Please Direct Me To The Correct Forum For My Problem

[rabbit49]

I can no longer view any of the photos on my cd r's. I recently got some dvd rw's and in the process of trying to burn photos onto one of those dvd's, I must have changed something because now I can't view any photos on my cd's. I don't have a clue as to what I did to change things. All I know is I'm panicked because I have thousands of family pictures on cds that I can't view now. HELP! And I need very basic talk because I am so lost with all this cd/dvd stuff. I don't understand the difference between them, what they do, what they are, and I certainly don't understand how I messed things up or how to fix my problem.

 

Any help would surely be welcomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. rabbit

[rabbit49]

 

I'll try to answer your question Brendon. The program I'm using to burn photos onto cds/dvd's is Sonic Solutions, Roxio. When I open it up, it says "Roxio Creator LE Dell Edition" across the top. It is version 2.0.4 if that helps. I used to just click on "data" on the left hand side, then click on the down arrow and chose "direct to disc" option. All I had to do then is click on the "add data" at the top of the page and find where I was getting my pictures from (memory stick from my camera) and then click on burn, or something like that at the bottom. I never had any problems burning photos on my cd r's. As for if they are jpg etc, I have NO clue. I warned you I was pretty basic with this stuff. When I wanted to view what was on my cd's, I put it in the computer and a window would pop up as to how I wanted to view the contents. I think I chose to open up in windows explorer but don't hold me to that. What ever it was that I clicked on, the pictures would pop up on the screen. Now nothing happens when I put in a cd. When I right click on the drive D with the cd in it, it says that the cd is full so I KNOW my pictures are still on there. What happened???? This is probably a totally retarded question but could it have any thing to do with the new internet security that I downloaded recently for my computer? Just wondering if THAT could be where my problem is. Any way, I DO appreciate any suggestions. I have tried for days to figure out what went wrong but I'm LOST!!!! Thanks for your help! rabbit

 

 

 

[Brendon]

Hi Rabbit,

 

I hooked the big quote out of your post since it wasn't needed. Hope you don't mind.

 

I've never been able to get hold of a copy of Creator LE Dell Edition, so I don't know what it has in it. That's why we're stumbling round in the dark here. The 'full' editions have two totally different systems of making discs. but I don't know if the Light Editions [LE] have both methods.

 

Tell me please:

(1) Did you have to format the disc before you could write files onto it ?

(2) Does your desktop have an icon which looks like this on it, probably down the bottom right corner ??

(3) does this system you are using get you to select a bunch of files and then click on a Burn button, or does it burn each file immediately once you select it ?

(4) what happens if you open My Computer and double-click on a photo disc in your CD drive, instead of right-clicking on it ?? Can you Open or Explore the disc?

 

Regards,

Brendon

[rabbit49]

 

I'll try to answer the best I can.

1) I did have to format the cd's before I could use them

2) no icon at all

3)Yes, I would highlight all the photos on my memory stick and click the "burn" button

4) when I double click on the D drive with my cd in it, the computer light comes on briefly at the start, the computer makes a humming noise like it's trying to read the cd, a window comes up and it says "0 objects" on the bottom left corner. Nothing shows on the screen.

 

Since I was always able to view these cds until recently, are we looking in the wrong place, ie Roxio, for the problem? Is there something I have accidently checked/unchecked on my computer for viewing cd's that could be the problem? When I see my daughter this weekend, I'm going to send one of these cd's home with her and see if she can view the pictures on her computer. Maybe that would narrow our search down if she can on her computer and I can't on mine. What are your thoughts. I'm always nervous doing these types of forums because you all know so much more than I and it's intimidating. I'm really trying to help YOU help ME so I appreciate your being so patient. Thanks. Rabbit aka Linda

[Brendon]

Hi Linda,

 

Probably better if you don't try to quote my post unless you need to - it gets a bit confusing trying to separate what you say from what I said Please don't be intimidated by others knowing more than you - that's why you're encouraged to come here. Now I'll try to explain your problem for you from your answers to the questions.

 

(1) and (2) Darn! It probably means your system was using Sonic DLA [Drive Letter Access]

(3) Inconclusive, but certainly doesn't rule out DLA

(4) very likely to involve DLA.

 

Okay, firstly be assured that this hasn't changed all the "thousands of family pictures on cds" that you have. It just means that we have to get your system back into a state where it can read the discs. It is good that they're on CD-R discs, because that means that they're written PERMANENTLY onto disc and can't be overwritten. RW discs can easily be formatted, erased, or overwritten, and when that happens all your photos have gone. That's why RW discs are perfect for testing and short-term use, but no good for archiving material.

 

Just briefly and really oversimplified, there are two main systems for writing optical discs:

(1) you format the disc in a special proprietary way, and then write files onto it through Windows Explorer. The disc is non-standard, and you usually need a special reader to read it afterwards. This is called packet-writing, and is the system Sonic DLA uses.

