No disc formatting option in my new Windows XP?

[Guest]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice please.
My laptop hard disc died, so I got it fixed at a computer shop, who called
Acer and got Windows XP reloaded onto the computer (I have a rego no. stuck
under the laptop).
Now I don't seem to be able to format any discs (such as CDs or DVDs), or
even play a DVD movie on the laptop.
The laptop used to burn, format and play CDs & DVDs.
I tried using help that explained step by step how to format, but the
selection just isn't there on the file menu. Only to erase a disc.
Any ideas at all?
Thanks so much.

 

[Malke]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice please.
My laptop hard disc died, so I got it fixed at a computer shop, who called
Acer and got Windows XP reloaded onto the computer (I have a rego no. stuck
under the laptop).
Now I don't seem to be able to format any discs (such as CDs or DVDs), or
even play a DVD movie on the laptop.
The laptop used to burn, format and play CDs & DVDs.
I tried using help that explained step by step how to format, but the
selection just isn't there on the file menu. Only to erase a disc.
Any ideas at all?
Thanks so much.

Third-party burning software came preinstalled with your Acer. Install
that third-party software and you will have the ability to do what you
want. If you lost the disks you got with the Acer, then either call Acer
and get the restore disks or go to the store and buy burning software
and DVD playing software.


Malke

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My laptop hard disc died, so I got it fixed at a computer shop, who
called Acer and got Windows XP reloaded onto the computer (I have a
rego no. stuck under the laptop).

Now I don't seem to be able to format any discs (such as CDs or
DVDs), or even play a DVD movie on the laptop.
The laptop used to burn, format and play CDs & DVDs.
I tried using help that explained step by step how to format, but
the selection just isn't there on the file menu. Only to erase a
disc.

Okay - so you had a hard disk crash and the 'repair shop' you took it to
contacted Acer for you and got the stuff to reinstall Windows XP? And/Or
they installed it themselves? Or they got the drive replaced under warranty
and Acer shipped it to them with the OS installed? Or....?

What you are describing indicates that Windows XP was *all* that got
replaced as far as software on your new drive. Your old drive had some
third party software allowing you to do all that you are stating. Play
DVDs, write to DVDs, 'format' a CD or DVD... Other than strictly writing
and erasing CDs (and certain DVD-RAM drives) - Windows XP does not natively
do much in the way of writing to CD/DVDs.

You need to determine what third party software you originally had and
install it or choose a new third party software to give you the capabilities
you describe. Ahead Nero, Roxio, Cyberlink, WinDVD - some names to get you
started.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much.
Acer insist that the whole computer is sent to them to reinstall any missing
extra software (I wasn't aware that burning software was included in this
growing list), and as my warranty has expired, this would cost me quite a lot
to do.
I'm a single mother, and don't have the resources - is there any free
software on the web that I could download instead?
Thanks again,

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My laptop hard disc died, so I got it fixed at a computer shop, who
called Acer and got Windows XP reloaded onto the computer (I have a
rego no. stuck under the laptop).

Now I don't seem to be able to format any discs (such as CDs or
DVDs), or even play a DVD movie on the laptop.
The laptop used to burn, format and play CDs & DVDs.
I tried using help that explained step by step how to format, but
the selection just isn't there on the file menu. Only to erase a
disc.

Okay - so you had a hard disk crash and the 'repair shop' you took
it to contacted Acer for you and got the stuff to reinstall Windows
XP? And/Or they installed it themselves? Or they got the drive
replaced under warranty and Acer shipped it to them with the OS
installed? Or....?
What you are describing indicates that Windows XP was *all* that got
replaced as far as software on your new drive. Your old drive had
some third party software allowing you to do all that you are
stating. Play DVDs, write to DVDs, 'format' a CD or DVD... Other
than strictly writing and erasing CDs (and certain DVD-RAM drives)
- Windows XP does not natively do much in the way of writing to
CD/DVDs.
You need to determine what third party software you originally had
and install it or choose a new third party software to give you the
capabilities you describe. Ahead Nero, Roxio, Cyberlink, WinDVD -
some names to get you started.

