Will burn to CD-RW but not CD-R

Hello. We're having a problem with our CD/DVD writer. It seems it has stopped burning to a CD. After updating the drivers, I can get it to burn files to a CD-RW, but not a CD-R. I get the error message "Cannot complete the CD writing wizard. There was an error in the writing process. The disc you have attempted to write may no longer be usable." Getting tired of wasting CD-R's attemting fixes.

I've tried multiple brands of each, so I know it is not a bad CD. We have a HP Pavilion a1540n, running windows XP. The CD/DVD writer is a LightScribe DVD+/-Writer / CD-Writer. Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks in advance.

 

The drive could be shot. I would try and clean the leans and see if that helps.

 

I was going to say what program are you using for burning? Another program may work or give a different error.

What type of CD are you burning? data, audio or bootable?

 

All good suggestions so far.

You could also try attaching the Drive to another computer and see if the same results.


Q

 

Here's a rookie question: how would I go about cleaning the lens? Would that be a cause for it not to burn to CD-R but the CD-RW's are ok?

I've been trying to use Windows Media Player , and the generic CD writing wizard that came on the computer...does that make sense? I'll right click and hit send to CD Drive. Then the little balloon pops up to tell me I have files ready to write. Is there a free writing program out there that I could try. Didn't computers used to come with Easy CD Creator?

Sach2, I've been trying to burn music, pictures, word files, etc. Anything to try and narrow down the possible issues. This all started though because my wife likes to take all her favorite songs off her CDs and make a mix. She can't do that anymore and she ain't happy!

I'm having another problem with Microsoft Office, and have a thread going in the software section of this forum. It has been suggested that I run through the malware removal process. If our computer is indeed infected (not unlikely given our son can't seem to stay away from downloading all the free games he likes), could the problem with the CD drive be related to malware problems?

Thanks everyone for your help. You guys are awesome.

 

To clean the lens you would need to buy a lens cleaner, which is basically a CD with 2 little brushes fitted to it, that comes with some cleaning fluid.
DONT USE CHEAPO ONES! they can do more harm than good.

Before you do anything though, try a new burning app'..

Infrarecorder is a good all-rounder.
http://majorgeeks.com/InfraRecorder_d6206.html


As for why it does this, i don't know, CD/DVD drives seem to be the most fickle of all computer parts.



Q

 

Or CDBurnerXP is a reliable writer as well.

What's interesting is I think of CD-R as the most durable of any format to write. I would think you would lose the ability to write CDRW long before you had problems with CD-R. Try one of the other burning apps and see how you do. I've never had much long term luck with lens cleaning. I've actually never had much long-term luck with CD/DVD players/writers. I just replace with an inexpensive lite-on model every 2 years or so.

 

Was thinking the same?

That reads almost like my diary

(I get plagued by the software issues instead of my drives dying though)

 

Yeah- I was going to simply suggest replacing the unit also. New DVD burners are available at your local PC store for about $45 or so, and about $35 online.... however, all the above suggestions are good ones. Reminds me of a time about 2 years ago (I think) when I thought my DVD burner had failed. I did all the usual things: reinstalled drivers, tried the upper/lower filter fix, lens cleaner, different burning programs, etc. I assumed it was dead and installed a brand new burner, and I had the exact same problem!!! I don't remember how, but I tracked it down to a leftover file from an old ATI video driver (weird right? the main problem I had with the burner was it stopped burning video files like AVIs and MPEGs or even DVD format files); I had replaced the ATI card with an NVidia card. The weird thing was, that it took about 45 days for the problem to start. Once I found out it was the leftover file, I removed it, and re-installed the original DVD burner that I thought had failed, and it worked perfectly.... I wish I had all the details, but I'm pretty sure I posted the experience here at MG. If you're really motivated, you might find it either as a post under my current user name "dlb" or my previous name "hopperdave2000"....