Memorex DVD+R/-RW problem

[lou.g]

I have a Dell 4550 with WinXP. It came with a Samsung CD-R/RW 240B recorder which has worked perfectly. I recently installed a Memorex DVD+/-RW Dual X-1 recorder and it plays everything I put in it. However, I can't get the computer to recognize blank disks. I uninstalled,
reinstalled Nero and Roxio to no avail. I reset jumper switches fron CSEL to Master and Slave. I switched the units so the DVD was 1 and CD 2. No change. I spoke to a Tech rep at Memorex and he suggested the problem was a software incompatibility. I kept getting the error message: "E:\ is not accessible. Incorrect function". So I searched the Internet and found some similar problems at various newsgroups and one noted that if upon right clicking the drive and selecting "Properties", if properties doesn't show "Recording" it's not recognized. Both show recording, however, if I click on "Enable CD recording on this drive", it removes it from the other
drive. There is no "Enable DVD recording on this drive". I've ran the Dell DOS diagnose disk and it indicates both drives are functioning well. I've got the latest BIOS, ran whatever checks I found on the Dell and Microsoft websites but can't find anymore on my problem. Also, many articles recommend that in the Device Manager, IDE controllers,
advanced setting, transfer mode; set the setting to "DMA, if available", which I've done. However, the CD Current Transfer Mode indicates "Ultra DMA Mode", while the DVD indicates "PIO Mode". I currently have both drives set at CSEL and have removed both Roxio and Nero. I selected the
DVD drive in Properties as the one to record. When there is no disk in the DVD drive, in Explorer it reads DVD-RW Drive (E. When I insert a blank dvd disk it changes to CD Drive (E). If I right click it shows the disk as Type: CD Drive; Used space: 0; Free space: 0. I just can't think
of any other troubleshooting checks. I don't want to reinstall either Roxio or Nero unless I'm confident I don't have to uninstall and clean out the registry again. I'm sure the Memorex drive is ok, but....

[stvn]

Well im not entirly an expert by any means but going back just a while I KNOW that roxio & nero had problems when running on the same system and it was always advisable to choose one or the other but NEVER both.

As i say im not sure about the compatablity issue now between the two rivals but judging from what youve said this is the most likley. I havnt installed any roxio products since Nero many moons ago as Nero takes care ov most my burning needs. Try uninstalling one and give it a try

[tphaggerty]

XP SP1 has a known problem that will reset DMA mode to PIO if multiple errors are encountered (6 or so). The counter is never reset, so it can happen out of the blue (there is a fix on the MS site, but you have to get it from your vendor).

To fix this, you can do one of 2 things, remove the IDE device (Using My Computer|Properties...) and reboot, XP will redetect and should set up both as DMA. OR, you can reset the device to "PIO only" reboot, go back and reset to "DMA if available". At this point, it should keep the DMA.

I would also make sure that your DVD drive is first, CD second on the cable. The DVD should be connected to the cable end that says "first drive" or maybe "A (C) drive".

I have multiple versions of Roxio/Nero etc and never had a real problem with all of them installed at the same time.

[lou.g]

Thank you for the input. I've done all you've suggested and now
the bios recognizes it correctly as the first drive, with the CD as the second drive. I have the DVD first and CD second in the cable select jumper settings. I reinstalled the default Easy CD Creator 5 with the Microsoft update. I do not have Roxio 6 nor Nero installed. However, in Explorer view, the CD is CD-RW Drive (D) and the DVD is DVD-RW Drive (E). If I right click and select properties with no disc inserted, the CD is identified as the Samsung; the DVD is identified as Memorex. When I insert a disc in the CD drive, it changes to CD Drive (D). The DVD drive changes to CD Drive (E) with a disc. Both indicate 0 used and 0 free space. Both identify correctly in Properties, but both indicate in Settings, Media Type: Device is not ready.

[tphaggerty]

XP is going to try and use the drive letter designations you originally had. Try going back to My Computer/Properties and deleting both the CD and DVD drives (not the IDE card), then rebooting. This should correctly setup the drive letters. You can also use the Disk Management tool to rename the drive letters without rebooting.

Once you've done that, you should be able to insert a CD or DVD into the drive and have XP see it.

A final alternative is to pull the CD drive altogether. All of my computers only have DVD writers or CD writers, but not both.

[lou.g]

I did as you suggested; no change. After all my troubles is it possible there is something wrong with the DVD drive instead of the computer or software? I can't understand why it plays everything but discs appear as "blank" regardless of what I do...

[lou.g]

After reading other posts and other forums I uninstalled Roxio and reinstalled Nero without InCD. I bought Fujifilm DVD+R discs and it worked. I then tried a new Maxell disc and it worked. In the process of my trying to get something burned or written on the discs I previously tried (Memorex and Maxell), is it possible that Nero's InCd or Roxio's EasyCd could have left some type "imprint" that caused burning software or the Memorex drive not to read the discs? As all the discs read the same regardless of how I read them (example: System; Hardware; DVD; Properties; Volume; Populate), how do I know a disc is valid? I'll "coaster" the old discs, but it's very nerve wracking to find out perhaps it was InCD and/or EasyCD that caused the problem in the first place. Or, were the discs bad? Nonetheless, thanks to those that gave me suggestions. Hopefully, the problem is fixed.

[stvn]

with the CD as the second drive. I have the DVD first and CD second in the cable select jumper settings.

Id open the box back up m8 n put the drives n HD on Master n slave repectivly never trust cable select unless you have to ( dell )
always better to tell them what to do instead ov letting em decide whats best themselves