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General discussion

Error with a CD RW

by MzLee Aug 28, 2004 1:28AM PDT

I've burned data onto the CD. When now trying to open it, it's showing as audio. I've burned and opened this CD many times, and this morning is the first I've had this problem.
Has it become corrupted in some way and I've lost all my data? I've reviewed help about this, from my recorder and followed the instructions from error message, check ATAPI connection, check ATAPI Cable Master/Slave order.
Other CD's are opening fine, so it's only this one CD with the problem.

Thanks for your help,
Lee

Discussion is locked

11 Posts
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Re: Error with a CD RW
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 28, 2004 1:40AM PDT

Ready to go crazy? NO DEFINITIVE FIX IS KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE.

I solve it by tossing in a new CDRW and its cured, we move on. Some don't like that. I wish then well.

Read http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq04.html#S4-37 and weep.

Bob

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by MzLee Aug 28, 2004 7:25AM PDT

I was hoping this wasn't going to be the answer, but had guessed that's what it would be. As Grif suggested, I now know that I should make a backup from now on.

Lee

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Aug 28, 2004 3:26AM PDT

Lee,

Can you open "My Computer", RIGHT click on the CD-RW drive icon, choose "Explore", then view the files listed there? If so, copy them to your hard drive as soon as possible and make a new CD.

Did you burn the data to a "formatted" CD-RW disk using packet writing software such as InCD? If so, then they frequently will simply stop reading correctly and become corrupted. Sometimes, reformatting them will allow them to be re-used, sometimes not. I use formatted CD-RW disks to save and transport data but I ALWAYS have backups of the backups. HOpefully, you did this.

On the other hand, if you did a standard data burn and closed the CD-RW disk after the burn, and it still is failing, then it is possible that the lifespan of the disk has simply over. Normally, you will have copied, erased, then recopied, over and over, too many times.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by MzLee Aug 28, 2004 7:23AM PDT

Hi Grif,
Can you open "My Computer", RIGHT click on the CD-RW drive icon, choose "Explore", then view the files listed there?
..The right click showed them as audio files (.wav).
Did you burn the data to a "formatted" CD-RW disk using packet writing software such as InCD?
..Yes. Did not create a backup disk Sad.
you will have copied, erased, then recopied, over and over, too many times.
..This CD had never been erased.

This particular CD held all of my saved Paint Shop Pro files. The last time I tried to burn onto though, I received a verification error, so I cancelled the burn and used a new one. The new one opens fine.

I guess I've learned a very important lesson and that's to make a backup copy. I'm new to "burning" and everything had been going fine until this.

Thanks for you info,
MzLee

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by Cursorcowboy Aug 28, 2004 3:46AM PDT

1. Please note that just above the text editor (where you enter a question on the forum) is the following paragraph, and if certain information is not present in your question, our reply may not be very helpful:

Tip: If you are asking for help to troubleshoot a computer-related problem, please be sure to include all the necessary information (ie: operating system, model number, hardware, software, etc) that will help others identify your problem for a speedy resolution.

2. Please read through:

a. "The AutoRun or AutoPlay Feature Does Not Work (Q330135)."

b. "System Cannot Access CD-Rom, CD-Recorder or DVD Devices."

3. The article [Q310123] lists 33 error codes that may be reported by Device Manager and provides possible resolutions. This [TechNet] article covers up to 49.

4. The article [Q314855] warns that by default, only users who are logged on to Windows XP with Power User or Administrator rights are allowed to install software. In Windows XP, files that have an .inf extension are considered to be setup information files. As a result, the Autorun.inf file does not run if you do not have Power User or Administrator rights. Therefore, when a CD-ROM is detected, Windows XP is notified that a new volume is available and the drive is checked for an Autorun.inf file. A user who is neither a Power User nor an Administrator is prompted with an "Install Program as other user" message when the CD-ROM autorun is processed.

5. Download and use the freeware utility "AutoFix.zip" for Windows XP Autoplay, which inspects these settings and offers a repair button to allow you to reset them to mostly default settings.

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by MzLee Aug 28, 2004 7:29AM PDT

I do apologize. I know better and should have included information that would have been helpful.
Windows ME
B's Recorder GOLD5, which came with the installation of my burner.

Lee

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by Kees Bakker Aug 28, 2004 4:48AM PDT

Just to check: try it in another drive on another computer. That might be able to read it, so you've got your data back. If error doesn't occur with other disks, throw away this one.

Kees

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Re: Error with a CD RW
by MzLee Aug 28, 2004 7:34AM PDT

My other CD's are reading fine. It's just this one that I'm having a problem with.
It was a new CD, that had never been erased.
I've just starting burning and am learning as I go along. This is the first problem I've encountered though and a big one, since it had stored my Paint Shop Pro files.
I'll just start fresh and start saving again, but will be wiser this time and make a backup copy.

Lee

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Mz. Lee, this has happened to me too,...
by Paul C Aug 28, 2004 10:39AM PDT

...which is why I have a bunch of never used CD-RW disks; I just don't trust them any more. Besides, high quality CD-R disks are just so cheap that I don't mind burning disks that I may have no further use for in a few days.

As for backups: It also helps if you have multiple copies of your backups (at least two). On my PC, I backup primarily to a second hard drive, but I also burn the backup files to CD - just in case. The extra time's minimal, and the sense of security is, as the ad goes, priceless....

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Re: Mz. Lee, this has happened to me too,...
by MzLee Aug 30, 2004 1:36PM PDT

Thanks for sharing this Paul. This particular CD I was using mainly to store graphics in that I use in Paint Shop Pro. It has never been erased either.

I've learned a valuable lesson because I lost tons of graphics that I've saved for such a long time.

Lee

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Re: Mz. Lee, this has happened to me too,...
by Cursorcowboy Aug 30, 2004 8:44PM PDT
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