disappearing at will and reappeared at will but had to restart a couple of times. Checked the Registry and both drives are able to write, i.e. "2". I assume that I am unable to use the external writer as Windows only allows one writer to be present at any time. I will have to try and disable/uninstall the inbuilt writer to see if the external one will work. I'll be back. BTW didn't have to stop any antivirus etc.

Edited by Reagon, 02 March 2011 - 03:39 PM.

[ogdens]

Reagon, on 02 March 2011 - 02:47 PM, said:

Ok...some progress as I suspected. My built in laptop dvd writer burns to both dvdrw (Packard Bell media)and cdrw (TDK disc). I just cant get the new external dvd writer to burn on either of these. I delieve that its Sonic DLA (drive letter access) that's the issue and in both instances when it burnt data, the drive was in DLA mode. Strange thing started happening though. One or both drives started disappearing from view in My Computer window and both still recognisable by Sonic. Furthermore, the recording tabs kept disappearing at will and reappeared at will but had to restart a couple of times. Checked the Registry and both drives are able to write, i.e. "2". I assume that I am unable to use the external writer as Windows only allows one writer to be present at any time. I will have to try and disable/uninstall the inbuilt writer to see if the external one will work. I'll be back. BTW didn't have to stop any antivirus etc.

If you feel so strongly its the Sonic DLA  thats causing your problem, uninstall it, as DLA is a separate writing system.

Edited by ogdens, 02 March 2011 - 03:51 PM.

[Reagon]

That was my next step although I tried it before and it didn't help. Still don't know why the external DVD writer will not work. Will try on Win 98 laptop providing it doesn't crash. The other option that should work is to disable DLA on the drive properties to write CDR/DVD+R. Will let you know.

[ogdens]

Reagon, on 03 March 2011 - 11:33 AM, said:

That was my next step although I tried it before and it didn't help. Still don't know why the external DVD writer will not work. Will try on Win 98 laptop providing it doesn't crash. The other option that should work is to disable DLA on the drive properties to write CDR/DVD+R. Will let you know.

Don't get DLA mixed up with DMA.

Re-read post #19.

Edited by ogdens, 03 March 2011 - 01:28 PM.

[Reagon]

OK...I was never confused about DLA and DMA.

Some success this morning. I eventually removed Sonic DLA and still couldn't burn CDR or DVD+R. I then uninstalled Sonic Record Now and Sonic Endoders and tried to burn with Windows but no luck. I then installed the Nero StartSmart Essentials (and In CD 6)that came with the External writer. Lo and behold I can now write to Memorex DVD+R using the external Samsung DVD writer...and the DVD can be played on my laptop, ASDA DVD player (very cheap), Technika TV/DVD but not on Samsung blu-ray player (with latest firmware upgrade).

Soon afterwards then Windows started playing up. It began automatically switching my External writer to the source drive and my laptop drive to the burner and despite disabling cd writing on the laptop drive the recording tab doesn't want to reappear on the external writer. It seems like a combined effort between Windows and Sonic to limit pc users to a certain amount of cd/dvd writing. I may be wrong but, why doesn't Windows or Sonic solve this common issue. Maybe if everyone continued to use working older writing software, they wouldn't have to buy new ones. Could it be that the reason that Sonic came pre-installed with windows is that a deal was struck between these 2 parties to limit the the amount of time that individuals can use their software for free.

[ogdens]

Reagon, on 05 March 2011 - 05:34 AM, said:

OK...I was never confused about DLA and DMA.

Some success this morning. I eventually removed Sonic DLA and still couldn't burn CDR or DVD+R. I then uninstalled Sonic Record Now and Sonic Endoders and tried to burn with Windows but no luck. I then installed the Nero StartSmart Essentials (and In CD 6)that came with the External writer. Lo and behold I can now write to Memorex DVD+R using the external Samsung DVD writer...and the DVD can be played on my laptop, ASDA DVD player (very cheap), Technika TV/DVD but not on Samsung blu-ray player (with latest firmware upgrade).

Soon afterwards then Windows started playing up. It began automatically switching my External writer to the source drive and my laptop drive to the burner and despite disabling cd writing on the laptop drive the recording tab doesn't want to reappear on the external writer. It seems like a combined effort between Windows and Sonic to limit pc users to a certain amount of cd/dvd writing. I may be wrong but, why doesn't Windows or Sonic solve this common issue. Maybe if everyone continued to use working older writing software, they wouldn't have to buy new ones. Could it be that the reason that Sonic came pre-installed with windows is that a deal was struck between these 2 parties to limit the the amount of time that individuals can use their software for free.

A couple of things that don't help your situation:

You cannot have two packet writing application on your computer at the same time. For example,Roxio's DLA and Nero's InCd.   These are programs where you format the disc and drag files to a icon  so that you can burn them to a disc.  If you have more than one, they  have a conflict and can screw up your operation.

If you are using any version of IE above 6 and WMP above version 9 you will have problems with your Sonic software.

If it was me I would un-install both Nero & Roxio (use this  its free http://www.revounins...load.html  in the Moderate mode), and then get your  burners working correctly.

Edited by ogdens, 05 March 2011 - 08:19 AM.

[Reagon]

OK fine but I managed to burn a single DVD+R disc with the configuration above and then nothing. I know all too well that if there are 2 CD/DVD writers, that windows will automatically only allow one to write at a time and so the recording tab will disappear from the external drive. This does happen but why does the recording tab not reappear when I uninstall one drive. The registry says that it is a type "2" drive, i.e. recorder but there is no tab visible. I restart an it reappears. I then uninstall the built in writer and enable cd writing on the now appeared recording tab. Double check on the Registry that the drive is a recordable one then start Nero. The burning process starts then in the dialogue screen it says that the device is not available. I then check the drive properties and it has lost its recording tab. All this with one dvd writer installed.

I don't understand why I was able to burn a single DVD+R when both Nero and InCD were installed and suddenly stop being able to. It makes no sense.

BTW why didn't you suggest to use windows to uninstall InCD?

It seems to me that all these software companies(Microsoft, Roxio and Nero) all want us to spend money to buy upgrades all the time and provide little sensible support.