Full function applications (some free) for CD/DVD burning would be:

CDBurnerXP Pro
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

DeepBurner Free
http://www.deepburner.com/

ImgBurn (burn ISO images)
http://www.imgburn.com/

Final Burner
http://www.protectedsoft.com/products.php

Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or
Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio.

Ahead Nero
http://www.nero.com/

Roxio Easy Media Creator
http://www.roxio.com/

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much, I am searching tucows now for some shareware to replace
the Acer extras that are not included when my repair shop rang Acer for the
XP download.
I can't afford a non-free package.
Thanks again.

 

[Tony Luxton]

From the "shutting the stable door" dept: there's a lesson to be learned
here. It's a bit late for you now, but don't ever buy a machine without the
installation disks - if there aren't any, just walk away.

I appreciate that you're on a limited budget, but even if it was
second-hand, or sold at a discount, it should have had disks with it for all
the software that was on the HD.

Anyway, you've been given good advice by the others, so good luck!

Regards Tony.

 

[Vanguard]

in message

Thanks so much.
Acer insist that the whole computer is sent to them to reinstall any
missing
extra software (I wasn't aware that burning software was included in
this
growing list), and as my warranty has expired, this would cost me
quite a lot
to do.
I'm a single mother, and don't have the resources - is there any free
software on the web that I could download instead?

Did you install a CD/DVD burner drive after you got the Acer computer?
If so, the CD/DVD burning software you need to install came with that
drive that was added after the computer purchase.

Did any Windows install CDs come with the Acer? If not, is there a
hidden partition with the recovery image? What do the computer's
manuals say on how to restore the operating system? You could ask Acer
to send you the recovery or restore CDs necessary to reinstall the
operating system as they are required to provide a means for reinstall.
The computer doesn't need to be under warranty for Acer to send you
install CDs - assuming that CD/DVD burning software was ever provided by
them versus from the maker of the CD/DVD burner drive. Then you don't
have to send your computer anywhere and instead just wait for the CDs to
arrive in the mail during which time you can use your computer for other
tasks (but save any data files before doing the OS restore).

For free CD/DVD burning software, Google for "CDburnerXP Pro". I have
Nero installed because it came with the CD/DVD drive but I also have
CDburnerXP Pro installed and have some limited use of it. Sometimes I
tire of the wizards in Nero.

 

[Vanguard]

in message

Thanks very much, I am searching tucows now for some shareware to
replace
the Acer extras that are not included when my repair shop rang Acer
for the
XP download.
I can't afford a non-free package.

CDburnerXP Pro is freeware. Shareware lets you try but expects you to
actually PAY for their product. Some rely on your honesty. Others know
that users will steal whenever they have a chance and will expire or
cripple their product after the trial period. If you want something
that continues to work after the trial period then get freeware.

 

[glee]

Why don't you have the discs that came with the laptop? If you bought it new, it
had to come with restore CDs that would reinstall Windows and all the extra
software, setting it back to the way it was the day you bought it.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Why don't you have the discs that came with the laptop? If you
bought it new, it had to come with restore CDs that would reinstall
Windows and all the extra software, setting it back to the way it
was the day you bought it.

Not necessarily.

Some OEM systems do not come with any CDs/DVDs, opting to either have the
end-user create them using a built-in application OR they do not even have
that option and a restoration from the hard disk drive itself is the only
option given.

 

[glee]

Yes, but we are not talking about *some* OEM, we are referring to an Acer laptop
pre-loaded with XP. They DO supply recovery discs.
If we were discussing a recent Dell laptop, then no, the user would not be likely to
have received a disc.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Why don't you have the discs that came with the laptop? If you
bought it new, it had to come with restore CDs that would reinstall
Windows and all the extra software, setting it back to the way it
was the day you bought it.

Not necessarily.

Some OEM systems do not come with any CDs/DVDs, opting to either
have the end-user create them using a built-in application OR they
do not even have that option and a restoration from the hard disk
drive itself is the only option given.

Yes, but we are not talking about *some* OEM, we are referring to
an Acer laptop pre-loaded with XP. They DO supply recovery discs.
If we were discussing a recent Dell laptop, then no, the user would
not be likely to have received a disc.

While that is true - Acer does a mixture of the two.
They have a hidden partition and restoration CD/DVDs. They are used
together in most cases.

