CD Burning oddity in XP

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

OK folks here's one for you. It has me completely stumped.

If I attempt to burn a data CD using Windows Explorer I get a message that tells me that there is no media in the drive. I know there is because I put it in there. Trying a different disc yields the same result. However....

If I attempt to burn a CD using ImgBurn everything works smoothly. The disc verifies fine and all the files are readable. This leads me to believe that the drive is functioning as intended and the problem lies in XP.

I checked the drive properties and there is indeed a check in the box labeled "Enable CD recording on this drive." Before anyone suggests "Did you change anything lately?" keep in mind that it would be difficult for me to track that down because I rarely burn discs on this computer. A change from two months ago could have caused it. A change from last week could have caused it. In fact the only time I used the drive in the past two months was to burn an ISO image to a DVD two weeks ago. For that I didn't use Windows Explorer because we all know that it can't do that task.

Any suggestions?

System specs:
Mobo: Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3800+
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
Optical Drive: Pioneer DVR-111D
Graphics: eVGA Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT
RAM: 2GB DDR2 Corsair CM2X1024-6400

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but, why would you even try to burn a CD from Windows?
With great programs like "ImgBurn" and other FREE programs, so readily available, trying to burn a CD using Windows is redundant.

I have and use ImgBurn, (I love it for its pure simplicity) but I also have the #1 burning software, NERO.

I have shut off all the apps in Windows that allow it to burn a CD. I wouldn't trust it any further than I could throw my car.

So just stick with what works and forget the rest.

Doc Cool

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

For one who usually advocates simplicity and suggests using the tools at hand that really doesn't help. I don't know about you but I would like XP to do what it is supposed to do and what it was doing a few months ago.

Why would I even try to burn a CD from Windows? For one, with XP I can easily drag and drop files from any amount of folders. With ImgBurn I would have to browse for the file then add it. It seems like there would be numerous extra mouse movements and clicks. In addition, it's already installed.

goretsky · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:32 am Post subject:

Hello,

Like DrWho07, I'm inclined to use a program such as Lightning UK's ImgBurn or Canneverbe Ltd.'s CDBurnerXP to create CD-R and DVD±R discs, however, you might want to try some of the steps mentioned in Microsoft Knowledgebase Article #31460, "You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD recording program in Windows XP: 'error code 31'." Even though the problem you are experiencing is different than what is described in the article, removing the registry entries in the article often solves a variety of problems related to optical disc drives under Microsoft Windows.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

Goretsky,

Thank you for your positive response. As instructed, I removed the registry keys, rebooted and tested a CD. All is well.

Now I'm curious as to what would have caused it. I don't believe I uninstalled any CD burning software. I could access the drive in Windows Explorer. I wasn't getting any of the error codes. All I was getting was a window telling me that there was no media in the drive. Oh, well. It works now and I'll probably never find out what caused it.

Again, I thank you.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

After reading hundreds of complaints from other posters about Windows CD burning failures, I just won't trust it.
You just posted this thread because Windows had let you down. I rest my case.

But use whatever works best for you.

Ask Windows to copy that DVD Movie for you..... Rolling Eyes

I'm very glad you got it fixed!

Doc Cool