Cannot Burn CD's - HELP

Since we got out new computer I can not burn anything. My Father said he got what we needed but I don't know why it doesn't work. Here is what was included in our package.

Dimension E310 Series, Intel Pentium 4 Processor 521 (2.80GHz) and 1MB cache
1 311-5382 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz $0.00
1 310-4164 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Desktop Solution $0.00
1 320-4746 19 in (19 in viewable) E196FP Flat Panel Display $0.00
1 320-4530 Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelator 900 $0.00
1 341-3254 80GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM) $0.00
1 420-5450 PC Backup, 90-day Trial English, for Dimension $0.00
1 341-2782 No Floppy Drive Requested $0.00
1 420-5646 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, English without Media, for Dimension $0.00
1 412-0688 Image Restore $0.00
1 412-0721 Dimension Dell Support $0.00
1 420-4927 Windows Media Player 10 $0.00
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access $0.00
1 420-5460 Complimentary courses: Look for EU icon $0.00
1 420-5476 Dell Direct Download $0.00
1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application $0.00
1 310-5678 Mouse included with Keyboard purchase $0.00
1 430-0412 Integrated NIC card $0.00
1 313-3840 56K PCI Data Fax Modem $0.00
1 412-0705 Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 $0.00
1 313-4112 16X DVD-ROM and 16X DVD+/-RW $0.00
1 420-5781 Sonic Cineplayer $0.00
1 420-5790 Roxio Creator Basic/MyDVD Basic $0.00
1 313-2758 Integrated Audio $0.00
1 313-3484 AS501 10W Flat Panel Stereo Speakers with Power Adapter for E153,E173,E193 Flat Panels $0.00
1 412-0850 Network Associates McAfee 7.0,English,90-day Trial $0.00
1 412-0687 NETZERO ISP $0.00
1 420-3224 Broadband Icon for Inspiron $0.00
1 412-0787 AOL for Broadband $0.00
1 420-5256 Netscape ISP $0.00
1 412-0449 Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition,Dimension,DHS $0.00

1 310-7164 Dell PC Quick Guide for Vista $0.00
1 420-5795 Roxio Creator Deluxe/MyDVD Deluxe, for Inspiron/Dimension $35.54

1 464-5503 PC Restore Recovery System by Symantec $0.00
1 412-0856 Paint Shop Pro Standard $0.00
1 412-0865 Basic digital Music,Photo and Game experience $0.00


Can anyone help? Thanks

 

First of all, Windows XP is capable of burning CD,s - (Vista can burn DVD'S.)
Have you tried burning a CD, by putting in a CD, and when windows asks, open it to see files/ or, if Windows opens it, you should see a blank window (no files on it) - just go to the top, and click the drop downs for "write these files to CD".
If you have Creative other writing software,for DVD writing, like Roxio, then , if it will not write to DVD, you may have to disable XP's writing ability, for it to work (sometimes clashes, with other writing software)

 

No matter what I put in - DVDRW, CD, CDRW it says there is no disc - please enter a disc.

 

Try uninstalling the drive/s in Device Manager and rebooting.Windows will reinstall them, on restart.
If that does not work, try removing your burning program/s , shutting down, then restarting (to clear out debris) - Then reinstall.

Roxio, (and Nero 0 can have little niggles.

 

Microsoft have a link on this problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316529

Editing the registry can be tricky (filters mentioned)

 

Just to make sure I am clear - I CAN play games and cds. Those work fine. But blank ones always come up as please enter disc.

 

http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/General Information/000008GN

 

Okay I am trying to do last link you gave me -

it says
Expand Storage, then expand Removable Storage and then expand Libraries (Expand by double clicking

when I expand storage, then get removable storage, it does not expand for "libraries" it just says there are no items to view

 

This can be the problem - looking up the filters.
I found it better , to uninstall roxio, - but you need to go to the Roxio site for the information on complete uninstall (like NERO, it is difficult to uninstall , but you have to remove it completely, or it will cause the problems, still.)
http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000086CR
This explains the process.

