Can Nero 5.5.x.x and Nero Express 6 work on same computer?

[Ronaldus]

My old Pioneer A06 burner came bundled with Nero 5.5.10.35. My new BenQ 1620 burner came bundled with Nero OEM Suite (Nero Express 63117).

I decided to put the BenQ on the same computer as the Pioneer. Just as I feared, my already installed Nero 5.5.10.35 says it's not allowed to work with the BenQ drive.

- Can I install Nero OEM Suite (Nero Express 63117) for the BenQ on the same computer without affecting my Nero 5.5.10.35 installation which works with the Pioneer?

- If the answer to this is no, will Nero Express 63117 be able to work with the Pioneer A06 or will it give me the not allowed to work message?

The bottomline is this: can I get both the Pioneer and BenQ drives to work on the same computer with Nero (either the same or different versions of Nero)? If people already know it's not possible, then there's no point in me doing a lot of trial and error and software reinstallation.

Thanks.

[Jayhawk]

There will be hard core Nero users that can probably give you an absolute answer but here's been my experience:

The Nero Express version that came with your BenQ drive will work with the Pioneer. As you found out, the older Nero version will not work with the newer BenQ. Nero versions use common DLL's (the newer version will replace DLL's from the older version) so running two entirely different versions on the same computer will either not work, or may give unpredictable results.

I would recommend uninstalling the older version and installing the newer version.

[lordsmurf]

You can do it, I did it, but I forgot how. Look for posts I made in Jan-Feb 2005. Somebody suggested something to me, and it worked. I surely replied with my solution.

I believe it was an old trick, where I hid the old installation (put it in a zip and delete the 5.5 files from the hd), install 6 is a different folder, and then unzip 5.5 back to where it was earlier. Nothing should overlap. Nero doesn't use a lot of shared files, it's pretty well isolated to it's own program folder.

[thevoelk]

I know it's not the option you're looking for, but Ahead has an upgrade option from the OEM version to the full version for $55.99 to download. I know some hate the software, but I use RecordNow Max4.5 to burn with my Pioneer and NEC drives, and Decryptor for my LG.

[lordsmurf]

I know it's not the option you're looking for, but Ahead has an upgrade option from the OEM version to the full version for $55.99 to download. I know some hate the software, but I use RecordNow Max4.5 to burn with my Pioneer and NEC drives, and Decryptor for my LG.

I think more people hate Nero than RNM. I use RNM on my 109 drive.

[thevoelk]

I meant some hate Nero, not RNM. After you pointed out the new hacked version for 109s, I was finally able to use it again.

[Ronaldus]

Lord Smurf, I did what you said. Actually, I renamed the Nero 5.5 installation directory, installed version 6, let it try to remove the older Nero, and then renamed the 5.5 directory back. I had to make a new shortcut and re-enter my serial number, but 5.5 and 6.0 both work now.

EXCEPT for 3 issues...

#1. My Preferences keep getting changed if I change between versions - even when I don't go into the Preferences or Configuration section. This is annoying, but I can live with it. Specifically, it likes to turn back on eject disc after burn and the CDDB settings.

#2. When I burned with 5.5 after this install, my volume label got cut off after 16 characters. In the past I was always able to put up to 32 character volume labels using ISO9660 and ISO Level 1 (not Level 2) for the highest compatibility mode. Maybe a setting got reset that I forgot about. Does anyone recall which Nero 5.5.x.x setting controls the volume label length?

#3. Although Nero 6 says it supports the BenQ 1620 (and Nero 5.5 says it does not), the 2 burns I've tried with Nero 6 on the BenQ have failed in the middle. However, I was able to use another program to burn an ISO image on the BenQ with excellent results. I still have more tests to do to see if I can isolate the problem.

I don't know if this is due to me not understanding Nero 6 or it has problems. I saw there are some freeware tools to deal with converting files to ISO, such as ImgTools and Folder2Iso, and IsoBuster, but they have little info about them. Hopefully 1 of them will do what I need to let the ISO program do the burning on the BenQ.

[lordsmurf]

#1 Sorry, deal with it. Problem of dual installs.
#2 Flaw of Nero 6, why I hate it. Sucks.
#3 Not surprised. Nero is not that good anymore.

[Ronaldus]

Lord Smurf,

#1. I checked the Registry and noticed that Nero shares one set of entries, so I'm sure that is why. If nobody knows of a workaround, yes I'll have to live with it.

#2. I just read about the 16 character volume label problem of Nero 6. However, I don't know why my Nero 5.5 won't use 32 character volume labels any more. The threads I found did not explain that or give any solution. I know that none of the files in my Nero directory changed, so it is either a Registry setting or a shared file between 5.5 and 6 that is responsible. Any suggestions or ideas on the volume label?

#3. After some thread searching, it looks like ImgTools will take care of what I need eliminating the need to use Nero 6 at all.

Now I'm regretting having installed Nero 6. I made an image of my hard drive before installing it just in case I had to restore, but that's a pain. I could try to start from scratch with 5.5.