Problem: Burning programs not recognizing DVD/CD drives

[Big Chupa]

I can use DVDShrink (or Windows Media Player) to rip files from a DVD (or CD) to a folder, but any program I use to put those files onto blank media is not recognizing my DVD or CD burners. Nero gives me this error "Drive is in use by another program." Roxio Easy CD Creator gives me this error "Drive not found." And Windows Media Player says "No CD in drive."
All three of these programs were working beautifully for me up until about two months ago. The only cause I can guess at is installing Pinnacle Instantcopy, which is when the problems began. I have since uninstalled Instantcopy, and reinstalled Nero, but the problem is still there.
Any suggestions? Is there a driver or registry value I could delete that might return things to normal?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Big Chupa]

I was able to restore functionality to Nero by following these steps I found while Google'ing my problem:
"Turning of IMAPI.exe wil solve 'Drive in use by another program' problem with Nero
"How do I turn IMAPI.exe off" you say? Simple: Go to your Control Panel. If you are in "Category View", change to "Classic View" (you'll see the button in the upper left of the screen). Click on "Administrative Tools", them "Services". Scroll down to "IMAPI CD_Burning COM Service", double click on it, check to see if you are on the General Tab, and then Scroll the "Startup Type" to "Disabled", clidk on "Apply" and you're all done. No more problems with IMAPI.exe."
HOWEVER, this didn't fix Windows Media Player (it doesn't detect my CDRW drive). In My Computer, my CDRW drive doesn't have a "Recording" tab anymore, either. Any ideas on how to restore this drive to pre-Pinnacle Instantcopy functionality?

[gitreel]

You might try uninstalling the cdrw and then reinstall it. This might work. You could also try doing a system restore to before you installed instant copy.

[Cwluc]

I was able to restore functionality to Nero by following these steps I found while Google'ing my problem:
"Turning of IMAPI.exe wil solve 'Drive in use by another program' problem with Nero
"How do I turn IMAPI.exe off" you say? Simple: Go to your Control Panel. If you are in "Category View", change to "Classic View" (you'll see the button in the upper left of the screen). Click on "Administrative Tools", them "Services". Scroll down to "IMAPI CD_Burning COM Service", double click on it, check to see if you are on the General Tab, and then Scroll the "Startup Type" to "Disabled", clidk on "Apply" and you're all done. No more problems with IMAPI.exe."
HOWEVER, this didn't fix Windows Media Player (it doesn't detect my CDRW drive). In My Computer, my CDRW drive doesn't have a "Recording" tab anymore, either. Any ideas on how to restore this drive to pre-Pinnacle Instantcopy functionality?

and for those a little confused by the switching of classic view and whatnot... goto run on your start menu and enter, "services.msc /s" without the quote of course. later

[Gurm]

I have always found that removing the drive in device manager... and letting Windows redetect it... fixes those irritating "drive in use" or "no blank disc in drive" issues.

- Gurm

[handyguy]

Sounds as though you have too many writing programs open. Only open one at a time.

Also, if at anytime you install ezcd on XP, you get this effect. This is cause Xp already uses ezcd stuff. U can use the ezcd (roxio) made for xp though.

[eKa]

Had similar problem with windows 98. I think it was caused by inserting earlier version of op system rather than SE when prompted which corrupted system.

Windows would recognise the drives, could read fine however the burning programs would not recognise anything (drives that is). After hours of trying to fix, I resorted to the best solution for windows issues - re-instal -

System now works fine and all programs acknowledge the existence of the DVD and DVDRW drives !

Advice for windows 98 users, NEVER, NEVER put the wrong version of the win98 CD into the drive when prompted to insert the win98 CD else doom and disaster will soon follow. (at least that has been my experience on several occassions now)