 

Two questions:

Are you still using Windows Media Player 10 or did you update to 11?

What is the model of DVD drive? Right-click My Computer>Properties>Hardware>Device Manager click on + sign by DVD drives.

*********
Looking around it could have something to do with WMP 11 conflicting with the Roxio software. Or your DVD drive might need a firmware update. My guess (from using a Dell) is it has something to do with Roxio Creator--are there any updates available under Help or About when you run this program?

 

What dvd rw have you installed ?
It is worth seeing if there is a firmware update available, as Sach2 said.
It is also worth checking the dvd rw manufacturer for compatability with dvd rw discs - they often have a list of compatables, and a firmware update is their way of being able to recognise and write to more, different types, of rw dvd's.
WARNING - although a firmware update is often recommended, and is usually easy, and straightforward --if it fails, your dvd rw could be damaged.

 

We have Windows Media 11

The DVD drives listed are:
HL-DT-ST-DVD+RW GWA4164B
TSSTcorpDVD-Rom TS-H352C

 

I haven't done this yet - should I give it a try?

 

Well duh - I know I should. I guess my real question is can I stop in the middle if I am not sure what I am doing and get advice or do I have to do it all straight through?

 

Callmekyle11,

You are not the only one having this problem. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=HL-DT-ST-DVD+RW+GWA4164B&btnG=Google+Search

From a quick glance at the links it looks like Dell put a troublesome DVD drive in many of its E310 series PCs. I will look through some of the links and see if any advice looks promising.

********
By the way how long have you had the computer?

 

Ordered it April 23 of last year

 

I would not stop half way through uninstalling (I don't thinyou can anyway)
To avoid messing with filters, you need to clean out the Roxio driver as described on that link,
and restart, before reinstalling.
Another possibility is to update the firmware for the dvd rw, if that does not solve it, as these drives seem to have quirks, as Sachs2 has said.

Firmware
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/FIRMWARE/LG/LG-GWA-4164B-105.shtml

 

Okay baklogic - HELP!!!
I was doing the previous link
I got to the warning part for system registry
I went to start/run regedit
It says Application failed and I cant get into that

 

If you cannot get to the registry, something must have caused the problem, and the best way to undo whatever it was, is to go to system restore, and restore to a time before you started to alter anything-
This will normally save your data, but restore Windows - but if you can, back up any important data before doing so, - have you a usb stick to do that ?

Alternatively, if you have an XP disc ( borrow one if not )( not a Dell backup disc) go to start, run and type in sfc /scannow, and put your Xp disc in, and keep clicking retry, and Windows will replace any protected files that may have been corrupted.

 

I did a system restore but it did not help
I do not have an XP disc that I know of, and I do not know who to borrow one from
I had been into the regedit earlier (as per DELL) so I don't know what happened
They did make me a do a safe mode start which seemed to screw things up
I was working through emails with a DELL person who honestly didn't do anything but totally screw me up
Everytime they gave me something to do and I tried it and would get stuck and ask a question, he would give me a totally new list
Now they switched to the 3rd person helping me sending me really bad advice
considering I never got through the first 2 people. I quit answering the emails
I do not know what to do now

 

It sounds like you have only had this a short time, and Dell are usually pretty good when you have a malfunctioning pc, in the first year, at least.
I suggest that you could ask them to take it back and repair it, especially if the writer has never worked, as it could be faulty , and you should not have to mess with it to sort it out - Still under Warrentry ?

 

Other than the writing problem, is the computer working as it would be expected?
If it is only the writing problem, has it ever been capable of writing to a cd/dvd ? - or, was this a recent problem, as I had been assuming ?

 

I know we did a few when we got it but it always worked screwy for burning. I dont understand how I got into that regedit and did stuff with the HKEY whatever and now I can not go there. I wish I had never started doing what that guy was telling me as he never finished one task - just kept starting new ones and I got really confused.
ANd why didnt system restore take me back to normal?
They sent me an email (after I complained) and said they are sending me new Roxio and Sonic installation CDs.

