CD-ROM

[ZootRot]

ThinkPad T43, WinXp

My CD-ROM drive is working when I explore an existing data disk or play a
CD/DVD.
When put in a new disk (CD-RW) I can neither format it (no option on
right-click menu in Windows Explorer), nor can I write to it (by pasting a
file, or saving a file). I can also not reformat an existing CDRW disk.

Any suggestions?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

ThinkPad T43, WinXp

My CD-ROM drive is working when I explore an existing data disk or
play a CD/DVD.
When put in a new disk (CD-RW) I can neither format it (no option
on right-click menu in Windows Explorer), nor can I write to it (by
pasting a file, or saving a file). I can also not reformat an
existing CDRW disk.
Any suggestions?

Ensure you have a CD-RW capable drive?

 

[ZootRot]

Yes, obviously. it has worked before.
Thanks

Ensure you have a CD-RW capable drive?

 

[Adrian C]

ThinkPad T43, WinXp

My CD-ROM drive is working when I explore an existing data disk or play a
CD/DVD.
When put in a new disk (CD-RW) I can neither format it (no option on
right-click menu in Windows Explorer), nor can I write to it (by pasting a
file, or saving a file). I can also not reformat an existing CDRW disk.

Any suggestions?

CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316529

 

[Shenan Stanley]

ThinkPad T43, WinXp

My CD-ROM drive is working when I explore an existing data disk or
play a CD/DVD.
When put in a new disk (CD-RW) I can neither format it (no option
on right-click menu in Windows Explorer), nor can I write to it (by
pasting a file, or saving a file). I can also not reformat an
existing CDRW disk.
Any suggestions?

Ensure you have a CD-RW capable drive?

Yes, obviously. it has worked before.

Obviously?

You never said in your original post anything about it working previously in
this manner, it being labeled as a CD-RW capable drive, etc. Obvious to you
is not obvious to those not sitting behind you - and even then, not
necessarily. ;-)

- Any third party CD/DVD writing software installed?
- If so - which software and what version of said software?

- Have you checked the drives Windows XP settings?

In "My Computer", right-click on the CD drive, then click "Properties".
There should be:
• a “Recording” tab with a check box to “Enable Recording on this drive”.
• a pane to change the folder used as work space during the actual writing
(which needs to have as much space available as the capacity of the CD you
wish to write.)
• a box to let you specify the speed of the drive.

Is the proper selection made (Enable Recording on this drive checked)?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279157
and
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03september16.mspx

May also want to check for hardware driver updates from Lenovo for your
system - particularly the CD/DVD drive (firmware maybe?) and motherboard
chipset.

Come back and let everyone know.

 

[ZootRot]

Thanks Adrian.
That knowledgebase article did the trick. For some reason, the registry
entry (volume GUID, drive type) was at 3 instead of 2.

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Yes, obviously. it has worked before.
Thanks

It certainly isn't obvious when you consider that you're referring to it
as a CD-ROM drive, which by definition is a read-only device.

 

[Peter Foldes]

See if this applies

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems