Blank DVD disk not recognized by Windows Explorer

[CWLee]

(Running Vista Ultimate 64-bit, SP-2, IE-8, WM-6, WLM-09,
classic mode, dial-up.)

If this is not the correct newsgroup, please redirect me.

About once a month I backup many files onto a blank DVD
disk. Currently, if I insert one of those partially full
DVDs into my drive-E, it is recognized and everything works
normally. When I started my January backup two days ago I
find that if I insert a blank DVD Windows Explorer does not
recognize it, and tells me to insert a disk. If I then
again click on the drive-E, the hour-glass curser appears
for several minutes, but nothing else happens. Per Task
Manager, "Windows Explorer is not responding." Using Task
Manager is the only way I can close Windows Explorer. I
have tried this with several partially recorded disks, and
with several blank disks, all from the same manufacturer,
same style, etc. Process is the same: Windows Explorer
handles previously used disks as it always has, but fails to
recognize new blank disks.

Suggestions, ideas, and references appreciated.

--

 

[Michael]

(Running Vista Ultimate 64-bit, SP-2, IE-8, WM-6, WLM-09, classic mode,
dial-up.)

If this is not the correct newsgroup, please redirect me.

About once a month I backup many files onto a blank DVD disk. Currently,
if I insert one of those partially full DVDs into my drive-E, it is
recognized and everything works normally. When I started my January
backup two days ago I find that if I insert a blank DVD Windows Explorer
does not recognize it, and tells me to insert a disk. If I then again
click on the drive-E, the hour-glass curser appears for several minutes,
but nothing else happens. Per Task Manager, "Windows Explorer is not
responding." Using Task Manager is the only way I can close Windows
Explorer. I have tried this with several partially recorded disks, and
with several blank disks, all from the same manufacturer, same style, etc.
Process is the same: Windows Explorer handles previously used disks as it
always has, but fails to recognize new blank disks.

Suggestions, ideas, and references appreciated.

Sounds like the disk is bad. Are you using an "R" disc which you're leaving
open or an "RW"? RW's are notorious for getting corrupted. Do you have
another computer you can try the disk in?

 

[CWLee]

Sounds like the disk is bad. Are you using an "R" disc
which you're leaving open or an "RW"? RW's are notorious
for getting corrupted. Do you have another computer you
can try the disk in?

The disks are labeled as (Staples brand) DVD+R recordable
disks, 16x speed, up to 16x compatible, 120 minutes, 4.7 GB.
I have been using this brand and type of disks for a couple
of years with no problems.

I don't know what you mean when you talk about leaving a
disk open. My practice has been to copy and paste
directories/folders from my C-drive into the blank disk on
the E-drive, until it was nearly full, then switch to
another blank disk. In the past I have always been able to
go to those disks and read/transfer
files/folders/directories from them to some other location
as needed.

My other computers don't have DVD drives, but I am looking
around for a friend who might be willing to see if these
work for him. I've tried 3 fresh, blank disks, and the
results are the same.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Michael]

The disks are labeled as (Staples brand) DVD+R recordable disks, 16x
speed, up to 16x compatible, 120 minutes, 4.7 GB. I have been using this
brand and type of disks for a couple of years with no problems.

I don't know what you mean when you talk about leaving a disk open. My
practice has been to copy and paste directories/folders from my C-drive
into the blank disk on the E-drive, until it was nearly full, then switch
to another blank disk. In the past I have always been able to go to those
disks and read/transfer files/folders/directories from them to some other
location as needed.

My other computers don't have DVD drives, but I am looking around for a
friend who might be willing to see if these work for him. I've tried 3
fresh, blank disks, and the results are the same.

Thanks for your input.

You're burning using Session at Once, which leaves the disk open to add
files. Burning using Disk at Once closes the disk so no further files could
be added. When you burn using session, usually only the computer that
burned the disk can read it until it's closed out. When you burn using DAO
the disk can be read by most all DVD readers. If the disk you've been using
as a back-up isn't scratched or damaged in any other way, your burner may be
fried.

 

[Andrew Murray]

The disks are labeled as (Staples brand) DVD+R recordable disks, 16x
speed, up to 16x compatible, 120 minutes, 4.7 GB. I have been using this
brand and type of disks for a couple of years with no problems.

I don't know what you mean when you talk about leaving a disk open. My
practice has been to copy and paste directories/folders from my C-drive
into the blank disk on the E-drive, until it was nearly full, then switch
to another blank disk. In the past I have always been able to go to those
disks and read/transfer files/folders/directories from them to some other
location as needed.

