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General discussion

DVD discs not recognised

Oct 26, 2006 8:56PM PDT

Hi, i'm currently having a problem with my laptop not recognising blank DVD discs. I'm using the same discs as i always do and up to this point have had no trouble. When i insert a blank dvd disc i get the usual pop up box askin me what i want to open the blank disc with however, when i open the programme, whether it be nero or intervideo (or others) as soon as i get to the burn bit it is telling me to insert a blank disc even though i know the one inserted is blank.
Any help would be appreciated thx.

p.s, no problems with blank cdr.

Discussion is locked

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Edit
Oct 26, 2006 9:00PM PDT

I forgot to mention, DVD's with films, data music on etc open and work fine.

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"my laptop not recognising blank DVD discs."
Oct 26, 2006 10:36PM PDT

This is not a feature supported by Windows XP and prior versions. If this did work then some other software was added and has failed. The usual fix is to uninstall and reinstall that software.

Bob

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Burning software
Oct 26, 2006 11:18PM PDT

I have installed and uninstalled various burning software over the past few months, the question is which one is causing the problem. At the moment i only have the software on that was prinstalled on the laptop and it still doesnt recognise them. I believe that it must be a rogue entry in the registry left by one of the softs that i un-installed. i've run registry cleaners but it doesnt seem to have cured the problem.

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That's correct.
Oct 27, 2006 3:57AM PDT

As we install and remove CD/DVD recording software you may indeed break this feature. It's not a big loss since we can still run our software and record. It just doesn't launch automatically.

-> I can't comment furthere since you didn't reveal the software title that provided the feature. I can write that it's not a Windows feature.

Bob

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confused
Oct 27, 2006 6:53AM PDT

The software DOES launch when i put a disc in, the problem is that when it gets to the burn part it is saying that there is no blank disc inserted.
I've since reset the laptop back to factory standard, not because of this problem, I usually do it every six months anyway and the problem persists. This leads me to believe that I have bought a bad batch of discs.

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That's something you didn't tell and a good clue.
Oct 27, 2006 7:07AM PDT

Try media from a batch that worked.

Bob

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Hindsight
Oct 27, 2006 7:18AM PDT

Isn't hindsight a wonderful tool. The thing is bob, when you buy a spool of 25 discs you dont expect all of them to be faulty do you? So to say try a good batch is neither helpful or respectful. I noticed one of your earlier replies to someone who was having problems with a usb pen and you told him to use the one that did not fail, again pretty useless information. as a moderator you probably get a bit sick of non techies coming on with problems like this, but then you did choose to be a moderator and as such you should respect your members or leave it for others to reply.

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Foresight.
Oct 27, 2006 7:33AM PDT

I have a very thick skin. I can understand why you may lash out but I need every clue to narrow down what it might be. If you ran out of media that works that's added clues and points to possible media issues.

I'll take your whipping in stride and hope you read my other post about a possible test and possible cures.

Bob

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Apology
Oct 27, 2006 7:46AM PDT

Please accept my apology. It just seems that there are too many forums out there where so called moderators and helpers revel in belittling people with problems rather than helping them, and the first couple of replies i received seemed to be also going down that road. I do realise now that you do want to help and i was completely wrong. Once again, sorry.

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No problem.
Oct 27, 2006 9:47AM PDT

I understand the stress when things aren't working out. Let's hope that other post where I recap and toss out a few ideas pays off.

If you can, tell me the exact make/model of the DVD recorder and firmware (don't fret if you can't get the firmware version) and I'll look to see if there are more clues or updated firmware.

Bob

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A test. With software that won't much up a machine.
Oct 27, 2006 7:30AM PDT
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/screenshots.php

The third from the left is the Media information screen. It would be interesting to see if CDBURNERXP can "read" if that's a blank DVD or not.

Causes for non-recognition of media are...

1. Media.
2. Dust on the CD/DVD lens. (hint: CD/DVD lens cleaner.)
3. An aging drive. Fix? replace it.
4. New media that the drive doesn't work with. Possible fix? New firmware for the drive. If not, replace the drive or use media that it likes.

