CDROM will not burn

**johnp** · March 28th, 2004, 09:13 AM

Guys

Ideas please

I have a Sony Vaio PCG FX705, with combined CD/DVD reader & CD writer.
Manu: Hitachi/LuckyGoldStar. Type HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4080N
OS is XP Home SP1

The CD writer WAS burning six months ago but now will not burn.
Ideas Please.

Symptoms

I send the files to the CD drive, then go to that drive, highlight the files
and select "Write these files to CD" from the dropdown menu. The MS wizard
appears; I bug "next" and the wizard reports "no disk in drive. Please insert disk".

Factoids, and what I have tried

- Audio CDs play, Data CDs read, DVDs play OK.

- System has NO CDROM burning SW except native XP CD code.

- If I bug "trouble shoot" the system says
"Device Status. This device is working properly"

- tried setting and disabling DMA
Specifically
"Computer management" under "IDE ATA/ATAPI" lists
drive 0 and drive 1 for Primary IDE Channel.
drive 0 and drive 1 for Secondary IDE Channel.
I tried setting both channels of Pri and Sec to PIO only

- changed the imapi run parameters from manual to automatic.

- Drivers listed for the HL-DT_ST are:-
cdrom.sys Windows driver
imapi.sys Windows driver
PxHelp20.sys Veritas Driver
redbook.sys
storprop.dll

I think the problem is very likely caused by either

a) Reinstall of XP Home (OS crashed some months ago)
b) installation of Service pack/other software.

Johnp

**Ferrit** · March 28th, 2004, 09:24 AM

I would download a trial copy of nero burning rom and try installing that. See if it will correct the issue
www.nero.com

**NooNoo** · March 29th, 2004, 03:06 PM

Seconded. But this is the 3rd one like this in as many weeks.

**mongo69** · March 29th, 2004, 04:22 PM

WELCOME TO WINDRIVERS FORUM JOHNP

Have you ever had a Burning software in this machine or have you always just used the XP software? I do not care for this software but if it worked for you that is cool. I would try what was suggested already. Your PC should have come with some type Burning software look through your CD's you may find something of use. What kind of disks are you using I know that this is a no brainer but I am just trying to cover all bases.

**johnp** · March 30th, 2004, 06:59 AM

Hi

I'm not a Nero fan - had probs with it. For the moment I want to
fix the native XP burn app. without introducing more variables.

I've never had 3rd party burning SW on the Vaio - only the native
XP app. I've always used the same CDs.

Since my first post I've messed with the Vaio IDE devices and find :-

I set devices ATAPI Pri & Sec IDE devices 0/1 from DMA to PIO & rebooted
Got "no disk in drive"

I tried different ATAPI settings, rebooting each time, TO FIND I COULD BURN !.
I checked the ATAPI settings - both Pri/Sec IDEs 0/1 where PIO only ?

Later in day, without rebooting, get "no disk in drive" again

After rebooting, with ATAPI Pri/Sec IDE channels 0/1 set to PIO only.
I burnt 3 CDs.
One at a time I change each ATAPI setting from PIO to DMA
After changing each IDE device to DMA I reboot.
After each PIO -> DMA I CAN BURN.
Finally ALL IDE devices are set to DMA and I am still burning !!!.
I don't think I later rebooted the vaio (cannt remember cos it was used alot yesterday). Overnite it was in standby.

Today the "no disk in drive" problem IS BACK AND I notice that if I
write files to the temporary burn folder using the dropdown menu option
"send to CD/DVD" with a CD in the drive the copying process SOMETIMES hangs.
I don't remember this happening in the past.

I have reset each IDE device to PIO only and rebooted after each reset.
Every time I get "no disk in drive". IMAPI is being invoked

Why do I HATE Microsoft . . . . .

I will check out the other posts

**confus-ed** · March 30th, 2004, 07:24 AM

So my suggestion is to look at chipset patches & whatever the hell resultant ide drivers because of those .. also look for bios updates which correct the detection of the dma capabailities of the unit & therefore channel because of IDT (independent device timing) that windows is 'bloody determined to correct for you' ..

If you didn't 'get' that very brief summation, re-post & I'll endeavour to write a 'better one' than explains all the why's & wherefores .. but I've done it a few times already in various answers to other 'similar' issues

**johnp** · March 30th, 2004, 08:30 AM

Hi Confused

Ok I will check out MS updates/patches + IDE drivers & Indep Dev Timing (not heard of IDT be4).
I have no BIOS updates (assuming you mean firmware ?). If/when I'm stuck/have solution I'll come back to you.

Meanwhile thanx . . Johnp

PS "Properties" says the CD/DVD device is at "location 0"
The ATAPI channels are Pri & Sec devices 0 & 1.

IS THE CR/DVD ON THE SEC CHANNNEL DEVICE 0 ?

**confus-ed** · March 30th, 2004, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by johnp

Hi Confused

Ok I will check out MS updates/patches + IDE drivers & Indep Dev Timing (not heard of IDT be4).
I have no BIOS updates (assuming you mean firmware ?). If/when I'm stuck/have solution I'll come back to you.

Meanwhile thanx . . Johnp

PS "Properties" says the CD/DVD device is at "location 0"
The ATAPI channels are Pri & Sec devices 0 & 1.

IS THE CR/DVD ON THE SEC CHANNNEL DEVICE 0 ?

Right ... so no I don't mean the cd/dvd's firmware .. I mean bios like for the motherboard, that'll affect how the IDE controller sees the unit & fix its DMA (or otherwise) ability .. this determines the capabilities of the unit & reports that to windoze .. (generally firmware is correcting writing/reading abilities .. we ain't got to that bit in this example)

Confusingly IDE channel 1 is 0 & ide channel 2 is 1 ! does that clear up everything so far ? Personally I refer to them as primary & secondary ..

Oh yeah .. IDT - Here's a thread (look on page 2 of it..) - very briefly you can mix & match some devices on the same IDE channel without confusing it & making it go slow/wrong, but not all ..

This is one of my pet subjects that I really wish I didn't know so much about, its all to do with IDE controllers .. you can try searching with our 'poxy' bulletin board software for posts relating to IDE & controllers & then look for either my moniker or Platypus (he's the other guy around here who 'understands' such stuff..)

**macrofeet** · April 12th, 2004, 04:39 PM

try nero as it is best
windows software is not best
if nero dont work you know it issue with drive sounds like read is okay but write is not

the drive should work without patches