Drag and Drop CD Recording to Explorer using LG GSA 4044b or 4081b

[traderv]

LG Electronics replaced my GAS-4044B with GAS-4081B Multi DVD CD/DVD
Recorder.

New drive shows same problems as old. On CD recording, after dragging files
to Explorer and giving the "Write Files to CD" command, it doesn't
recognize the presence of the blank unformatted CD. says Recordable Disk not
present, etc. I am able to record from Nero and Drive Image onto unformatted
CD.

LG says CD must be formatted for drag-and drop recording with multi-format
writers on Windows XP, and that Microsoft is aware of the problem and will
have it fixed in the Longhorn release. Until then, I must use DirectCD for
Drag and Drop recording in Windows Explorer. Of course I have never
encountered this with any of the multitude of CD only writers that have used
or am using on this system.

Is anyone familiar with this problem? I am not pleased with that response
from LG. Their manuals for the 4044B and the 4081B say nothing about such
limitations for CD recording. They simply say that the devices support
WinXP, among others, with no limitations mentioned.

Any words of wisdom? Does XP have that problem in "multi format writers?"
Is LG just blowing smoke?

 

[Kevin]

Description of CD-ROM Recording in Windows XP
Applies To
This article was previously published under Q279157
SUMMARY
This article describes the functionality of the CD recorder feature.
When you use Windows XP, you can write data to a CD-R, or write and rewrite
data to a CD-RW. In addition, you can erase data from a CD-RW, but not from
a CD-R.
MORE INFORMATION
Support for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Image
The CD-RW recording feature that is built in to the Windows XP shell
does not support the creation of an International Standards Organization
(ISO) image. To create an ISO image in Windows XP, you need to install a
third party utility that supports this feature.

An ISO image file is a snapshot of the data and layout of a CD-ROM,
saved in ISO-9660 format. ISO image files are widely used for storing CD
content. ISO is a common CD image format for DOS, Windows (Joliet ISO
extension), Linux (RockRidge ISO extension), and other operating systems.
Description of the Staging Area
To facilitate CD recording, Windows XP uses a staging area to store
the data for recording, which is located in the following hidden folder:
Drive_letter:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning

In addition, the information in the staging area is copied to a
monolithic disc image file before you record the data. By default, this file
is named "Cd burning stash file.bin" and is located in the root folder. You
can change the location of the file in the CD recorder Properties dialog
box.
How to Move Files to the Staging Area
There are four methods that you can use to copy files to the staging
area:
a.. Method 1: You can use a drag-and-drop operation to move the
files to the CD burner icon.
b.. Method 2: Right-click the file (or files), click Send To, and
then click Name or Drive Letter of your Writable CD.
c.. Method 3: Click the file, click Send To on the File menu, and
then click Name or Drive Letter of your Writable CD.
d.. Method 4: Copy the files manually to the staging area.
How to Initiate the Burn Process
There are two methods to start the burn process after the files are in
the staging area:
a.. Method 1: Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write these files to CD.
b.. Method 2: Right-click the CD drive, and then click Write these
files to CD.
At this point, the data is copied from the staging area into a
monolithic stash file, which is then recorded to the disk as an image.

To view a video of how to move files to the staging area and initate
the burn process, click the Play button () on the Windows Media Player
viewer below:



If you have problems viewing this video, click here.


NOTE: To view the above video, Windows Media Player 7.0 or later must
be installed on your computer. For additional information about how to
obtain Windows Media Player version 7.1, click the article number below to
view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
299321 Description and Availability of Windows Media Player 7.1

Description of CD Recorder Properties Dialog Box
The properties of a CD recorder include a Recording tab in addition to
the standard tabs that are included with all drives. This tab includes the
following settings that are specific to CD-R drives:
a.. Enable desktop CD recording for this CD-R device: This setting
enables the CD-R drive to allow drag-and-drop operations for this device.
b.. Store staging disc image on: Use this setting to change where
the stash file is created before the file is written to the CD drive.
c.. Write speed: Use this setting to set the write speed of the
device up to the maximum that the hardware allows.
d.. Automatically eject media after recording: Use this setting to
enable or disable the ejection of media after recording is complete.
The information in this article applies to:
a.. Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
b.. Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Last Reviewed: 4/28/2004 (3.4)
Keywords: kbDriver kbenv kbArtTypeSHOWME kbhowto KB279157




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[traderv]

Kevin,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I really do know the fundamentals of
CD-Rom recording. My issue is whether or not the drive manufacturer is just
feeding me a line to keep me off his neck. The problem occurs when
attempting to write files to an "unformated" CD-R. I do it frequently and
easily with other CD writers. The problem drive happens to be a CD/DVD
writer. The Mfr says the problem is with WinXP and combined CD/DVD writers.
WinXP does not reliably write to CD-R when files are staged in the Explorer
window. The Mfr claims that the only reliable way to write with "drag
and drop" to his drive is with Roxio's Direct CD.

My question is whether anyone knows if there is substance to the claim that
WinXOP honestly has a problem with "drag and drop" writing to CD-R on CD/DVD
writers. It sounds like a hokey excuse to me. CD drives work well. The
combo CD/DVD writer works fine, for a spell, and then unexpectedly, for no
apparent reason stops responding to the write command and says that there is
no recordable medium present, etc...

This is the case with two different models of the mfr's CD/DVD drives.

The mfr is LG Electronics. They have had a reputation for horrible service.
They were reasonably fast in replacing my initial problem unit. Now they
are spouting this new party line.

Does anyone have experience with non:LG CD/DVD writers in drag and drop mode
with WinXP? I'm looking for ammunition with which to counter the seemingly
absurd claims by the LG people.

Is there a problem causing the symptoms I've described that is known to
Microsoft and will be fix in Longhorn?

Thanks for any suggests of help.

v