Try installing and running AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com and see if that may help. Sometimes you find people have installed something that conflicts with existing software, removing the newly installed software, or cleaning up with the system with something like AdAware can fix it.
If that doesn't work you can try rolling back the system with the system restore utility found in Accessories/System tools, you would have to roll back to when it worked, but that may fix it if removing software and running adaware doesn't do it.
Win XP Home, 528 Meg RAM, AMD 2400+ processor, Sony DVD-ROM, Sony burner that won't work.
My Sony 52-24-52 CD burner (Purchased in November) was working. I could use XP burning utility or NTI CD burner, both worked. Last Monday it quit. It was recognized in Device Manager and Explorer. It would not read or write. I swapped controller plugs, no help. Installed an older HP drive and it worked. Called Sony last Monday, explained the problem. They sent me a new 52-32-52 drive, got it today.
Powered up after install, Windows installed new device, rebooted. Now the new drive will read, but not write. Recognized all over the system, but no write with either XP or NTI. NTI says "Unknown error", XP says the process failed. Tried different burning speeds, and tried both CDRW and CDR media. The same media used before the first drive failed. Swapped controller plugs (DVD to CDRW and back), no joy. Changed from CS to master/slave, no joy.
I cannot believe both drives have failed. Is there something in XP that would prevent burning?

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