My other computers don't have DVD drives, but I am looking around for a
friend who might be willing to see if these work for him. I've tried 3
fresh, blank disks, and the results are the same.

Thanks for your input.

The "open" disk issue I think refers to the "burning session" - where you
can continue to fill the disk in multiple sessions until it's full, or you
can "close" the disk in one hit - say to send photos to a family member,
which may only use 50% of the disk capacity - closing the disk will prevent
further burning to it.
Re-writeable disks can be written too multiple times, but CD-R's only once,
that is you can burn files in several "sessions" but only until the disk is
full, and it's still an "open" disk.

At least that's my understanding.

 

[Peter Foldes]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052/en-us

 

[CWLee]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052/en-us

Thanks for the link. I went to that site, and there are two
remedies suggested. One is to turn off Windows Media
Player - and it was not on, so nothing to do there. The
other was to enable the audio devices, and they were already
all enabled, so nothing to do there.

Other ideas?

Thanks.

 

[CWLee]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052/en-us

Since that Microsoft site says: "This problem occurs
because of an error in the Mcicda.dll file.", I wonder how
one might get a copy of the proper "Mcicda.dll file" and
then use it to replace the one on my computer that contains
an error.

Ideas?

 

[CWLee]

As the OP, I have new, and perhaps significant information
to report on this problem.

I have discovered that the OLD Staples brand DVDs that work
just fine, and some Memorex DVDs that I borrowed to test and
that work just fine, measure .04" in thickness. The package
I recently purchased of NEW Staples brand DVDs, with
identical labels to the OLD DVDs - the ones that are not
recognized by my computer system - are only .03" in
thickness.

I don't know enough about how DVD readers/writers work to
understand whether such a difference in thickness fully
explains my problems or not - but I suspect it does.

Comments?

==========================

 

[Michael]

As the OP, I have new, and perhaps significant information to report on
this problem.

I have discovered that the OLD Staples brand DVDs that work just fine, and
some Memorex DVDs that I borrowed to test and that work just fine, measure
.04" in thickness. The package I recently purchased of NEW Staples brand
DVDs, with identical labels to the OLD DVDs - the ones that are not
recognized by my computer system - are only .03" in thickness.

I don't know enough about how DVD readers/writers work to understand
whether such a difference in thickness fully explains my problems or not -
but I suspect it does.

Comments?

Never thought of that. I haven't had that problem in years, but there was a
time when some CD/DVD burners didn't like a specific brand of
blank....namely the cheaper brands. After that I've always stuck with name
brands.

 

[CWLee]

..You recently install Itunes on your system?

No. Have never installed it/them on my system.

If it isn't recognizing
certain discs, you may want to try deleting the registry
filters. I've
not heard of a DVD ROM Drive not recognizing a certain
brand of DVD's.
Usually you shouldn't have a problem with it at all.

"Usually" is true, and I think this is one of the "unusual"
times. :-( My current hypothesis is that the thinner than
usual disk thickness is the culprit.

Follow this link mate, then try your DVD's that are not
working
properly.

**http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060**

Thanks for the link. I went there, and it relates to a
system not recognizing a DRIVE, which is not my problem. My
system recognizes my drive, and the drive works fine for
some disks, but not for others.

If I helped you, No need to thank me, just give me some +
Rep

Hmmmm. Is "+ Rep" the name of an Australian candy bar,
beer, or skin lotion?

Best regards to all.

 

[CWLee]

*How* did you notice the discrepancy?

First, by feel. With first one, then the other, DVD between
my thumb and index finger there "seemed" to be a difference,
but I didn't trust that subjective sense. Then I held them
up to a white, well lighted wall, edge to edge. Again, it
"looked" like one was thinner, but I didn't trust my
eyesight. So, I went to my tool box and got out an
inexpensive micrometer. Bingo! A clear difference.

You might enjoy exploring here to learn more!
http://library.thinkquest.org/26171/p2.html

Went there, and I note under differences between CDs and
DVDs that the thickness of a DVD is given as 1.2 mm. My
micrometer has a switch to go between inches and
millimeters, and when I checked the DVDs with the micrometer
calibrated in mm, the DVDs that work are 1.2 mm, and the
ones that do not are 1.0 mm. I don't know how accurate this
particular micrometer is (it cost less than $15 a few years
ago) but I believe these measurements do verify a
significant difference of thickness.

Thanks for your input.

Best regards.