Burner will not recognize Blank Media

[Don Burklo]

I have a DVD/CD Burner that will not recognize a blank CD-R disk. It will
recognize a blank CR-RW, DVD and DVD-RW. Windows Media Player will not
recognize it either.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Don

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Maybe use a different CD-R manufacturer? Other than that, replace the whole
burner unit.

 

[Don Burklo]

I have tried several brands with no success. I had this problem sometime
back an Dell sent a tech out to replace the burner unit but he changed some
setting and it has worked for over a year. I am trying to find out what the
setting is since he did not share it with me.

Don

 

[sgopus]

go to the properties tab and look under the recording tab and reselect the
enable cd burning for this device, it seems some MS update has messed this up

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have a DVD/CD Burner that will not recognize a blank CD-R disk. It will
recognize a blank CR-RW, DVD and DVD-RW. Windows Media Player will not
recognize it either.

The CD laser is most probably knackered (to use the technical term). The
other disk types are all detectable and readable with the DVD laser. CD-Rs
cannot reflect the red/orange DVD laser. The chances are that if the disc
was detected, it wouldn't write a reliable image to it. You may still be
able to write to CD-RWs because they are written a completely different way
and use a lower write power from the CD-laser.

Sadly, solid state lasers decay with use, the rate varying between different
samples. Laser failure is the most common mode of failure for DVD/CD
burners (though the DVD laser usually fails first - but this would depend on
use).

 

[smlunatick]

The CD laser is most probably knackered (to use the technical term).  The
other disk types are all detectable and readable with the DVD laser.  CD-Rs
cannot reflect the red/orange DVD laser.  The chances are that if the disc
was detected, it wouldn't write a reliable image to it.  You may still be
able to write to CD-RWs because they are written a completely different way
and use a lower write power from the CD-laser.

Sadly, solid state lasers decay with use, the rate varying between different
samples.  Laser failure is the most common mode of failure for DVD/CD
burners (though the DVD laser usually fails first - but this would depend on
use).

How could a failing laser head not read CD-Rs but can read CD-RWs and
CDs? These three type of disks all should use the same lens/laser.
If the OP stated that the drive can only read DVDs, then you could
suspect a bad laser for CDs.

 

[Don Burklo]

You called this one correctly. Dell came out yesterday and replaced the
burner unit and all is fine. He confirmed on of the lasers went south.

Thanks for the help,

Don

 

[M.I.5¾]

The CD laser is most probably knackered (to use the technical term). The
other disk types are all detectable and readable with the DVD laser. CD-Rs
cannot reflect the red/orange DVD laser. The chances are that if the disc
was detected, it wouldn't write a reliable image to it. You may still be
able to write to CD-RWs because they are written a completely different
way
and use a lower write power from the CD-laser.

Sadly, solid state lasers decay with use, the rate varying between
different
samples. Laser failure is the most common mode of failure for DVD/CD
burners (though the DVD laser usually fails first - but this would depend
on
use).

How could a failing laser head not read CD-Rs but can read CD-RWs and
CDs? These three type of disks all should use the same lens/laser.

---------------

This is not the case. CD-RWs and prematered CDs can both be read with the
DVD laser and most DVD/CD drives will do precisely this*. In fact there is
no difference beween these and their DVD equivalents apart from the data
density. It is only if the drive cannot read the inserted disc with the DVD
laser or it is called upon to burn a CD-R or CD-RW that it will turn to the
CD laser for the job. CD-R is the only media which will not reflect the DVD
laser to any significant extent, and once the drive fails to detect the
media with the DVD laser will it turn to the CD laser and try with that.

*In fact early DVD video players only had a DVD laser and so could not read
CD-R disks even though they read premastered CDs without any problem. It
came as a surprise to many people that they could often read CD-RW discs,
but the low reflectivity made results variable. Modern DVD video players
have a CD laser solely for CD-R reproduction.

Bluray and HD-DVD video players have the same problem and have to be
equipped with a DVD laser solely for DVD-R discs and a CD laser solely for
CD-R disks. All the other disks can be read with the blue laser - and the
Panasonic Blu-ray player indeed does so.

 

[Mstone]

I have a similar problem. My optorite dvd+ - rw will not recognize a blank
dvd+rw. I will recognize cd-r, cd-rw and write to them and it will read
dvd's. However when I insert a blank dvd+rw it sees it as a cd that is
completely full. From the research I have done it seems like everyone who has
a similar problem with either cd rw or dvd rw also seems to have either just
installed or just removed Roxio Easy DVD Creator. My question is does anyone
know how to fix it. I have already tried deleting the upper and lower filters
from the registry and uninstalling\reinstalling the drive. Thanks in advance
for any help at all.

Mstone