DVD Drive doesn't read all DVD/CD's -- why?

[viczulis]

I had a problem in XP with drives not being noticed. After switching out new drives. I fixed it by changing from master and slave to cable select. And then in bios had to put in cd-rom/dvd instead of auto find. Its been working every since with no issues.

Hopefully it could be that easy for you.

 

[Black Panther]

I had a problem in XP with drives not being noticed. After switching out new drives. I fixed it by changing from master and slave to cable select. And then in bios had to put in cd-rom/dvd instead of auto find. Its been working every since with no issues.

Hopefully it could be that easy for you.

That is different. I once had a similar problem when I changed dvd drives on work pc's, and I had to change the jumper from master to slave etc. But in that case the dvd-rom wouldn't even work. In my case it works perfectly, it just doesn't accept blank disks or rewritable disks.

I'm thinking it's some anti-piracy software which got installed in a game.

Btw, I did try another IDE slot. I even tried out a brand new IDE cable which I had in a box.

Now, if I'm right and it is anti-piracy software, it's easy because on this pc I've only ever installed 2 games. Which are The Sims 2 and Oblivion + Shivering Isles.

I'm sure it can't be The Sims, because I've got it on the other pc and the dvd-rw there works perfectly.

On the other hand, I'm wary of Shivering Isles. I had read on the Oblivion forums that it's got SecuRom which 'creates a lot of problems' but I've never gone into detail reading the posts, since I had been thinking that SecuRom never created any problems for me...

I'll do some searches on SecuRom and how I can remove it. Hopefully it is the culprit. And hopefully I'd still be able to play Oblivion without it...

Edit: Look what Wikipedia says on SecuRom (also called SuckUrom by some people):
"Some users have been reporting problems with launching the game, CD-burners or anti-virus protection, due to SecuROM."


Another question: Optical drives are relatively cheap. Do you think that if I buy a second one and install it on my rig it will also be affected by this problem? Obviously I'll buy it a different brand, just in case. It's not worth tearing my hair out if a solution could be that simple.

Edit(2) Duh wait a sec... I guess I can try that out myself by installing the MSI DVD-RW from the old pentium 4 into my rig, and see if the burner works on my pc...

 

[Black Panther]

It isn't Securom's fault. I deleted Securom from the registry yet the problem remains.

 

[Black Panther]

I've discovered that if I modify the value here HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CD Burning\Drives\Volume{bc1eb9fa-d7ec-11dc-9722-806d6172696f} to read 2 instead of 3 I can arrive to here.

And stop there...

Well it's always a step forward, somewhat. But value 2 is for CD-RW (1 for CD-R) and 3 which was the number I had is for standard CD-Rom.
What value must I be putting there for a DVD-RW?

I made sure the IMAPI service is running.

 

[Black Panther]

I ran a Windows Autofix (Autoplay repair wizard).

Here's the log:

AutoFix [V5.2.3790.67]
Time [2008-02-12 21:17:30]
Microsoft Windows Version [5.1 (Service Pack 2) <2600>]

Test [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.] - Instance [N/A]:
Result [AutoStart Setting]: OK
Result [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.]: OK

Test [Policies] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Present}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [Driver level policies]: OK {
HKLM\...\Services\cdrom!Autorun (Present) <Allows>
HKLM\...\Services\cdrom\Parameters!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysEnable (Absent) <Not set>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysDisable (Absent) <Not set> }

Test [Drive Notification] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:
Result [Legacy Notification]: OK
Result [AutoPlay V2 Notification]: Problems {
Service (Silent)
Shell (Deaf) }
>> Repair << [Autoplay V2 Event]
Step: No steps to take.
Result: This AutoPlay setting cannot be fixed. Either the device is malfunctioning, or the wizard cannot determine the problem.

>> Required action: The wizard found problems but cannot fix them -> None
Now I'm sure the device isn't malfunctioning because I'm not even using the same device because I switched odd's from another pc.

 

[Mussels]

format and reinstall.

