Can't use DVD RW 2

[DMoll]

Have bought and installed a Pioneer DVR-106 DVD rewriter - it can play CDs OK and is recognised as a DVD-RW drive but I cannot write any files to it using explorer (in Windows XP Pro). It always asks for a CD-RW disc. This was a cheap OEM drive from a trade supplier and did not come with any software. Tried Roxio which is working fine on another DVD drive - doesn't recognise this drive. Tried using Nero 6 demo - can only format as DVD-R and not use as rewritable.

The other DVD RW drive we have (Freecom) which works with Roxio also doesn't work in explorer with XP pro, but we never persevered with it because Roxio worked OK.

Support is poor form our trade supplier, they expect us to know what we are doing!!! Had no other experience with DVD rewriters - what are we doing wrong? Can't find any drivers or info on the Pioneer DVR-106 support page...

Thanks

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi

Have you applied the latest Roxio updates?
This is likely to add support for newer drives to the application.

This link is for Roxio 6.x

http://www.roxio.com/en/support/ecdc/software_updatesv6.jhtml

You will definitely need the Drive Update link on the Download page.

If you are using an older version of Roxio, I would search to see if there is a suitable patch for that as well.

John

 

[ski]

Did you check Pioneer's site for a firmware upgrade, and also try different media?

 

[cdogg]

Dmoll,
There are a couple things to be aware of.

1) You bought an OEM drive. The DVR-106 was so cheap for you because it is not retail (the retail version is the DVR-A06). Poor support is common when you go this route.

2) The burning from Windows XP explorer is for CD-RW packet writing on-the-fly. It is not meant for DVD-RW. That's why you're getting the message to insert a CD-RW.

3) Roxio Easy CD version 5 does not work well in either Win2K or WinXP. Upgrading to Roxio Easy CD/DVD version 6 is what you need to do.

4) You said you tried Nero 6 demo. Perhaps the demo version is either restricted to DVD-R, or you're not using the right kind of DVD-RW media. Try another brand or purchase the program.

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind"
[tab][tab]- Aristotle

 

[DMoll]

Thanks all, at least I know what I should expect now.

Have tried the firmware upgrade already.

Didn't realise about the DVD-RW issue in XP.

Will try with Roxio which we legally own - only tried Nero to see if it would work.

 

[DMoll]

Still no success with Roxio even after updates. Only have the basic edition but this does work with our Freecom DVD writer.

Tried something called Sateira instead - very basic, very cheap ,very quick and best of all it works.

 

[cdogg]

Verify in Easy CD Creator (under Help -> About), that you now have version 5.3.5 or later. Also verify that the program "Take Two" is no longer on your system. Take Two interferes with CD writing in XP.

Also, is there a reason you want to use CD-writing software instead of DVD authoring software?

Finally, have you tried putting in a CD-RW when WinXP prompts you as you're dragging files to the drive in Windows Explorer? Let's see if it will allow you to write a CD. If so, then it would seem that the DVD writer is being recognized properly by XP.



~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind"
[tab][tab]- Aristotle

 

[cdogg]

Also, if you take a look at this thread, you'll see just one example of the many problems Easy CD Basic/Platinum 5.x has in Windows 2000/XP:
thread750-752210

 

[rclarke250]

And if the version of Roxio came with the freecom,it could be that it will only work with that brand...I have several Lite-ON CD-RW that shipped with Nero, Only works with the Lite-ON drives, try it on my MSI and it won't see it. But Nero 6 I downloaded from Ahead works well with the Lite-ON,MSI CD-RW, and with my OptoRite,And with my Hitachi DVD-RW drives.

 

[jurgen36]

Well I had the same problem with my Pioneer DVR A06 drive. I used the latest version of Roxio and made 8 CDRW disk completely unusable. Finally in desperation I changed to the latest version of Nero. No more problems. I then upgraded the drives firmware to take the region lock out and double the burning speed as well. I even found some unmarked DVD R blanks , very cheap, which actually burn error free at a speed of 6. If you are interrested I can give you the website for the firmware download. It does not come from Pioneer. Incidently I do not know what Roxio did to the DVDRW disk. Even Nero can not recognise them in the drive. Greetings and good luck Jurgen

 

[toned]

I had a DVR-106, and I was using Nero 5.590 with no problems, burning DVD-R & CD-R's.
I upgraded the firmware and also upgraded to Nero 6 and it still worked fine.
The retail version of the drive comes with Sonic RecordNow, maybe you should try that.
Also, DVD-RW disks have to be formatted before you can use them the first time.
I recently changed my drive to the LG GSA-4081B. It supports all formats CD-R/-RW, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-RAM, it reads & writes to all these formats.
It comes with B's Recorder Gold, from

http://www.bhacorp.com.

Maybe this one will work with your DVR-106.
I tried latest version of Nero 6, but it doesn't support this LG drive.
I'm using DVD+RW disks, because they don't have to be formatted, and the are faster than the DVD-RW disks.
If none of this helps, maybe your drive is defective!?!

 

[teknikal]

"I'm using DVD+RW disks, because they don't have to be formatted, and the are faster than the DVD-RW disks"

toned,
It all depends on your drive. The + format isn't always faster than the - format. It also makes a difference whether you're using R or RW discs.

tek