And this whole thread had to do with missing individual components - for
which most 'recovery processes' such as these are fairly worthless. They
are often 'all or nothing' propositions. Sure - you can do a
non-destructive restore with a few - but even then - you are not merely
installing one application over - you are restoring images of them all.

If it did come with the CD/DVDs (which I would bet it did in this case) they
were probably tossed in a drawer or thrown out because most users do not
realize their importance. And saying they are unlikely to receive a disk
with a Dell - You can receive a disk with the Dell, you must choose the $10
option to get an actual Windows installation CD --> instead of the whole
recovery process crud.

My point was quite simple - so there would be no misunderstanding later if
the topic was searched for...

Not all OEMs have the same method of recovery. While Acer uses a two method
process (that can be somewhat modified and 'tweaked' into a single method
process of just the CD/DVDs), other OEMs (Sony & HP comes to mind) make you
create the CD/DVDs for the later possibility of a restoration (and only
allow you to do so ONCE in some cases) and still others have nothing but
restoration partitions. My goal was not to debate - but to make clear that
someone reading this not assume that what they might be considering getting
into is the 'same situation' - as they might have a different restoration
method.

As this is far off topic - let me end with something on topic for the OP...

You wanted an easy/free CD/DVD recorder... I recently started using a new
one that has not even made it to the list I sent earlier - although it seems
much more stable/better interface/easy to use...

InfraRecorder
http://sourceforge.net/projects/infrarecorder


And yes - it is free!

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much for this - will go and search for it now - so far, I've had no
luck finding free software that burns and formats!

 

[Guest]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the hindsight, but this laptop was a (new) gift from my now ex
husband. If I had bought it, there would be a few things I would have done
differently, that's for sure.

Cheers.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Why don't you have the discs that came with the laptop? If you
bought it new, it had to come with restore CDs that would reinstall
Windows and all the extra software, setting it back to the way it
was the day you bought it.

Not necessarily.

Some OEM systems do not come with any CDs/DVDs, opting to either
have the end-user create them using a built-in application OR they
do not even have that option and a restoration from the hard disk
drive itself is the only option given.

Yes, but we are not talking about *some* OEM, we are referring to
an Acer laptop pre-loaded with XP. They DO supply recovery discs.
If we were discussing a recent Dell laptop, then no, the user would
not be likely to have received a disc.

And I believe this:
(Posted elsewhere in this thread...)

Thanks for the hindsight, but this laptop was a (new) gift from my
now ex husband. If I had bought it, there would be a few things I
would have done differently, that's for sure.

Would pretty well explain where the CDs/DVDs might be...

It is entirely possible the 'now ex husband' has the CDs/DVDs and/or threw
them away in spite. *grin*

 

[glee]

While that is true - Acer does a mixture of the two.
They have a hidden partition and restoration CD/DVDs. They are used together in
most cases.

While Acers do come with both, they are independent of each other, are not "used
together"

And this whole thread had to do with missing individual components - for which
most 'recovery processes' such as these are fairly worthless. They are often 'all
or nothing' propositions. Sure - you can do a non-destructive restore with a
few - but even then - you are not merely installing one application over - you are
restoring images of them all.

The OP just had the entire system wiped out and replaced with apparently all the OEM
software missing. From my perspective, using the OEM recovery disc if available
would be the fastest and simplest way to get all the missing individual components
back.....hardly "worthless" IMO.

If it did come with the CD/DVDs (which I would bet it did in this case) they were
probably tossed in a drawer or thrown out because most users do not realize their
importance. And saying they are unlikely to receive a disk with a Dell - You can
receive a disk with the Dell, you must choose the $10 option to get an actual
Windows installation CD --> instead of the whole recovery process crud.

....and I have not seen one Dell system yet where the user actually noticed that
option and ordered the CD for the extra $10. Hence my specific use of the word
"Unlikely". ;-)

My point was quite simple - so there would be no misunderstanding later if the
topic was searched for...

