DVD writing is extremely slow in XP

[davewave]

I used to have w2k and both of my writers were working fine with Nero 6 and other writing programs.
I installed XP from scratch, installed Nero 6, have applied the recommended fixes from their site.

I was getting complete lockups every time the progress bar got to 3% (which is when the buffer fills and it actually starts writing).

I have changed the IDE channels from DMA to PIO, and now it will write, BUT painfully slowly.
It takes 51 mins to write an 8x disk and the CPU is at 100% the whole time (it's a P4 2GHz Intel).

I think this is an XP problem, as other writing programs do the same.

Any suggestions on how to get it to work at the proper speed?

[redwudz]

It takes 51 mins to write an 8x disk and the CPU is at 100% the whole time

That's why you don't want to use PIO mode. If it's not working properly in DMA mode, you have other problems. You don't want to use PIO mode for much of anything with XP.

Does it do the same in DMA mode with ImgBurn? There are two buffers involved here, the one in the computer and the one in the burner. The burner one is fairly small, maybe a couple of MBs. The one in the computer is likely using the hard drive and the size and location would be set by the burning program. Usually buffer underrun would just cause slow burning, not lockup the computer. Most burners have 'burn proof' or similar to pause the burner till the data catches up. Make sure that is also on in Nero.

If you are using Nero, it generates a burn log file. Take a look at that or post it here and it may give you some clues on why it's locking up.

[davewave]

It turns out to be a more general XP problem, ALL writing programs do the same.

I have removed all the ASPI stuff and it doesn't lock up the PC and I am able to click on the 'cancel' button to stop the writing.

If the writing program I use doesn't have a simulate function, then it writes 2 or 3mm before it locks up.

I have searched loads of places for a fix and tried loads of updates, but it seems there are a lot of people with this problem and Microsoft don't have a fix for it yet.

I wish I didn't change to XP. (I refuse to call it an upgrade, as I am worse off).

I usually say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
But my w2k registry was completely foobared, and my w2k disk won't boot any more so I had to put XP on. I did format my HD and start from scratch though.

[budz]

put your drive in DMA mode. try creating a ISO image and use IMGBURN as redwudz suggested. it's not a xp problem and don't use the xp writing program for burning dvd media or cdr media. you're better off using IMGBURN than NERO BURN. what is the brand of your dvd burner? that would be helpful to post.

[davewave]

I have a Philips SPD2400L1 (16x) and a Sony DRU-500A (4x).
I have managed to get all my drives running with DMA.
I did have HD0 and the philips on IDE0, HD1 and Sony on IDE1
I now have both hard disks on IDE0 and both writers on IDE1.
It's an Intel 82801BA Ultra ATA controller, and I am using the Intel application Accelerator driver.
Both HDs are running at UDMA-5, the Sony at UDMA-2 and philips at UDMA-4.

There aren't any dvd writing programs within XP, just CD.
I have tried Nero, Imgburn & Burn4free, they all do the same, just write a couple of millimetres and then stop (usually locking up the PC).
It's as if the buffer is filling up (it's set to 80Mb in Nero), it's writing it, and then not being able to read any more from the source (an external firewire drive). (I have tried from an internal SCSI too, to eliminate that factor).

The reason I think it is an XP problem, is that the only thing that has changed is the OS.
I am using the same disks & drives as before. PIO mode will work, but I need to change the IDE drivers to generic and then set all drives to PIO. But it is painfully slow.

My motherboard is quite old (one of the first that would take a P4-2Ghz), I have tried to do a bios update, but can't find one that is free.
It's an Award bios v6.00PG with an Intel 845 AGP chipset.

I've done a firmware update on the philips drive too, it's now version Y5H4.

[KTH]

What other software besides Nero do you have installed that is capable of writing to CD/DVD. Conflicts between packet writing software like Nero InCD and Roxio Drag to Disc for example can cause CD/DVD burning problems. Recently when I did a clean install My Roxio EZ Media Creators Packet Writing software was conflicting with Packet Writing software that was installed when I Installed Ulead's DVD Movie Factory. The Ulead software installed this without me knowing about it. After un-installing the Ulead packet writing software the burning function worked fine again.

[budz]

davewave: What brand of dvd media are you using? Use DVDINFO PRO or DVD IDENTIFIER to find out the MEDIA ID.

BTW INTEL APPLICATION ACCELERATOR is a known bug for dvd burners. Uninstall if you can and see what happens. Also try new ide cables for your drives. Your PHILIPS drive is a rebadged LITEON drive. Check out the LITEON forum at CdFreaks.com.