problem with cd-rw burning

October 25, 2008 2:08 PM

why can i not burn a cd-rw on lenovo thinkpad t61?

machine: t61 +up to date w/ thinkvantage utility
os: xp sp3 + all available hotfixes
internal dvd module: matshita dvd-ram uj-852, firmware ver.: rb02

i know that burning cd-rw's can sometimes be cumbersome, but could not figure out why this "new" machine fails. every component is up to date, it can burn regular cd-r's, the dvd module firmware is the latest, i use quality media (the other notebook -an old dell- can burn with ease) but it cannot even initiate to burn a cd-rw. i tried three different cd-burning software and other cd brands without any success. also googling the problem was not fruitful.

could you point out what i am missing here?

posted by raphael19 to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

What type of CD-RW is it? There's original speed (4x), high speed (10x), ultra speed (24x), and ultra+ speed (32x). I remember that the drive in my T60p wouldn't burn some ultra speed discs I got once.
posted by zsazsa at 2:27 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: 16x-24x ultra-speed. altering the burning speed on the software does not work too...
posted by raphael19 at 2:51 PM on October 25, 2008

How many types of burning software do you have installed? If it is more than either A) you have may incompatible ASPI files or B) something in your registry pertaining to the drive (generally the UpperFilters parameter) is screwed up.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:21 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: i got recordnow (bundled with the machine), burnatonce and the xp built-in stuff. none of them works. cd-r burning is all right btw...
posted by raphael19 at 3:38 PM on October 25, 2008

Download Nero's Driveinfo tool and make sure your drive actually burns cd-rw discs. Whether it actually can't or claims it can't because of a messed up setting, the tool will show you what capabilities the drive reports to your system.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 4:25 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: nero infotool reports drive can burn cd-rw's. it also reports no (system&nero) aspi installed.
posted by raphael19 at 4:46 PM on October 25, 2008

Well, that may be your problem unless your burning software uses VSO, SPTI, or something else other than ASPI. Do you know which burning layer it requires?
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 5:15 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: burnatonce uses spti.
posted by raphael19 at 5:41 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: i think the problem may be related to poor quality of media.

according to nero infotool:

manufacturerid: cmc magnetics (97m26s67f)

and gogling this id gets some interesting stuff:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t44190.html

anyway, if anyone has still some insight on this problem, appreciated.
posted by raphael19 at 6:03 PM on October 25, 2008

Response by poster: btw, i have now installed the aspi layer too...
posted by raphael19 at 6:04 PM on October 25, 2008

Best answer: My T-61 does not support the writing of Ultra Speed CD-RW discs. It does fine with any number of DVD{+,-}{R,RW,RAM} and with slower CD-RW discs. It has no trouble reading the ultra speed CD-RW discs, but refuses to write them.

Turns out that IBM part number 42V8172 isn't compatible with the ultra-speed discs (it writes CD-RW at up to 10x). Some other ultrabay drives are, but this one isn't.

Yeah... pissed me off, too.
posted by toxic at 6:31 PM on October 25, 2008