Driver not burning CDs, but still reads them

[Menalaus]

Pretty self-explanatory. One day I booted up my PC and a Windows error message popped up on the tray at the bottom saying that the burning software on the CD drive was disabled because running it would cause Windows to become unstable. Every time I try to burn a CD, nothing happens, but the driver still reads. I want to back up my files because I'm switching over to a new rig and I want to reformat this hard drive, but you can see this has me at a dead end. Any ideas?

 

[robisbell]

okay, what burning software are you using? what make and model of burner?

 

[Menalaus]

I wasn't using any burning software, actually. I was just opening up the blank CD, dropping the files, and then writing them. Also,

HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-H21L

EDIT: I tried downloading driver updates for it, but it involves burning an .iso onto a CD...which kind of defeats the whole purpose because I can't burn anything.

 

[robisbell]

what required you to burn a iso to update?

Motherboard Manufacturer with Model and BIOS Revision:
CPU Manufacturer and Model:
RAM Manufacturer and Model:
PSU Manufacturer and Model:
HDD(s): Manufacturer and Model:

 

[Menalaus]

This update:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...oftwareitem=pv-41633-1

Motherboard Manufacturer with Model and BIOS Revision: Unknown (came with the PC)
CPU Manufacturer and Model: AMD 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+
RAM Manufacturer and Model: Unknown, 1GB X2 (came with the PC)
PSU Manufacturer and Model: Apevia ATX-AS680W-BL ATX12V
HDD(s): Manufacturer and Model: Seagate ST3250824AS (250GB)

The only thing that I've replaced in my current PC is the video card and the PSU, and both were done over a year ago. The optical drive only stopped working a few days ago. As I said, it still reads CDs, it just doesn't burn them any more.

 

[robisbell]

not knowing what motherboard, bios version or what make and model of ram, makes it nearly impossible to diagnose the issue.
you could install PC Wizard to see if you can get the motherboard model and the ram model.
I have seen so many issues with odd wattage power supplies in the last couple of years, it's not even funny anymore.
http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php
if that can not tell you, you're going to have to open the system and inspect the motherboard for any model numbers and the same for the ram.

 

[robisbell]

I know you can update a optical drives firmware without having to do any of those steps.

 

[Menalaus]

Motherboard: ASUSTek Computer INC. 3.02
RAM: Hyundai Electronics DDR2-SDRAM PC2-4300

EDIT: Apparently for HP, they don't make it that convenient for you.

Here is also the message I get:

http://img.photobucket.com/alb...n582bc/PC/Problem1.jpg

 

[robisbell]

okay, a HP machine, what exact model of PC is it?

 

[Menalaus]

It's an HP Pavilion a1540n.

 

[robisbell]

okay, had you done anything, installed anything, uninstalled anything, or have any power outtages ot blips before this happened? have you run a disk cleaner through the drive to see if it might be that? in PC Wizard, what does it show for voltage readings?

 

[robisbell]

still looking for a easier way to update the firmware in case.

 

[Menalaus]

I've been having problems with adware for the past couple of weeks, but it's been completely removed, and the problem didn't start up but a few days ago. As far as I know, I first noticed the problem when I bought a new spindle of DVD-RWs to back everything up. When I put one into the drive and started to drag things into the writeable folder, I kept getting Windows error messages telling me that the files couldn't write to the DVD, and I had an option to retry, skip, or cancel. Every time I clicked retry I just got the same dialogue box. When I tried to use some of my old CD-RWs (one which I just burned with not but a week ago), I got the same thing as well.

Voltage reading: 1.36V

 

[robisbell]

that's really odd. I'd run http://Housecall.trendmicro.com and have it fully scan and clean all drives and files, then I'd run CCleaner till both the cleaner and registry option can be run without any errors.

 

[robisbell]

okay, here's a site that deals with updating a optical drives firmware.

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

 

[Menalaus]

Still looking for proper driver updates. Also furthering the point:

http://img.photobucket.com/alb...n582bc/PC/Problem2.jpg

At least that's what Windows tells me.

 

[robisbell]

run housecall, then run ccleaner as I instructed. and then reboot and then try do a simple burn test.

ah, looks like a driver was installed recently, do you use any of the software listed, especially anything from Roxio or Real?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Menalaus
Pretty self-explanatory. One day I booted up my PC and a Windows error message popped up on the tray at the bottom saying that the burning software on the CD drive was disabled because running it would cause Windows to become unstable. Every time I try to burn a CD, nothing happens, but the driver still reads. I want to back up my files because I'm switching over to a new rig and I want to reformat this hard drive, but you can see this has me at a dead end. Any ideas?

See the entry on my blogsite (see my .sig) concerning CD/DVD Rom problems. Post to this forum the upperfilter and lowerfilter values you have in the indicated registry key. From there I suspect we can quickly get you up and working.

If you're a bit more confident, just read the CD/DVD Rom problem section, read the associated Microsoft articles, and (I'm guessing, based on what you've written) remove the bad filter drivers, and your problem should be solved.

 

[Menalaus]

Housecall and ccleaner came up clean. Still doesn't work.

Lower Values

PxHelp20
CDR4_2K


Upper Values

Cdralw2k
GEARAspiWDM

 

[dclive]

Remove the values, as described in the blog page (not the upperfilters/lowerfilters words on the left, but the values as you've typed them, above, from the right side of regedt), reboot, and let us know how things go. Write down a list of what you're changing so you can go back if you must.

 

[Menalaus]

Ok, I did that, and now CD-RWs can burn, but DVD-RWs can't, and what's more is that the drive no longer ejects as well.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Menalaus
Ok, I did that, and now CD-RWs can burn, but DVD-RWs can't, and what's more is that the drive no longer ejects as well.

Windows doesn't support native DVD burning. If that worked previously, it was because one of the add-in programs you installed gave it that functionality.

If that's a critical feature, install *the newest version* of your preferred burner software. There are quite a few free versions, so it may be easiest to simply get one of those.

Re: ejecting - you cannot get it to eject now in any circumstances? When you press the eject button what happens? When you right-click on the drive and select eject what happens? More information and detail is required.

 

[Menalaus]

When I press the eject button nothing happens. When I go into My Computer, right click the CD and select eject, nothing also happens. I'm going to restart and see if that does the trick.

 

[Menalaus]

Ok, it did, and now I'm trying to use DVD burning software to burn a DVD, and it's failing every time (using Nero trial).

 

[dclive]

Did you reinstall Nero since you removed the four filter drivers?