Thanks for more clues I think we're getting close to the cause and maybe a cure.

Bob
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Tests
Oct 29, 2006 4:06AM PST

Ok, i've tried new media, both dvd-r and dvd+r. dvd-r not recognised,it was previously. The dvd+r gets so far then i get a error saying:

'A flaw exists in the Power calibration area (104Cool. Error Sense Data: SENSE KEY: 3'

Looking at some forums it suggests that my burner might be on its way out, as I only bought the laptop new in April this year then I find that hard to believe. My burner is a MATSHITA UJ-840D and its firmware is version 1.0. Again from further investigation, Panasonic who make these drives are no longer making firmware upgrades unless you own a Sony model laptop. There is supposed to be an uprade for sony that works with mine, but tried it and it doesnt.

Not tried the lens cleaner yet, but as it is reading film discs ok then i suspect that that is not a problem.

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How did CDBURNERXP fare?
Oct 29, 2006 4:23AM PST

I'm sorry you didn't clean the lens. Take no offense when I write "your choice" but at this point the drive is partially dead. I always try this since I've saved a few. But you know better.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40930 notes a newer version of firmware but every detail seems to have me asking you for more details.

How about a full disclosure post? That is, make, model of laptop, OS and all that?

-> The newer firmware is a great idea and hope but you've slowed me down from pointing to what I'd use or where.

No offense meant here. Just wish you'd tell all.

Bob

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Full Disclosure
Oct 29, 2006 5:35AM PST

The new firmware is only for sony laptops.
i'm using an
Advent 7086 with
XP home edition SP2. It has
512mb of memory.
1.4ghz intel celeron M processor.

CDBURNERXP sees the discs as blank, but when i try to burn with it gives me all sorts of error messages, the last one being "The current track mode is incompatible with the disc format" This was while i was trying to burn a data disc using a CDR, which also seems to be affected now. I also cant copy discs using windows explorer I get 'windows encountered a problem when trying to copy this folder'
Hope this infp helps, sorry for not posting all this before. I will clean the lens as soon as i can get to a shop and buy one.

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Thanks. That helped me see the picture.
Oct 29, 2006 6:57AM PST

This means that it's not a ''recognition'' problem but the usual diming of the laser as it ages. I'd still clean the lens since any smudge could cause a write problem and it would still read fine. Same story for writing to other media.

-> One trick to get some extra life out of an old drive is to drop the write speed. I've eeked out another year by this trick. But it started to get real picky with media and then others complained the results were not readable in some drives.

This discussion is similar to yours. You'll find many like it across the web. The drive gets old and the owner loses media as coaster after coaster is made. Sometimes the owner gives up and puts in a new drive.

At least it's cheaper than a new laptop.

Let's see if we can find non-Sony firmware.
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?p=174071&sid=4ab017770c29feaf56fc9a17c40ead49

Nope.

If Advent won't supply it, it's time to get a new drive.

Bob

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Update
Oct 29, 2006 7:04PM PST

Hi Bob, Thx for that. I'm gonna be very unhappy if it is an age problem, the laptop is only 6 months old and i've probably only burned about 30 discs since buying it. I'll check out the other discussion.

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Re-Update
Oct 29, 2006 7:08PM PST

I forgot to mention, last night i managed to burn a system recovery disc (iso) using 'NTI cd and dvd maker'and a DVD+R disc that this software spat out earlier in the day,at 68% while trying to burn a film.

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Recipe:
Oct 29, 2006 7:19PM PST

1. Lens cleaning.
2. Other make of CD/DVD's. No need to buy a package of 25, of course.
3. If the above 2 fail, and the machine is 6 months old, use your warranty and get a free new burner installed.

Kees

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Thx Kees
Oct 29, 2006 8:05PM PST

I've tried the other discs, i'm gonna try the lens cleaner as soon as i can then its back to the shop if no joy.