My PC doesn't think a CD is in the drive

[higg]

Hello All

Hope someone can help.

I'm running Windows XP. Intel processor 3ghz. Sometime when I go to My Computer I see my DVD RW shown as Drive D (which is right, so the PC knows I have a drive D there). When I click on it, I get a message telling me to insert a Disk- even when there is a CD in there. I have just finished burning a data CD on the writer (D drive). I ejected it when the burn process had completed (so the buurner is working OK). I put a sticky label on it and then re-instered it into the same drive. The light on the DVD RW flashes for a bit. If I then try to Explore the D drive, it tells me to insert a disk. Any ideas what the problem is? It has happened before and if I keep inserting/ejecting the disk, it eventually recognises the data on it. It is so frustrating.

It is a brand new Pioneer DVD RW - I bought it yesterday thinking that the problem was with my old DVD RW. Seems I wasted money as it keeps doing the same. It also does it sometimes with my CD player.

I've searched for a better driver but Windows tells me I'm using the right one. The burner works OK sometimes (as I've just burnt a CD) - other times Windows doesn't think there is a disk in.

Please can anyone help/advise what to try.

Ian

[gadgetguy]

Start by never using stcky labels again. Do a search here on Sticky Labels. There's been more than a few threads on the perils of sticky labels. Although I don't remember your specific problem identified by using them, it's a good place to start.

[higg]

Thanks for that - I'll avoid them in future. However, I don't think this is the cause of the problem, though, as it does it on unlabelled disks as well.

Cheers
Ian

[gadgetguy]

What software are you using to burn the disk? Does it read commercial disks OK? Does it have problems with disks burned on other computers? Does your burning software do a "verify" after burning? If so, does it pass? Can the disks be read on other computers? Do you only have problems with CDs or do DVDs have the same issue?

[higg]

It seems to be a problem with all kinds of disks and programmes. Commercial Films, PC Cover Disks, Home burnt disks. - the lot!! I have Nero 6 and sometimes there are problems when burrning with that. I have just used, AMAZING CD & DVD BURNER (free copy) - it seems to burn OK and so I wanted to check what was on the disk (it finalized it as part of the burn process) but my PC tells me to insert a disk. and I have Pinnacle Studio 8 and sometime that programme often says it cannot find the destination disk.

[gadgetguy]

Do I understand correctly and you had this problem on your old drive and you got a new one and you have the same problem? Maybe a damaged IDE cable, or not seated properly at both ends, or a bent pin on the motherboard connector. Is this the master device or the slave? Are you setting jumpers or using cable select? Is there another device on the same IDE cable? Have you tried reversing them? Have you tried moving to the secondary IDE (or primary if it's already on the secondary)? Or is this a SATA drive?

[higg]

I'll try swapping the DVD Drive and the DVDRW around. The DVD drive is at the top in the case, then below it is my DVDRW. Both drives seems to be hit and miss aas the problem occurs on both. It might be worth me trying a new cable to see how it goes. Could it be a software problem, do you think?

[budz]

Most newer dvd burners require a 80 wire ide cable, if one is not used the dvd burner will not work correctly. You have a new PIONEER dvd burner so it's a MUST that you buy a brand new 80 wire ide cable for it. This is a known fact for the newer models of PIONEER drives.

[CODEWERKX]

had a brand new pioneer 111....did it all with dvd's but refused to recognize a cd.......ANY cd !!!!back to best buy and returned it...new one is fine.

[TooLFooL]

It also does it sometimes with my CD player

do you mean a stand-alone cd player won't play your burnt disks either?