Which is screwed up, my DVD burner or my laptop?

November 22, 2007 11:25 AM

I'm using Windows XP, and a 3 yr old external DVD+RW/-RW burner. Pacific Digital, NEC 2500a. I've been burning avis to DVD using Roxio 6 Drag to Disk. I have a great many dvds that aren't closed - partially burned, unformatted to work in any drive, they'll only work in the dvd burner with drag to disk. My dvd burner has suddenly stopped recognizing both THESE dvds, and also BLANK dvds, though it will read dvds I have burned before. The partially burned dvds and blank dvds give me a CD icon in My Computer, and will not open. It says something like "Incorrect function" when I try. This is also the error I used to get when I burned coasters.

In my research on this topic, I've now been schooled on the evils of packet burning, so if you can help me solve this problem, I will switch to Nero, I swear.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled Roxio 6 twice, to no avail. I decI also uninstalled Roxio completely and installed an older version of Nero - Nero 6. With Nero 6, the Nero Burning ROM program attempts to open and then freezes. I have to shut it down in the task manager. This happens even when I disconnect the external drive. This makes me suspect that it may not be the burner's problem.

I have tried many solutions. These include installing Roxio's updates to the software, and reinstalling the ASPI (driver?). Nothing works. I'm occasionally also getting a BSOD when a program tries to reboot my computer itself. (I don't get the error when I restart). The error message on the BSOD is: "driver unloaded without canceling pending operations" Please help.

posted by anthropomorphic to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)

I just want to start off, by telling you something you already know... You have your hands full.

That being said, I think it is time for you to start from scratch when it comes to Roxia / Nero. Try this:

Step 1: Following this Roxio KB Article, remove ALL TRACES of Roxio. (Do not complete step 7, 'reinstall Easy Media Creator.')

Step 2: Follow the instructions for the Nero 6 CleanTool. (This issue probably has nothing to do with Nero, but you want a clean install of this program when you reinstall it.)

Step 3: Run the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility and make sure you see no traces of Roxio or Nero.

Step 4: Make sure your 2500A has the current Firmware.

Step 5: Reinstall Nero.

Really hope this works for you. You may want to post to CDFreaks if it does not.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 12:28 PM on November 22, 2007

I had a DVD drive that refused to recognize certain DVD-R and DVD+R discs. I got a new power supply, and lo and behold, now the drive reads anything. Maybe the issue is with your power supply?
posted by backwards guitar at 11:44 AM on November 23, 2007