Can't get any sense out of DVD/CD drive

[Derek Peters]

For the first time since buying this computer a year ago, I tried to burn
some video to DVD; the drive does not recognise the presence of a blank disc,
in Properties the file system is described as Unknown. If I put a blank CDR
in the drive, it says the file system is RAW and will not access the disc. It
will play an audio CD but not a pre-recorded DVD. I have tried to convert the
file system from the command prompt, but get a message that 'this volume
cannot be converted'. Anyone got any ideas? Might it be a hardware fault, or
can I get inside the OS(XP Home SP2) and make it behave? Device Manager says
the device is working normally and the drivers are up to date. Help!

 

[Peter Foldes]

See if this applies
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q316529

 

[Bob Harris]

First, be aware that XP has little intrinsic support for CDs and DVDs. If
you see other PCs reading and writing CDs and DVDs, playing movies, etc, be
assured that is becasue those PCs have additional software beyond just XP.

But, as a minimum, windows explorer should be able to read a data-type CD or
DVD. An example of a data-type CD would be a true XP installation CD, or
the installation CD for an antivirus program. Types of CDs and DVDs that
are not data include music, movies, and some games.

Note the windows meadia play should be able to play a music CD, and that
program does come with XP.

If you insert a professionally-made video DVD (i.e., a movie), windows
explorer should see its file system, but not play it.

To play a movie, you need additionbal software. Today there are many free
movie players from which to choose, plus some not free, but not expensive.
Try a Google search on "DVD player".

As for writing CDs and/or DVDs, that requires even more specialized
software. In theory XP comes with some minimal support for CD writing, but
most people don't bother using it. I use Easy Media Creator by Roxio (now
by Sonic). It can write data CDs/DVDs, music CDs, bootable CDs/DVDs, etc.
Nero is a another well-know writing suite. But, there are some good free
writers out there, such as DeepBurner http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
(be sure to get the free verison, unless you want the extra features of the
oners they sell).

Another note on writing CDs and DVDs. It is usually not a good idea to
install more than one major writer suite. However, a stand-alone program,
like DeepBurner can be used without uninstalling other optical software.

As for changing the file system on most optical media, that makes no sense,
since most optical media is read-only. Although it is possible to "format"
a CD-RW or a DVD+-RW with the right software, such software is not part of
XP.

Beyond the above, XP itself can sometimes have problems recognizing a CD/DVD
writer as a writer, instead of just a reader. A quick Google search turned
up several problems/fixes. Here are two of them:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324129
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US


See if this applies
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q316529

 

[Ray Parrish]

I have Win XP Home and the first time I put a Movie DVD in my drive it
opened and played just fine in Windows Media Player...

Later, Ray Parrish

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have Win XP Home and the first time I put a Movie DVD in my drive it
opened and played just fine in Windows Media Player...

Nobody is saying that Windows Media Player is incapable of playing DVD
movies, it just doesn't do it out of the box. You have obviously downloaded
or installed the necessary codec and plug in at some point, possibly without
even realising it. It is quite possible that if your Windows XP is an OEM
version, that your PC supplier installed it.