(2) you write to an unformatted disc with a program that gets all your files assembled into a 'session' and then writes them to make a standard ROM disc which can be read on any Windows machine without the need for a special reader. This is called authoring or sometimes mastering and although it's not as convenient as using DLA, it's much more reliable and universal.

 

Usually Windows has a 'UDF reader' which will read your packet-written discs, and the Sonic system will either have its own reader or else use the Windows one. Something seems to have broken this reader. I don't know what did it, but it could have been broken by your new Internet Security.

 

If this is what has happened, we want to try and restore the reader for you. If that fails, all is not lost because we should be able to recover the files off the discs with recovery software. With luck though, restoring the reader will be your best option because it will make them all readable for you once more.

 

You might still want to send a disc off with your daughter to see if she can view the files on her machine. If she can, well you have an immediate copy of your pictures available to you. If she can't, it indicates to you that you really need to get your system going properly and then transfer all your photos onto standard format discs so anyone can view/copy them without needing special software. Good thing you discovered this now, and not years and thousands of files later. [i really wish the manufacturers would explain this stuff properly to the consumers so they can make proper decisions at the start. Manuals seem to be written by Geeks for Dweebs, instead of by real people who know for real people who don't know yet.]

 

I'm going to need to go find and install something with Sonic DLA on my system so I can get an idea where you should look, or what you should look at to fix this. This will be done in installments I'm sorry, since I have a family and a life [of sorts] as well. In the meantime, can you tell me what Operating System you're using and if you can go to the Home screen of the Sonic software and see what else you can find about version number or the names of programs there, please?

 

Regards,

Brendon

[REDWAGON]

I can no longer view any of the photos on my cd r's. I recently got some dvd rw's and in the process of trying to burn photos onto one of those dvd's, I must have changed something because now I can't view any photos on my cd's. I don't have a clue as to what I did to change things. All I know is I'm panicked because I have thousands of family pictures on cds that I can't view now. HELP! And I need very basic talk because I am so lost with all this cd/dvd stuff. I don't understand the difference between them, what they do, what they are, and I certainly don't understand how I messed things up or how to fix my problem.

 

Any help would surely be welcomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. rabbit

 

Not sure what Roxio program you are running Rabbit49, but if it's any of the following---EMC 8, 9, 10 or Roxio's newest Creator 2009, I suggest that you open up "Creator classic and add all you photos to your burn and then burn the disc as a "Data Disc". Also, you can burn to CD-R (700MB max.) or DVD+-R (4.7GB) discs, but remember to make sure you change the size you are burning to. (Will find that option near the bottom of the screen).

 

As far as what forum listing to post to: The "General forum will always work. But probably best to post to the section that is the Roxio program version you are running, and then under "general" based on your problem. Hope that helps

 

Frank...

[rabbit49]

Brendon, I don't know if I did this right but I just hit the "add reply" button at the bottom. Seems like each forum has different particulars in how to post. Sorry for the earlier confusion.

 

Late last night, I tried out the cd in our laptop which had to be dusted off and taken out of storage. We never use it. Anyway, I was able to see all my pictures on it. I tried it again in this computer and still couldn't see the pictures. So at least I know I didn't lose all of them. I was a bit panicky with that thought.

 

I am writing this in haste because I will be going out soon so I'll try to hit the high points of what you asked. I am using Microsoft Windows XP (it says Professional) version 5.1.2600 but when I click on my computer, it says Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition, version 5.1.

 

In the Roxio window, it says:

Module Name: Roxio Creator LE Dell Edition

Build: 2.4.32a

Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2005

 

Module Name: PX Engine

Build: 4.2.48a, 16

Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2004

 

Module Name: Roxio RecordNow Audio

Version: 2.0.4

Build: 204B28I, RCB

Copyright: Sonic Solutions 2004

 

It has Audio, Backup, Copy, Data, and Tools to click on the left side of the window. Under each of those, there are subcatagories.

 

Don't worry about doing this in installments.... I just appreciate ANY help you can offer at ANY time! Since I can't see your post when I reply this way, I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting to answer for you, but I'm in a crunch for time and want to get this info sent to you while I can.

 

You are super to stick with me this long and try to help! I can't thank you enough for spending all this time for a stranger. Whenever you get around to it, that will be fine...take care of the family etc. FIRST! Thanks again! Linda

[Brendon]

Rabbit49,

 

 

 

Since you say the photos are on CD-Rs, they won't be going anywhere. What we need to do is get your system back into shape so you can read them again.

 

What software suite are you using [name and number], and how did you make the CD-Rs full of photos which you now can't view?

 

Whay type of photo files are they, do you know? .JPG, .BMP ??

 

How did you view them in the past, and can you still view similar files which are on your hard drive?

 

Regards,

Brendon