 

[Deusxmachina]

My current DVD drive wouldn't read most (any? I forget) DVDs. IDE. If I recall, it's that it didn't install properly. I went into device manager and uninstalled all the IDE drivers. They weren't under the DVD or drives, they're under the IDE/ATAPI section. Then rebooted and everything worked.

You can google for more info on that if you're worried about trying it, but all PCs should automatically reinstall the IDE drivers upon reboot when it finds the hardware.

 

[Black Panther]

Mussels, I'm 99% sure that a format and clean windows install wouldn't be solving the problem.
This problem has been present from the very beginning, when I assembled the pc and installed windows the first time last June. I had been thinking that it was the brand of diskettes or something, or because the cd's were old... anyway I didn't bother then because I used my other pc for burning. But now my old P4 has one foot in the grave, and I've tested various cd's, and now I'm sure there is a problem.

Deusxmachina, thanks for that advice, I'll be trying it out. However my problem is that it doesn't want to burn, not that it doesn't read cd's or dvd's.
Edit: in fact I just tried it and it didn't work either. I even uninstalled the IDE's as a hardware.

 

[Black Panther]

Anyone?

Please?

 

[spud107]

have you tried another burning program like nero?

 

[ex_reven]

Sounds like your Windows XP drivers for CD/DVD Rom's are bodged.
If your copy of XP is pirated, that may explain why.

Pirated OS's can often get corruptions in certain files.

Try it in another OS maybe?

 

[Black Panther]

Sounds like your Windows XP drivers for CD/DVD Rom's are bodged.
If your copy of XP is pirated, that may explain why.

Pirated OS's can often get corruptions in certain files.

Try it in another OS maybe?

I'm 100% sure that my XP is legal.

 

[Namslas90]

I've been researching this since you started this thread; The only solution I can come up with is to remove all DVD divers and all applications that use DVD.

Then, let windows install DVD drivers, update - including firmware.

Re-install applications that use DVD's (nero etc)
Do not let these applications be the "Default Application", just say "NO".

If that doesn't do it then the Drive is probably bad.

 

[Black Panther]

I've been researching this since you started this thread; The only solution I can come up with is to remove all DVD divers and all applications that use DVD.

Then, let windows install DVD drivers, update - including firmware.

Re-install applications that use DVD's (nero etc)
Do not let these applications be the "Default Application", just say "NO".

If that doesn't do it then the Drive is probably bad.

Thanks for following up Namslas.

I already uninstalled dvd (and IDE) drivers, let windows install them and updated the firmware. The only application I have which uses dvd's is windows media player... I don't have Nero. Actually I was planning to install it to see if it improves things...

I don't think the drive is bad. I swapped it with another LG H44N from another pc, and my drive works in the other pc... and the other pc's drive doesn't burn in mine! It has to be something inside my computer... some software... some incorrect registry setting...

 

[jocksteeluk]

I has the same problem just after the guarantee ended and as a result I no longer by LG drives.

 

[Fitseries3]

have you tried the upperfilter and lowerfilter thingy?

 

[Black Panther]

I tried the upper/lower filter thingie but they are not to be found in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.

Does all of this look OK for my drive?

Property Value
Device ID SCSI\CDROMVEN_HL-DT-STPROD_DVDRAM_GSA-H44NREV_RB01\514880C4E0000
Status 0x0180200a Started
Problem 0x00000000 (0)
Service cdrom
Capabilities 0x00000060
Config Flags 0x00000000
Class CDROM
Manufacturer (Standard CD-ROM drives)
Hardware IDs SCSI\CdRomHL-DT-STDVDRAM_GSA-H44N_RB01
SCSI\CdRomHL-DT-STDVDRAM_GSA-H44N_
SCSI\CdRomHL-DT-ST
SCSI\HL-DT-STDVDRAM_GSA-H44N_R
HL-DT-STDVDRAM_GSA-H44N_R
GenCdRom
Compatible IDs SCSI\CdRom
SCSI\RAW
Class GUID {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Location Bus Number 0, Target ID 0, LUN 0
Enumerator name SCSI
Description CD-ROM Drive
Friendly name HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H44N SCSI CdRom Device
Driver {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0004
Physical Object Name \Device\Scsi\JRAID1Port4Path0Target0Lun0
Install State 0x00000000
Device Address 0x00000000
Device Configuration File c:\windows\inf\cdrom.inf
Used Files C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\cdrom.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\redbook.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\imapi.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\storprop.dll
EnumPropPages32 storprop.dll,DvdPropPageProvider
InfPath cdrom.inf
InfSection cdrom_install
ProviderName Microsoft
DriverDateData 00 80 62 C5 C0 01 C1 01
DriverDate 7-1-2001
DriverVersion 5.1.2535.0
MatchingDeviceId gencdrom
DriverDesc CD-ROM Drive

