I have a Liteon 40x12x48 CD/RW and just can't get it to burn CDs - writeables or re-writeables. I have tried both Roxio Easy CD Creator Platinum and XP Pro's own in-built CD writing function (which just happens to be a roxio product as well). I thought there might be some conflict between the teo, so i've tried using the windows burner even without easy Cd creator on the system...still no luck.

I get an error message something like the following shortly after starting the burning process:

''device reported an unknown error (0x79)''
or...''Can't complete the writing process''

Each time it occurs i have to bin another blank...and it's gettin expensive!

I have the latest firmware for the drive. It worked fine under Win2K, and the probs seem to be XP-related.

Any ideas? You reckon the drive's just had it for burning?

Nero

Probs with Nero were the reason i tried Easy Cd. Because the problem i'm having occurs with both XP's in-built burner and Easy CD Creator...I figured it must be hardware.

Nero, for sure. imo it's the best program for everyday burning.

How do you have your optical devices & HDD's connected? On which IDE cables?

Generally speaking, it's best not to have 2 optical devives sharing the same IDE cable, can cause probs.

Are the jumper settings correct on the back of CDRW & DVD drives?

You could try uninstalling Easy CD Creator, disabling XP's built in software and trying Nero again.

Oh, and when trying a first burn, use a CDRW just to confirm it's going to work, that stops them coasters piling up

Well guys...after Muck's concise but definitive suggestion, I got hold of a copy of the latest version of Nero today. As soon as i get time, I'm gonna give it a go.

Floppy, I do have my optical drives sharing a single IDE cable, and their jumper settings are correct for that config, but since i now have a free IDE channel (as i'm only using SATA HDDs) I can try them on seperate channels. Am I right that I can set them both as master? (i.e. primary and secondary) ??

I'll also try your suggestion to disable XP's inbuilt burner. I think I'll try Easy CD first and then Nero (let's just say i have to 'tweak' nero to work:brow: )

I'll let you know how i get on.

Thanks again, both of you!!

All this ... must go on that cannel don't have it with this make sure that is ... oh ... bunkum.

Put 'em on whatever you like as long as the jumpers are set-up correctly ... and ... don't copy on-the-fly.

I have CDRW master & CDRom slave on the secondary IDE channel, never had a problem.

:roll:

if you have two IDE channels free, give each optical drive it's own slot & cable, in which case yes, set both to master

good luck

mucks, I have also run two optical drives on the same channel, had no choice because of physical considerations in the setup

but, where there is a problem, would you not agree that it is best to remove every possible cause?

besides, it just feels right to share your data flow amongst as many independent channels as possible

All data is handeled by the CPU

If you can then why not.

uh-huh

but to get to the CPU, it has to travel

along cables

this one could run and run folks....