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General discussion

CD Drive won't recognize blank CDs

Sep 15, 2006 9:53AM PDT

I have 2 computers with the same problem. Neither will recognize a blank cd or DVD in the DVD-RW drives. When I go to My Computer and click on the drive, it either tells me to insert a CD or that the drive is inaccessible/ incorrect function. This is a recent phenomenon.

Could this be a microsoft patch issue?

Discussion is locked

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Blank CDs not reconized.
Sep 15, 2006 1:07PM PDT
When I go to My Computer and click on the drive, it either tells me to insert a CD or that the drive is inaccessible/ incorrect function.

Have you infact, put in a blank CD ? Do the drives work otherwise ? Things to try:
?clean the headss.
?Update drivers and firmware.
?Reinstall the Drives.
?Try a different brand medium.
?Since this is a recent phenomenon, does System Restore roll back to when it works ?
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Any new software?
Oct 9, 2006 8:06AM PDT

I had the same problem with my cd- rom and cd-rw. Suddenly they stopped recognizing discs placed into them, after about 8 months of living with the problem I discovered what was causing it by accident. I for some reason had to reformat my hardrive and reinstall Windows. After, the cd-rom and cd-rw were working until I reinstalled the software for my IBM keyboard. I uninstalled the software and they worked again. I never dreamed that this is what was causing it. I'm forced to use the keyboard with the generic drivers, now I can't use any of the special buttons like the volume control. (I guess I should buy another keyboard)

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It shouldn't recongnize
Oct 9, 2006 8:09AM PDT

a blank CD/DVD unless you are inserting it to burn.


Rick

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Almost Right
Oct 9, 2006 9:23AM PDT

While explorer won't display the contents of the blank CD, because there isn't anything on it, the OS should see that you have inserted a blank and offer the correct dialog box with the choice of making (burning a CD or DVD) using Media Player and possibly other software that burns a CD/DVD that you may have installed.

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My XP and Windows 2000 doesn't do that.
Oct 9, 2006 9:27AM PDT

But on those machines I don't use the native tools for making CDs and Windows 2000 (natch) doesn't know what a CDRW drive is.

Bob

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Cannot recognize blank cd's seems popular
Jun 20, 2009 4:48PM PDT

I have done just about everything short of re formating, and I really dont want to do that. I have used diff brands of blank cd's, used diff drives, reset defaults on my burner, tried restore several times, deleted burner and bought a new version, checked drive set up... it seems to me a block is in my system somewhere. I can play cd's np, but blank cd's are not recognized.
If I have to reformat, I seemed to have misplaced the version of xp I got last year and will have to load the version that came with the pc, which is full of unwanted crap and I am not fond of the version, Media center edition.
I am wondering if that is the real problem, that the pc must use the version it came with? If so, I will reluntantly reload that version back. XP is so much friendlier and its the longest run of trouble free windows I ever had, too bad they dropped the ball on this one. Can anyone relate that they have done same..using a diff windows than what came with pc and having this issue? BTW...using the self troubleshooter is of no help on this at all.

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After fixing this too many times.
Jun 20, 2009 9:38PM PDT

Some thousand times by now my short list is.
1. The usual installed software. Remove that, disable XP's builtin recording and delete the upper+lower filters (see discussions!)
2. Swap in a new drive.

Given the near 100% cure rate the only parting comment is that owners are far too reluctant to put in the new drive for a test. They also don't want to remove recording software in fear they can't reinstall.

This behavior fuels the repair shops across the world. Maybe we shouldn't tell them?
Bob

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Tried & Tested (CD / DVD rom recognized Blank CD's)
Sep 19, 2012 6:35PM PDT

Hello,..
Just this moment,.I'd been try and test this ....CD/DVD rom for not recognizing blank CD's,..That's it,..after five months of searching,..seeking ,..(but not continuesly),..

My OS's ,.Window XP Professional SP3/32bit,.

I'm going to update first my Windows Media Player by clicking "setup_wm.exe" @ C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\setup_wm.exe,.(Maybe this is unnecessary)

Lets go!!!..

Step 1: Go to "My Computer"
Step 2: Right click the DVD-RAM Drive / CD Drive and click Properties.
Step 3: Choose "Hardware",.Each Disk Drives,.just click once,.its made highlight
Step 4: Click "Properties" side of Troubleshoot button
Step 5: Click "Policies" and Uncheck the button of "Enable write caching on the disk",..Then Hit OK
Step 6: So,.It's returned to "Properties",.Try to visit "Recording"
Step 7: For me,..in two buttons outhere,.i'd check't all,.Then Ok,.to exit,..
,.So,..
just reply if it's working or not to yah,...see ya,..Thanks

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CD drive won't recognise blank CDs
Aug 21, 2012 6:00AM PDT

This must be a Microsoft patch thing - if you go to My computer, and right click on the CD/DVD drive you'll see an option in the drop-down box that appears offering the option to enable drag to disc - click on that and the problem's fixed.