cd burning issue

smb1968 · 07-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Hey guys,
I cannot get a cd to burn on my Dell Inspiron E1505. I tried w/ both Windows Media Player & Sonic. It appears everything is okay ( I can find the files, move them to the copy area, software says they are burning, burn appears to complete, & cd drive door pops open at finish), but the cd is always blank in the end. Any ideas?
Thanks
Scott

**tecknomage** · 07-07-2008, 12:48 PM

First, Media Player is NOT a CD burning utility.

I assume by Sonic you mean one of Sonic Solution's CD burning tools, correct? Try contacting their Tech Support.

**koala** · 07-07-2008, 01:20 PM

Hi Scott, welcome to TSF

Check the settings before burning to see if it's running in 'Simulation' mode. This is used to test without actually burning any data, and takes the same amount of time as a regular burn.

Now, this one is a long shot...... If your CDs are the kind that have no label and look identical on both sides, are you inserting them the right way round.

smb1968 · 07-08-2008, 12:15 PM

Thanks for the help guys, but simulation mode & upside down disks don't appear to be the problem. I didn't think it was the Sonic software as I'm having the exact same problem when I simply drag-and-drop files to disk or use Windows Media Player to try to burn, but maybe it is. In trying to find a solution I ran across a post about cd drives being set to read-only mode, could that be my problem? I can't figure out how to find where you even select that, could someone guide me to the spot to check it? I'm running XP. Thanks again for all the help.
Scott

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 01:18 AM

When you burn files to CD they automatically become read-only, because you can't edit the files on a CD. Nothing you can do about that, it's perfectly normal.

In Windows Explorer, can you see the contents of any CDs that you've previously created and tested?

Do the new CDs work on another computer?

Does the surface of the CD look like a successful burn? There will be a slight difference in shade for the area that has had data burnt to it.

Are you burning data or audio? If audio, check the 'Finalize' option before burning. If you don't do this, then the audio CD won't play back.

Have you tried burning at the minimum speed?

Are you using CD-R or CD-RW discs?

smb1968 · 07-09-2008, 01:09 PM

I just tried burning at the slowest speed possible. This actually allowed it to look "burned" in the end. The disk I made will now play on my computer, but nowhere else. Just as a test I took another blank disk from the same spindle and used it to burn a cd on my son's computer. That disk will play on every cd player in the house. Does this mean it is a problem w/ my burner just being cheap (it is a rock-bottom Dell, after all)? Or is there something I could do to make my burnt disks compatible w/ the cd players in the house & car (which is really what I want to do -- I'd like to listen to music I've downloaded on my car cd player)? Thanks again.
Scott

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 01:40 PM

As far as I know, the only thing that prevents burned audio CDs from playing in CD players is the Finalize option. Check the options just before you click the Burn button and make sure Finalize is enabled.

smb1968 · 07-09-2008, 04:00 PM

Koala,
I'm using Sonic Digital Media software. There is an option called "finalize" under tools are you saying I should click that BEFORE I click "burn disk?" Thanks again
Scott

post-script: it appears I can't finalize BEFORE I put on the data, but when I try to do it after I get the message "please insert an appendable data disc that is CD media or DVD write-once media." ?

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 04:07 PM

Yes, before not after. This makes the CD so that it can be read by audio CD players, hi-fi's, car stereos, etc, and prevents the CD from being written to at a later date. Basically, it locks it down.

smb1968 · 07-09-2008, 04:24 PM

But when I tried to do it before a message came up that I can't add data after finalization. I assumed that meant the music had to be on their FIRST. I get the same message when I try to do it before as well.

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 04:34 PM

The message is just a reminder, it's saying that you won't be able to add any more data or music AFTER you've finished creating the CD, which is correct.

I've been burning audio CDs for years now, using a variety of software, and I always finalize before burning.

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 04:40 PM

Try using FreeBurnMP3-CD instead of Sonic. It's the simplest CD burner I know of. You just add the tracks, select which drive to use, set the speed to Auto and click the Burn Now button. It's all contained in one window, no confusing options, and it automatically finalizes the disc for you.

If you can't successfully burn an audio CD with this program, then the fault must lie elsewhere.

EDIT:

Quote:

I get the message "please insert an appendable data disc that is CD media or DVD write-once media."

This sounds like you're using CD-RW (re-writeable) discs instead of the standard CD-R (write-once) discs. Check the label.

smb1968 · 07-09-2008, 04:50 PM

Koala,
Got it. That actually seems to make some progress. I can now get a disk to burn & play on my stereo, but the sound is all screwed up -- like it's scanning forward or skipping or something. I've reduced the burn speed to a paltry 4X, would reducing it more help w/ this issue? I'm beginning to think the drive is just extra crummy.
Thanks again
Scott

postscript: I tried the freeburn & it seemed like a step backward, the disk was completely blank after I burned to it.

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 04:56 PM

Yes, if you're getting corruption at x4, drop the speed as low as possible. Low quality or older drives can't burn at high speed without errors. Newer drives have a feature called 'prevent buffer under-run' which allows higher speeds and better accuracy.

smb1968 · 07-09-2008, 07:21 PM

Koala,
Thank you so much for your efforts to help me with this. It certainly appears that if I want to do serious burning I'm going to have to upgrade my drive. Not something I was hoping to hear, but certainly not the end of the world. I really, really appreciate you taking the time to try to straighten this out for me. Thanks again
Scott

**koala** · 07-09-2008, 07:38 PM

You're welcome. If you want to upgrade, you can get a good quality combo CD/DVD writer for about $30US.

Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129018

07-07-2008, 11:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	cd burning issue Hey guys, I cannot get a cd to burn on my Dell Inspiron E1505. I tried w/ both Windows Media Player & Sonic. It appears everything is okay ( I can find the files, move them to the copy area, software says they are burning, burn appears to complete, & cd drive door pops open at finish), but the cd is always blank in the end. Any ideas? Thanks Scott

07-07-2008, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
tecknomage TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 645 OS: WinXP Pro SP3	Re: cd burning issue First, Media Player is NOT a CD burning utility. I assume by Sonic you mean one of Sonic Solution's CD burning tools, correct? Try contacting their Tech Support. __________________ Tecknomage Computer System Specialist IT Technician

07-07-2008, 01:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue Hi Scott, welcome to TSF Check the settings before burning to see if it's running in 'Simulation' mode. This is used to test without actually burning any data, and takes the same amount of time as a regular burn. Now, this one is a long shot...... If your CDs are the kind that have no label and look identical on both sides, are you inserting them the right way round. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-08-2008, 12:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue Thanks for the help guys, but simulation mode & upside down disks don't appear to be the problem. I didn't think it was the Sonic software as I'm having the exact same problem when I simply drag-and-drop files to disk or use Windows Media Player to try to burn, but maybe it is. In trying to find a solution I ran across a post about cd drives being set to read-only mode, could that be my problem? I can't figure out how to find where you even select that, could someone guide me to the spot to check it? I'm running XP. Thanks again for all the help. Scott

07-09-2008, 01:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue When you burn files to CD they automatically become read-only, because you can't edit the files on a CD. Nothing you can do about that, it's perfectly normal. In Windows Explorer, can you see the contents of any CDs that you've previously created and tested? Do the new CDs work on another computer? Does the surface of the CD look like a successful burn? There will be a slight difference in shade for the area that has had data burnt to it. Are you burning data or audio? If audio, check the 'Finalize' option before burning. If you don't do this, then the audio CD won't play back. Have you tried burning at the minimum speed? Are you using CD-R or CD-RW discs? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2008, 01:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue I just tried burning at the slowest speed possible. This actually allowed it to look "burned" in the end. The disk I made will now play on my computer, but nowhere else. Just as a test I took another blank disk from the same spindle and used it to burn a cd on my son's computer. That disk will play on every cd player in the house. Does this mean it is a problem w/ my burner just being cheap (it is a rock-bottom Dell, after all)? Or is there something I could do to make my burnt disks compatible w/ the cd players in the house & car (which is really what I want to do -- I'd like to listen to music I've downloaded on my car cd player)? Thanks again. Scott

07-09-2008, 01:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue As far as I know, the only thing that prevents burned audio CDs from playing in CD players is the Finalize option. Check the options just before you click the Burn button and make sure Finalize is enabled. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2008, 04:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue Koala, I'm using Sonic Digital Media software. There is an option called "finalize" under tools are you saying I should click that BEFORE I click "burn disk?" Thanks again Scott post-script: it appears I can't finalize BEFORE I put on the data, but when I try to do it after I get the message "please insert an appendable data disc that is CD media or DVD write-once media." ? Last edited by smb1968 : 07-09-2008 at 04:18 PM.

07-09-2008, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue Yes, before not after. This makes the CD so that it can be read by audio CD players, hi-fi's, car stereos, etc, and prevents the CD from being written to at a later date. Basically, it locks it down. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2008, 04:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue But when I tried to do it before a message came up that I can't add data after finalization. I assumed that meant the music had to be on their FIRST. I get the same message when I try to do it before as well.

07-09-2008, 04:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue The message is just a reminder, it's saying that you won't be able to add any more data or music AFTER you've finished creating the CD, which is correct. I've been burning audio CDs for years now, using a variety of software, and I always finalize before burning. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2008, 04:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue Koala, Got it. That actually seems to make some progress. I can now get a disk to burn & play on my stereo, but the sound is all screwed up -- like it's scanning forward or skipping or something. I've reduced the burn speed to a paltry 4X, would reducing it more help w/ this issue? I'm beginning to think the drive is just extra crummy. Thanks again Scott postscript: I tried the freeburn & it seemed like a step backward, the disk was completely blank after I burned to it. Last edited by smb1968 : 07-09-2008 at 05:00 PM.

07-09-2008, 04:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue Yes, if you're getting corruption at x4, drop the speed as low as possible. Low quality or older drives can't burn at high speed without errors. Newer drives have a feature called 'prevent buffer under-run' which allows higher speeds and better accuracy. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2008, 07:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
smb1968 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: cd burning issue Koala, Thank you so much for your efforts to help me with this. It certainly appears that if I want to do serious burning I'm going to have to upgrade my drive. Not something I was hoping to hear, but certainly not the end of the world. I really, really appreciate you taking the time to try to straighten this out for me. Thanks again Scott

07-09-2008, 07:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,709 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Re: cd burning issue You're welcome. If you want to upgrade, you can get a good quality combo CD/DVD writer for about $30US. Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD±R DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129018 __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here