Class CDROM
DVD/CD-ROM drives
EnumPropPages32 MmSys.Cpl,MediaPropPageProvider
Installer32 storprop.dll,DvdClassInstaller
SilentInstall 1
NoInstallClass 1
TroubleShooter-0 hcp://help/tshoot/tsdrive.htm
Icon -51


Property Value
Type DVD
Vendor LG Electronics
Model HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H44N SCSI CdRom Device
Interface SCSI
Removable Yes
Location Bus=0, Logical Unit=0, Port=4, Target Id=0
Drive letter D
Controller Buffer Size on Drive 8467 KBytes
SMART Support No


EDIT: I've edited post #1 of this thread to summarise what I have done so far.

 

[Mussels]

well i guess its simple:

Problem burner: If it works in your system but not others, its most likely that drive.

Alternate burner: if other burners dont work in your system either, you could have a compound problem - who's to say a software bug/bad driver didnt START this, and then the drive conveniently died at the same time. Its coincidental, but entirely possible. If this is the case, a format AND a new drive would be my reccomendaton.

 

[Skrabrug]

Could be the firmware.. have you updated the firmware? (and i don't mean installing the firmware off of the disc that came with it but actually looking for and downloading the latest firmware)

 

[JrRacinFan]

Are your motherboard's chipset drivers up to date?

 

[Black Panther]

Well I'll be damned.

I downloaded a free utility called IMGBURN from here http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download and it allowed me to burn a photo on a cd! It's the first time that my drive really used its burning function!

I still have the nagging thought as to why the normal Windows 'paste' and 'copy files on cd' doesn't work on my pc but works on my same drive installed on another pc, but well as long as it works I'm not going to worry my head off now, whether it works with XP software or with a third party program.

 

[Mussels]

Well I'll be damned.

I downloaded a free utility called IMGBURN from here http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download and it allowed me to burn a photo on a cd! It's the first time that my drive really used its burning function!

I still have the nagging thought as to why the normal Windows 'paste' and 'copy files on cd' doesn't work on my pc but works on my same drive installed on another pc, but well as long as it works I'm not going to worry my head off now, whether it works with XP software or with a third party program.

the windows one relies on the IMAPI (sounds like i'm happy lol) burning service to be enabled - i never use that, only nero so i cant help.

 

[Black Panther]

I checked the IMAPI service and it's on manual as it should be. In the services log it says (when using the windows burner)
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service was successfully sent a start control.
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the running state.
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the stopped state.

Obviously it stops because I stop it. It keeps asking me to put a cd-r in the drive when there is already one empty cd-r, and I have to press cancel.

I think if I get Nero it'd be working as well.

 

[Mussels]

I checked the IMAPI service and it's on manual as it should be. In the services log it says (when using the windows burner)
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service was successfully sent a start control.
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the running state.
- The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the stopped state.

Obviously it stops because I stop it. It keeps asking me to put a cd-r in the drive when there is already one empty cd-r, and I have to press cancel.

I think if I get Nero it'd be working as well.

my opinion would be that something is casuing a problem with the XP impapi service, stopping it from seeing blank disks.

One idea: you dont have alcohol 120% do you? it has an anti-security option to 'hide CD-R media' or the like, to prevent games from seeing that disks were burned and not printed. Its a possible culprit for this situation.

(Deamon tools and other apps that have anti-security measures may have options like this, try disabling them all one by one)