 

Sorry to go back to the start but I didn't see this mentioned (maybe I missed it).

Is the writing problems only with your software? I had this same type of issue with my NTI proggy so I can't do my VCDs but if I use the windows burning wizard for data or Media Player for audio CDs it works fine. I havn't tried burning DVDs yet but I guess I'll have to get some of those movies and show episodes burned over one day.

 

Um sorry to sound stupid but could you explain that last bit so that I understand it? lol
All I know is that when I put a blank disc in it never notices it. Just says NO DISC.

 

What is telling you "No disc"? is it the software saying that or Windoze? If it is the CD burning software it may be what I am experiencing with my burning software. On mine the software told me that there was no disk but windoze sees it fine.

If I try to use my software I can only do a CD image but it is in a format specific to the software but if I send files to the CD drive and then open it (with blank disk inserted) I can tell it to burn the files and the windoze wizard works fine. Have you tried the wizard to burn a disk? If you havn't tried burning through windoze try it and see if it works. On mine (even though the software was provided by the system manufaturer) I found that my particular drive is not supported by the software and that is why it is not able to pick up a blank disk when I put it in.

 

If I put in a disc and go to computer and to the drive it says no disc.
If I try to write files to CD it says please enter disc.
Can you explain what you are saying you do that works so I can try it?

 

Your reply helps me a little more. Since it is windoze that tells you there is no disk you may need to reload the drivers for your drive. I was just unsure when I read if windoze was recognizing the disk, apperently it is not so what worked for me wouln't work for you.

 

baklogic
Okay I restored earlier and got everything done - got into regedit and did all that stuff.
Several things that say to uninstall the roxio were not there tho but I did all others and all sonics.
Now it says to reinstall easy media creator 8 or 9.
How do I do that? Do I have it? The disc we got is Roxio Creator My DVD Combo Plus.
Do I use that?
Please inform!
Thanks

 

Sorry, I have been away.
You can only use the software you got with the computer, and possibly update, if the Dell discs come soon- that is Roxio Creator My DVD Combo Plus.

 

Finally getting back to you. Okay I put in the Roxio DVD Combo one they sent. Tried again and could burn pics on a DVD but CD's do NOT show up. Put in the other disc - For reinstalling Sonic Cineplayer Software - and tried again. Still will not recognize CD's at all.

 

You can try XP_CD-fix,-
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_cd_dvd_fix.htm
Or
Microsoft autoplay repair
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a171-1b389cfacdad&displaylang=en#Instructions

 

Tried first one - restarted - no good.
Tried second one - it said it is trying to fix - then said they could not find problem therefore could not fix it.

 

Okay I just tried to burn again and instead of no disc or please insert a disc it said "No Drive Detected" and on top a yellow error with "A suitable drive was not detected - Please attach a drive and try again"

 

Got to go off , now, but try going to device manager, dvd/cd drive, uninstall driver, shut down and restart, and see if Windows will find it again, and reinstall it - it should.
I,ll look back tommorrow.

 

Yeah I did all that before but I tried it again just in case. No luck.
Okay when I put in a DVD I can burn my pics to it.
When I put in a CD in bottom slot - nothing - in top slot it comes up and doesn't say play. When I try to play it says Go to start/run type cdplayer.exe OR go to programs/accessories/entertainment/cd player

Ok on first thing (start run) it says "could not be found."
On second thing (programs etc) there IS no listing for cd player

 

I believe that you should get Dell to sort it out, as you have done everything you can, leaving the options of reinstalling all Dell backup, or, checking/changing IDE leads, and so on - I have to advise you to go back to Dell.
Sorry, I have no more fixes that I would think worth trying.
I am open to any input from another geek, as I think I have exhausted the opions that I can give to help.