OT: CD/DVD burning software just stopped working

JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/22/2004, 8:24 PM
OK I’m stumped. My new system has been working fine for 2 months now. I usually use DVD Architect to author DVD’s and then use Prassi PrimoDVD 2.0 to burn. All of a sudden, when I start Prassi the other day, it says I don’t have compatible recording device on the system! (I have Pioneer DVR-106D). So I figure that something I installed must have messed with it so I uninstalled it and reinstalled it but it still doesn’t see my DVD-RW drive anymore. (remember this has been working fine for two months) DVD Architect and Ulead DVD Moviefactory have no problem burning DVD’s and the built-in Windows software by Roxio works as well.

So I decide to try another burning package and I download a trial of Nero and it says I don’t have any CDRW drives either. Same with CDRWIN. I even tried deleting the DVD-RW from the hardware manager and have XP reinstall it but nothing seems to work. The strange thing is that these programs see the DVD-RW drive as a CD/DVD-ROM because I can extract files from it. I just can’t write to it. I’m really stumped as to what might have happened. I assume something I installed did it, but how do I un do it... what ever “it” is. :-(

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

~jr

Comments

busterkeaton wrote on 2/22/2004, 9:05 PM
Any time I have burner issues, I always think ASPI layer. ASPI is the software layer between a CD/DVD burner and Windows. In the past I have installed MP3 ripping software that changed my ASPI layer which messed up previously installed software.



Here is some info you may want to check out. Adeptec has a ASPI support package. You have to read through it and make sure you are working with the right drivers.
http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/suppdetail.html?sess=no&language=English+US&prodkey=ASPI-4.70

You can also google "check ASPI" and "force ASPI" for other resources.
PeterWright wrote on 2/22/2004, 11:32 PM
XP also has a Restore System function, where you can go back to how your system was on the date you nominate. (Doesn't affect data files)
Dwuane wrote on 2/23/2004, 4:17 AM
That's what I would do. If you have XP, go to your START menu..ALL
PROGRAMS...ACCESSORIES...SYSTEM TOOLS...SYSTEM RESTORE..
and restore to an earlier date that you know it worked. I've had to do this a couple of times myself. Seems to work okay.

Dwuane
JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/23/2004, 6:47 AM
Thanks for the tip on the ASPI drivers. I used the Adaptec check utility and it said that ASPI was not installed. So I installed it but made no difference. I thought about System Restore but I’ve added several software packages lately and I would hate to have to go back a month on System Restore but it does seem like it may work. I guess I’ll go through the restore checkpoints and record all the software I installed and then restore the system and re-install the software, checking Prassi as I go. (that assumes that a system restore would actually restore my system t working condition). BTW, one of the things I installed was Windows Media Player 9. I hope System Restore will get rid of that as well, as I suspect this may have fouled things up. Wish me luck. ;-)

~jr
busterkeaton wrote on 2/23/2004, 8:44 AM
There are different ASPI drivers. You may want to research which drivers the Pioneer and Prassi use. Then check your drivers and see which you have. I would talk to Pioneer and Prassi support.

You also may want to check out some forums that are dedicated to just CD/DVD burning.

The fact that ASPI was not installed at all still makes me suspicious. I
JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/23/2004, 11:32 AM
I can’t call Prassi because Prassi PrimoDVD was bought by Veritas and they are not enhancing it and the Pioneer 106D is kind of new (to me at least, I bought it in December and the 107D is already out at the same price and it does 8X (ARGH!)). but I digress...

I downloaded the latest demo of Nero 6 (I was using Nero 5 which I had lying around) and it worked so I guess there is something about the new Pioneer 106D that is different enough from the Pioneer A03 that I had to make things not work. I could have sworn that Prassi worked the last time I used it. I guess its time to get another CD burning package. Nero 6 looks pretty good.

Thanks for all those who tried to help.

~jr