Not all OEMs have the same method of recovery. While Acer uses a two method
process (that can be somewhat modified and 'tweaked' into a single method process
of just the CD/DVDs),

That's not correct. No modifying or tweaking is involved to use just the discs with
Acers. The recovery can be done with the discs exclusively, out of the box. The
hidden partition scenario they use is totally separate. I have an Acer here and
have done this quite recently.

other OEMs (Sony & HP comes to mind) make you create the CD/DVDs for the later
possibility of a restoration (and only allow you to do so ONCE in some cases) and
still others have nothing but restoration partitions. My goal was not to debate -
but to make clear that someone reading this not assume that what they might be
considering getting into is the 'same situation' - as they might have a different
restoration method.

No problem....understood, and I agree. We are just approaching from differing
perspectives. I am working with the fact that the system in question is an Acer
notebook and going from there, looking at the Op's specific issues. Your response
is attempting to be more general or universal, that includes all notebooks. I am
less concerned about posterity, I suppose. ;-)

And I believe this:
(Posted elsewhere in this thread...)



Would pretty well explain where the CDs/DVDs might be...

It is entirely possible the 'now ex husband' has the CDs/DVDs and/or threw them
away in spite. *grin*

Ouch! That's very possible. Gotta love relationships!

As this is far off topic - let me end with something on topic for the OP...

You wanted an easy/free CD/DVD recorder... I recently started using a new one
that has not even made it to the list I sent earlier - although it seems much more
stable/better interface/easy to use...

InfraRecorder
http://sourceforge.net/projects/infrarecorder


And yes - it is free!

Hey, thanks for that....another free CD utility to try out. Here's a more
descriptive link, for the OP:
http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/


I like Silentnight Microburner:
http://www.silentnight2004.com/microburner.html
The current version 6 is not free, but not expensive.

I prefer the older versions 4 and 5, which were free.
While v.4 is hard to find, v.5 is still available from a number of locations if one
searches.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

When you talk about "formatting" a CD you are likely referring to packet
writing software that uses the UDF format. Popular packet writing software
includes products like InCD from Ahead (Nero), or Roxio's Drag To Disc. As
far as I know there is no free packet writing software.

While packet writing software is handy in terms of being able to "format" a
disc and then save directly to that disc like it was a giant floppy there
are problems with it. The biggest problem has to do with the reality that
rewriting continuously to the same disc causes the media to, in a sense,
crystallize. One day you attempt to access the disc and it reports as being
unreadable. Your data will be inaccessible without third party recovery
tools. ISOBuster sometimes works to extract data from a damaged packet
formatted disc. Another problem has to do with the way people handle these
discs. One should always eject the disc after writing to it and not leave
the disc in the drive. Not doing so can cause the disc to become
inaccessible if the VFAT is not written to the disc before the system shuts
down.

 

[Guest]

Apologies for my delay in replying.
Firstly, let me clarify, there were no recovery discs supplied with this
brand-new, out-of-the-box laptop, a fact verified with the Acer help desk -
system recovery is only possible from the hidden partitions according to
their advice. They verified that there is no recovery disc. Otherwise, I
would have said I threw them in a drawer somewhere, or forgot to create one
in the intial start-up (I did say NOW ex husband, not then - LOL)

 

[Guest]

Apologies for the delay in replying. Thank you for this valuable information
- I'm still confused though. The computer won't "read" my unformatted
dvd/cds, but will read formatted ones, so in order to write photographs, etc
(i.e. backing-up) to a CD, or copying movies, how can I do so unless I format
first?
Thanks again!

When you talk about "formatting" a CD you are likely referring to packet
writing software that uses the UDF format. Popular packet writing software
includes products like InCD from Ahead (Nero), or Roxio's Drag To Disc. As
far as I know there is no free packet writing software.

While packet writing software is handy in terms of being able to "format" a
disc and then save directly to that disc like it was a giant floppy there
are problems with it. The biggest problem has to do with the reality that
rewriting continuously to the same disc causes the media to, in a sense,
crystallize. One day you attempt to access the disc and it reports as being
unreadable. Your data will be inaccessible without third party recovery
tools. ISOBuster sometimes works to extract data from a damaged packet
formatted disc. Another problem has to do with the way people handle these
discs. One should always eject the disc after writing to it and not leave
the disc in the drive. Not doing so can cause the disc to become
inaccessible if the VFAT is not written to the disc before the system shuts
down.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Thanks so much for this - will go and search for it now - so far, I've had
no
luck finding free software that burns and formats!