DVD burning nightmares...it no longer works???

[apollo1980]

Hi all. I have the following:

Windows XP SP3

Sony DRU 810A internal IDE DVD-R DVD-RW DVD+R DVD+RW (flashed to latest firmware)
Dazzle DVD Complete (patched all the way up.)
Nero 6 (patched all the way up.)

I'll try to go over everything in order here...

I originally had an HP DVD 200 burner and Dazzle DVD Complete. The DVD 200 burner would burn DVD+R or DVD+RW only. DVD Complete worked just fine with it.

When the HP drive died, I installed a Sony, which burns DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW. It came with Nero 6 as a bundle. So I installed that software as well. Both Nero 6 and Dazzle DVD Complete worked just fine, except that DVD complete, for whatever reason, didn't recognize any disk inserted into the DVD burner that was a DVD-R, only the DVD+ variety.

Nero worked just fine all around.

I later upgraded to Windows XP SP 3.

Then more problems started to happen. Dazzle DVD Complete wouldn't recognize any disk format I put in the burner.

Nero stopped working when it came time to burn directly to disk, as well as trying to write to the hard drive first to create an image. I'm at work right now, so I can't give you the exact error messages yet (perhaps later).

But the Sony DVD burner does burn, as I've used DVD Decryptor and ImgBurn just fine, regardless of what format of disk I put in the drive.

So I'm assuming that the DVD burner is fine, but there is something wrong with the software.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[fritzi93]

I'd lay odds on corrupted registry entries re: filter drivers for burning software. When Nero is installed, adding any other programs with similar functions can cause conflicts. The specific symptoms vary widely, but the common denominator is a problem accessing an optical drive. You may get an error message, you may not. Manual deletion of the filter driver entries is safe if you follow the directions exactly. The relevant paragraph from MS support page:

Manually delete the registry entries
Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows
Note Before you use this method, uninstall all CD or DVD writing or recording programs. Deleting the corrupted registry entries might cause problems with any other CD or DVD writing or recording programs that are installed on your computer. Uninstalling these programs before you start will help you avoid any problems that removing the registry entries might cause. You can reinstall these programs after the problem is resolved.

This method provides step-by-step instructions for how to use Registry Editor to delete the following corrupted Registry entries:

* UpperFilters
* LowerFilters

Step 1: Start Registry Editor
Start Registry Editor.
Step 2: Delete the UpperFilters registry entry

1. In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SYSTEM, and then expand CurrentControlSet.
3. Expand Control, and then expand Class.
4. Under Class, click {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
5. In the details pane of Registry Editor, on the right side, click UpperFilters.

Note You may also see an UpperFilters.bak registry entry. You do not have to remove that entry. Click UpperFilters only.
* If you see the UpperFilters registry entry in the details pane of Registry Editor, go to step 6.
* If you do not see the UpperFilters registry entry, you still might have to remove the LowerFilters registry entry. To do this, go to "Step 3: Delete the LowerFilters registry entry."
6. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
7. Click Yes when you receive the following message:
Are you sure you want to delete this value?

The UpperFilters registry entry is removed.
Step 3: Delete the LowerFilters registry entry

1. In the details pane of Registry Editor, on the right side, click LowerFilters.

Note You might see a LowerFilters.bak registry entry. You do not have to remove that entry. Click LowerFilters only.

If you do not see the LowerFilters registry entry, unfortunately this content is unable to help you any more. Go to the "Next Steps" section for information about how you can find more solutions or more help on the Microsoft Web site.
2. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
3. Click Yes when you receive the following message:
Are you sure you want to delete this value?
The LowerFilters registry entry is removed.
4. Exit Registry Editor.

Step 4: Restart your computer
Restart your computer. After you have done this, try to access the CD or DVD drive. If you can access the CD or DVD drive, and if you do not receive an error message, the problem is resolved. You can reinstall your CD or DVD writing or recording software.

Good luck.