win xp professional version 2002, sp2
Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram

I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.

I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
well.

I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried to
record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have tried 3
different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same CD-RWs work
normally in my laptop (same OS).

The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
rewritable CDs.

Any ideas where to start tackling this?

Thanks,

Clem.

"C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>
> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>
> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
> well.
>
> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried
> to record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have tried
> 3 different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same CD-RWs
> work normally in my laptop (same OS).
>
> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
> rewritable CDs.
>
> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>

Yes. The CD laser has died. Most DVD/CD drives use the DVD laser to read
pre mastered CDs but this doesn't work with CD-R and CD-RW discs and the CD
laser has to be used. CD-RW discs have a much lower refectivity than CD-R
and if the laser doesn't have enough power then the reflected beam is too
dim to be read correctly.

Failing lasers are the single most common failure mode of both computer
DVD/CD drives and also CD audio and DVD video players/recorders. A typical
life of 2 years is actually about average for a computer drive.
Fortunately, they are cheap to replace.

Cannot Read or Write CD\DVD Media

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>
> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>
> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works well.
>
> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried to
> record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have tried 3
> different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same CD-RWs work normally
> in my laptop (same OS).
>
> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read rewritable
> CDs.
>
> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clem.
>
>
>

M.I.5¾,

Thanks for your input; I bought a new drive; same problem; took it back.

Clem.

"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4b0d115d$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
>> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>>
>> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>>
>> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
>> well.
>>
>> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried
>> to record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have
>> tried 3 different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same
>> CD-RWs work normally in my laptop (same OS).
>>
>> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
>> rewritable CDs.
>>
>> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>>
>
> Yes. The CD laser has died. Most DVD/CD drives use the DVD laser to read
> pre mastered CDs but this doesn't work with CD-R and CD-RW discs and the
> CD laser has to be used. CD-RW discs have a much lower refectivity than
> CD-R and if the laser doesn't have enough power then the reflected beam is
> too dim to be read correctly.
>
> Failing lasers are the single most common failure mode of both computer
> DVD/CD drives and also CD audio and DVD video players/recorders. A
> typical life of 2 years is actually about average for a computer drive.
> Fortunately, they are cheap to replace.
>

Peter,

Thanks for your input. I ran the diagnostic utility, but it failed. I tried
the same disk in 2 other machines, it works fine.

Clem.

"Peter Foldes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Cannot Read or Write CD\DVD Media
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>
> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
>> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>>
>> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>>
>> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
>> well.
>>
>> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried
>> to record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have
>> tried 3 different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same
>> CD-RWs work normally in my laptop (same OS).
>>
>> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
>> rewritable CDs.
>>
>> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Clem.
>>
>>
>>
>

Then try this
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314060
--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Peter,
>
> Thanks for your input. I ran the diagnostic utility, but it failed. I tried the
> same disk in 2 other machines, it works fine.
>
> Clem.
>
> "Peter Foldes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Cannot Read or Write CD\DVD Media
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems
>>
>> --
>> Peter
>>
>> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
>> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>>
>> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
>>> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>>>
>>> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>>>
>>> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works well.
>>>
>>> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried to
>>> record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have tried 3
>>> different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same CD-RWs work
>>> normally in my laptop (same OS).
>>>
>>> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
>>> rewritable CDs.
>>>
>>> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Clem.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

"C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> M.I.5¾,
>
> Thanks for your input; I bought a new drive; same problem; took it back.
>

That would indicate that the problem is elsewhere. Though at present, I
can't imagine where. Have you tried a different brand of CD-RW?

> Clem.
>
> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:4b0d115d$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
>>> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>>>
>>> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>>>
>>> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
>>> well.
>>>
>>> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently
>>> tried to record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I
>>> have tried 3 different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The
>>> same CD-RWs work normally in my laptop (same OS).
>>>
>>> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
>>> rewritable CDs.
>>>
>>> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>>>
>>
>> Yes. The CD laser has died. Most DVD/CD drives use the DVD laser to
>> read pre mastered CDs but this doesn't work with CD-R and CD-RW discs and
>> the CD laser has to be used. CD-RW discs have a much lower refectivity
>> than CD-R and if the laser doesn't have enough power then the reflected
>> beam is too dim to be read correctly.
>>
>> Failing lasers are the single most common failure mode of both computer
>> DVD/CD drives and also CD audio and DVD video players/recorders. A
>> typical life of 2 years is actually about average for a computer drive.
>> Fortunately, they are cheap to replace.
>>
>
>

Peter Foldes wrote:
> Then try this
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314060

He didn't mention that it wasn't reachable.

I'm wondering if he has all the latest windows updates?

I've tried 2 brands (two types from 1 brand and 1 type from another brand),
same prob.

"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4b0e660d$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> M.I.5¾,
>>
>> Thanks for your input; I bought a new drive; same problem; took it back.
>>
>
> That would indicate that the problem is elsewhere. Though at present, I
> can't imagine where. Have you tried a different brand of CD-RW?
>
>> Clem.
>>
>> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:4b0d115d$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "C.M.G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>> win xp professional version 2002, sp2
>>>> Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram
>>>>
>>>> I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.
>>>>
>>>> I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
>>>> well.
>>>>
>>>> I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently
>>>> tried to record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I
>>>> have tried 3 different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The
>>>> same CD-RWs work normally in my laptop (same OS).
>>>>
>>>> The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
>>>> rewritable CDs.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas where to start tackling this?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yes. The CD laser has died. Most DVD/CD drives use the DVD laser to
>>> read pre mastered CDs but this doesn't work with CD-R and CD-RW discs
>>> and the CD laser has to be used. CD-RW discs have a much lower
>>> refectivity than CD-R and if the laser doesn't have enough power then
>>> the reflected beam is too dim to be read correctly.
>>>
>>> Failing lasers are the single most common failure mode of both computer
>>> DVD/CD drives and also CD audio and DVD video players/recorders. A
>>> typical life of 2 years is actually about average for a computer drive.
>>> Fortunately, they are cheap to replace.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Initial post:

===================
I have a CD/DVD ROM and CD/DVD RW.

I use the RW drive for backups, usually to DVD+RW; this currently works
well.

I have used CD-RW in the past, but not in quite a while. I recently tried to
record a CD-RW, but the drive does not recognize the disc. I have tried 3
different kinds of CD-RW, all with the same problem. The same CD-RWs work
normally in my laptop (same OS).

The ROM reads DVDs and non re-writable CDs normally, but does not read
rewritable CDs.
===================

I have now uninstalled itunes, real, quicktime, some video viewing utility
the name of which I've forgotten (shipped with Dell), and I've rolled back
windows media player from v11 to v9.

Updates are all current, though I use xp pro sp2, not sp3. When sp3 first
came out, I installed it, but something stopped working, don't quite
remember what, so I rolled back to sp2.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,


"Rick Merrill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:unhq%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Peter Foldes wrote:
>> Then try this
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314060
>
> He didn't mention that it wasn't reachable.
>
> I'm wondering if he has all the latest windows updates?