DVD writer in XP

I have a HP pavilion with a dvd writer/cd writer combo. This device has
previously (for 2 years) worked OK.. lately, although the drive works OK as
a CD in both read and write, I am unable to write to a DVD...read is OK.

Message I get when attempting to write a erase a DVD through the "wizard" is
"unable to complete process" . I also have Intervideo Win DVD creator and
attempting to format / write to either a new or used DVD+R i get "Unable to
show Disc Manager because there is no DVD rewritable drive found in this
system"

I have checked Device Manager in windows system and the DVD writer is there
and "working properly".

Anyone out there had a similar problem or have a solution?

Thanks

Garfield wrote:

I have a HP pavilion with a dvd writer/cd writer combo. This device
has
previously (for 2 years) worked OK.. lately, although the drive works
OK as a CD in both read and write, I am unable to write to a
DVD...read is OK.

Message I get when attempting to write a erase a DVD through the
"wizard" is "unable to complete process" . I also have Intervideo Win
DVD creator and attempting to format / write to either a new or used
DVD+R i get "Unable to show Disc Manager because there is no DVD
rewritable drive found in this system"

I have checked Device Manager in windows system and the DVD writer is
there and "working properly".

Combo drives have two lasers - one for cd's and one for dvd's.
Apparently your dvd one has died. You can try a drive cleaner, but
probably you should just replace the drive.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

For exactly $31 dollars (free shipping), you can replace your dead drive
with a new drive that's (likely) 4 times faster. This unit also features
LightScribe technology. I've ordered from this company numerous times.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151118


--
------------------------------
Donny Broome
www.broomeman.com/tech
------------------------------



"Garfield" wrote in message
...
I have a HP pavilion with a dvd writer/cd writer combo. This device has
previously (for 2 years) worked OK.. lately, although the drive works OK
as
a CD in both read and write, I am unable to write to a DVD...read is OK.

Message I get when attempting to write a erase a DVD through the "wizard"
is
"unable to complete process" . I also have Intervideo Win DVD creator and
attempting to format / write to either a new or used DVD+R i get "Unable
to
show Disc Manager because there is no DVD rewritable drive found in this
system"

I have checked Device Manager in windows system and the DVD writer is
there
and "working properly".

Anyone out there had a similar problem or have a solution?

Thanks

appears the dvd writer on the drive is bad, this is not uncommon.
"Garfield" wrote in message
...
I have a HP pavilion with a dvd writer/cd writer combo. This device has
previously (for 2 years) worked OK.. lately, although the drive works OK
as
a CD in both read and write, I am unable to write to a DVD...read is OK.

Message I get when attempting to write a erase a DVD through the "wizard"
is
"unable to complete process" . I also have Intervideo Win DVD creator and
attempting to format / write to either a new or used DVD+R i get "Unable
to
show Disc Manager because there is no DVD rewritable drive found in this
system"

I have checked Device Manager in windows system and the DVD writer is
there
and "working properly".

Anyone out there had a similar problem or have a solution?

Thanks

Malke,

Would agree with you except for the fact that using PC doctor, the DVD write
section of the test works fine.. it is just the XP and Intervideo programs
that don't work??

Garfield

"Malke" wrote:

Garfield wrote:

I have a HP pavilion with a dvd writer/cd writer combo. This device
has
previously (for 2 years) worked OK.. lately, although the drive works
OK as a CD in both read and write, I am unable to write to a
DVD...read is OK.

Message I get when attempting to write a erase a DVD through the
"wizard" is "unable to complete process" . I also have Intervideo Win
DVD creator and attempting to format / write to either a new or used
DVD+R i get "Unable to show Disc Manager because there is no DVD
rewritable drive found in this system"

I have checked Device Manager in windows system and the DVD writer is
there and "working properly".

Combo drives have two lasers - one for cd's and one for dvd's.
Apparently your dvd one has died. You can try a drive cleaner, but
probably you should just replace the drive.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Garfield wrote:

Malke,

Would agree with you except for the fact that using PC doctor, the DVD
write section of the test works fine.. it is just the XP and
Intervideo programs that don't work??

Does the drive burn from PC Doctor? If you aren't actually burning a DVD
from PC Doctor (I don't have that program on any of my Windows
machines) but PC Doctor is only reporting that the drive is fine, that
is not a good test. The only useful test in your case is if the DVD
drive will burn DVD's from various programs. If it won't, then the DVD
laser is dirty or has failed, probably the latter.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

From what I understand, PC doctor actually reads and writes to both CD and
DVD sections... I contacted HP support and they recommended the PC doctor
test to exclude hardware as the problem. I also noted that My Computer does
not have the "format" capability when looking at a DVD-RW or CD-RW... I guess
the next thing is to use a known good burn program (does anyone know a good
freeware/shareware program??) and see if it will operate.

Thanks for your help

"Malke" wrote:

Garfield wrote:

Malke,

Would agree with you except for the fact that using PC doctor, the DVD
write section of the test works fine.. it is just the XP and
Intervideo programs that don't work??

Does the drive burn from PC Doctor? If you aren't actually burning a DVD
from PC Doctor (I don't have that program on any of my Windows
machines) but PC Doctor is only reporting that the drive is fine, that
is not a good test. The only useful test in your case is if the DVD
drive will burn DVD's from various programs. If it won't, then the DVD
laser is dirty or has failed, probably the latter.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Garfield wrote:

From what I understand, PC doctor actually reads and writes to both CD
and DVD sections... I contacted HP support and they recommended the PC
doctor test to exclude hardware as the problem. I also noted that My
Computer does not have the "format" capability when looking at a
DVD-RW or CD-RW... I guess the next thing is to use a known good burn
program (does anyone know a good freeware/shareware program??) and see
if it will operate.

http://www.cdburnerxp.se/ - CDBurnerXP Pro (free)

Another good way to determine if the issue is hardware or Windows
(software) is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux distro that runs from cd.
In your case, you'll need to have two optical drives in the computer
because you'll want to boot with Knoppix in the non-burner drive and
burn a dvd with K3b (a Linux burning program) in the drive to be
tested. http://www.knoppix.net

Alternately, you could pull the drive and put it in another machine and
test it. If it fails there, then you know the drive is bad.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke,

Downloaded and used CDBurnerXP Pro and all worked OK. I also went to the
Ansoft site and downloaded the latest PhotoSlideshow software and it all
works.

I am assuming that there is a driver gone missing in XP that does not allow
it to recognise the drive as a DVD burner.. probably a bit too advancerd for
me to find. Thanks for your help..have a good one.

"Malke" wrote:

Garfield wrote:

From what I understand, PC doctor actually reads and writes to both CD
and DVD sections... I contacted HP support and they recommended the PC
doctor test to exclude hardware as the problem. I also noted that My
Computer does not have the "format" capability when looking at a
DVD-RW or CD-RW... I guess the next thing is to use a known good burn
program (does anyone know a good freeware/shareware program??) and see
if it will operate.

http://www.cdburnerxp.se/ - CDBurnerXP Pro (free)

Another good way to determine if the issue is hardware or Windows
(software) is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux distro that runs from cd.
In your case, you'll need to have two optical drives in the computer
because you'll want to boot with Knoppix in the non-burner drive and
burn a dvd with K3b (a Linux burning program) in the drive to be
tested. http://www.knoppix.net

Alternately, you could pull the drive and put it in another machine and
test it. If it fails there, then you know the drive is bad.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User