Can't Read CD-RW's or Format CD-RW's or Write to CD-RW's

[Guest]

Hi there,

A bit of a mystery needs someone's help.

I use Windows XP and the CD Burning Wizard that comes along with it to make
backups of Quicken files. All worked well until about a month ago when I
started getting an 'insert empty cd-r or cd-rw into the cd-rw drive' error.
Problem is, though, that the disk is defintely not full. It only has 4 files
on it and they are quite small.

I then thought I would get a new disk and format it. I put a new disk in,
go to My COmputrer, Right click on the D: drive, and then hit
'Format'......which produces a 'Cannot read disk' error.

I then noticed that I am not able to see the files on the backup disk. I
took the disk to work and put it in my computer there to see what I could
see. On my work computer I can see the files on the disk.

Any ideas what I may have done to make the drive unreadable/unwritable???

I have a Dell 4600C that is only about 1 year old.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Jim]

Hi there,

A bit of a mystery needs someone's help.

I use Windows XP and the CD Burning Wizard that comes along with it to
make
backups of Quicken files. All worked well until about a month ago when I
started getting an 'insert empty cd-r or cd-rw into the cd-rw drive'
error.
Problem is, though, that the disk is defintely not full. It only has 4
files
on it and they are quite small.

I then thought I would get a new disk and format it. I put a new disk in,
go to My COmputrer, Right click on the D: drive, and then hit
'Format'......which produces a 'Cannot read disk' error.

I then noticed that I am not able to see the files on the backup disk. I
took the disk to work and put it in my computer there to see what I could
see. On my work computer I can see the files on the disk.

Any ideas what I may have done to make the drive unreadable/unwritable???

I have a Dell 4600C that is only about 1 year old.

Thanks in advance for your help!

The first thing that comes to mind is a defective laser. These drives don't
seem to last very long anymore.
Assuming a hardware fault, it is more cost effective to replace the drive.
By the way, the one which came with my 4600 didn't last a year; it broke
while still under warranty.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Hmmm....interesting. I will see if Dell can 'help me out' with this one.

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Stan

 

[Shenan Stanley]

A bit of a mystery needs someone's help.

I use Windows XP and the CD Burning Wizard that comes along with it
to make backups of Quicken files. All worked well until about a
month ago when I started getting an 'insert empty cd-r or cd-rw
into the cd-rw drive' error. Problem is, though, that the disk is
defintely not full. It only has 4 files on it and they are quite
small.

I then thought I would get a new disk and format it. I put a new
disk in, go to My COmputrer, Right click on the D: drive, and then
hit 'Format'......which produces a 'Cannot read disk' error.

I then noticed that I am not able to see the files on the backup
disk. I took the disk to work and put it in my computer there to
see what I could see. On my work computer I can see the files on
the disk.

Any ideas what I may have done to make the drive
unreadable/unwritable???

I have a Dell 4600C that is only about 1 year old.

Hope you got more than the 1 year warranty. I particularly like their 4
year premium plans.