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dvd drive does not recognize blank disk

My dvd drive suddenly stopped working to burn dvds.  It has worked a couple of times on disks that it previously would not recognize.???  The drive will play and dvd, cd or even burn a cd.  It just will not recognize a bland dvd-r.

Here is a list of my computer parts and things i have tried.

Dell Inspiron 530

Windows Vista Home Basic

dvd driver  - HL-DT-ST-DVD=-RW-GSA-H73N ATA Device    Location 0(channel 1 target 0 lun 0) pc says this is working properly

I recently installed a clean version of Vista from disk.  still had problem with no "burning program" installed

Installed all new updates for Windows, including Service Pack 2

Installed all drivers from Dell.com. 

uninstalled dvd drive and restarted.  let pc find new driver.  no help

Removed upper and lower filters from registry.  no help

run microsoft fixit for dvd drive problems.  no help.  This did work one time but I am not sure why or how.  I have tried multiple time since with no result.

run norton scans for viruses.  none found.

Can anyone please help.  I am quite sure the drive has not gone bad because it will work on rare occasions. 

 

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No guarantees. See if this Microsoft Support FixIt application will help :
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems
For the benefits of others looking for answers, please mark the suggestion as Answered if it solves your problem.

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Hi Rustypence,

 

 

  • Do you have any third party DVD burning software installed on the computer like Nero or Roxio?
  • Where exactly are you seeing the message “no burning program installed”?

 

You may follow the steps below and check if it helps you fix the issue.

Step 1

You may temporarily try to remove or uninstall third party CD or DVD writing software like Nero or Roxio installed on the computer and verify if you are able to access the CD / DVD. If it works fine you may have to contact the DVD writing software manufacturer to check if you need to make any changes.

 

If you have Norton Installed on the computer you may try to disable the Norton software temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. Later re-enable after checking.

 

 

Step 2

 

You may also try to use a different make of DVD media to check if it helps you to burn the disk.

 

You may also contact Dell to run a diagnostic tool to verify if DVD drive diagnostic tool may be available and run the same.

 

Link to contact Dell support:

http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs

 

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

 

Thanks and Regards,

 

Srinivas R

Microsoft Support.

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Thanks for your response.  I have tried the http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems
I tried a whole list of the fixit applications with no luck.
James Pence

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Thanks for responding.  Currently I do not have any third party dvd burning software installed on my pc.  I have a clean re-install of windows vista home basic from disk.

I am not receiving any error messages,  I just meant that I did not have a program installed.  No error messages.

I do have norton installed.  I uninstalled it.  Still nothing when I insert a blank dvd.  I know the dvda are good because i have used about 20 out of a pack of 100 and they worked.(on this pc).

When I insert a blank dvd-r into my drive I can hear it start spinning.  I open "computer" and then  right click on the drive and it will lock my pc up for about 1 minute and then stop spinning and tell me to insert a blank disk.  My pc will then unlock and every thing else is normal.

While it is spinning a picture of a small disk will appear and disappear a few times above my cursor.

I will try to find a diagnostic tool from dell and let you know what happens.  Thanks and if you come up with something from new info please contact me.  this is driving me bananas.

 

James Pence

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HiJames,

 

  • Do you have Dell Remote Access card installed on the computer?

You may verify if the recording option is enabled on your DVD drive and enable it and check if it helps.

a. Click on Start
b. Open Computer
c. Right Click on the cd or dvd drive
d. Click on Properties
e. Click on recording tab
f. Ensure the box labeled Enable DVD recording on this drive is ticked.
g. Click on ok

 

 

 

You may also try to install all the Windows Updates on the computer and check if it helps to fix the burning issue.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Install-Windows-updates

 

You may also try to check for the firmware updates for the DVD drive from the manufacturer's website and install it and check if it helps.

 

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

 

Thanks and Regards,

 

Srinivas R

Microsoft Support.

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I have a similar drive model and am having similar problems. I know when mine started, a virtualbox guest crashed within my Vista 64 host. After that I got the infamous windows error code 39. I removed upper and lower filters and the drive reappeared in windows. The drive works fine if I boot into something other than Vista 64. When I put disks in the drive, it can usually read them, unless they are either blank media or finalized writeable media. If I run Fixit, no errors are reported and it says nothing needs fixed; the drive MIRACULOUSLY starts working for reading and writing media until the disk is ejected. But, I have to run fixit on every writeable disk I want to use in windows.

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Running Windows 7 Pro. This problem did NOT occur before I installed these MS updates (KB2729452) (K82760413) (K82737019)(K82729449) (K82719033) (KB890830) (K82687311) (KB2596660) (KB2596848) (K82687307)(K82727528) (K82761451)(K82761226) (K82687404) yesterday. Two things happened. 1) I get the error "Windows can't read the disc in drive X:" on all my DVD/CD drives in Windows Explorer. 2) The autoplay window that used to come up asking what I want to do (burn audio cd, copy files to disc, etc.) no longer comes up. I can copy files to the disc using Roxio and I can create an audio cd using roxio..
READ HERE!
One of these fixes reset the autoplay settings in windows.  When I cahnged the autoplay settings to "ask me every time" for blank cds and dvds. I now get the autoplay window and in Windows Explorer when I click on the dvd drive with blank media it asks if I want to use it like a CD/DVD or like a USB flash drive.  Problem solved.  

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I have been having the same problem for a few days.I just fixed my problem 30 minutes ago. I am running XP. I went into services and checked the settings for IMAPI CD-Burning. It was set for manual and not started. I changed the settings to started and automatic. I then checked my dvd drive and everything is okay now. I hope this fix helps anyone who is having this problem.

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I thought you had saved my sanity when I read your post because mine was stopped and also set to manual. So I changed all that, but I STILL can't burn cds! Grrr!! Any other suggestions anyone??

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I tried looking for IMAPI CD-BURNING but could not find it on my system at all went through services nothing, also on an earlier reply it said about changing it to automatic and tick dvd burning again could not find it, it is driving me mad

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Last updated January 15, 2025 Views 23,819 Applies to: