Hi everyone
I asked a question recently about my CDRW not working correctly and followed everyone's advice (thanks everyone) but nothing worked and I have now bought a new one which has caused another problem.
The old CDRW (Samsung SW-408) came with Adaptec Easy CD creator and Direct CD software which I used frequently. Direct CD had a facility where you could insert a CD and write to it directly but the data could not be read on a standard CD ROM until you used Direct CD software to redesign the layout of the CD so it could be read on a standard CD ROM. I have tried to install the Adaptec software with my new CDRW (Samsung SW-252) but it wouldn't install (tried 4 times). I have installed Nero 5 burning ROM v 5.5 which came with the new one but this can't read my discs which I recorded using Direct CD. Can anyone possibly help with a solution?
Many Thanks
Andrew Wilson

:(

Hi there Andy
Nero )this includes InCD) cannot read Adaptec Direct CD disk and vice-versa.

Once a disk has been written to finalised with either program (NOT InCD or Direct CD) you should be able to read it on any cd drive

Your best bet might be to find a friend who is using Adaptec and use it to close out your CDs. You can then copy and record them to with your new software. You could also buy a commercial copy of Adaptec (now by Roxio) and install that.

What is the problem with installing the old copy of Adaptec, it should be able to install?

Thanks for the help.
I don't know what the problem is with the installation. I uninstall all Direct CD/Adaptec related software and delete all reference to the new CDRW drive then reboot. The system finds the new drive and installs the driver. I then reinstall the adaptec software but the Direct CD icon in the right hand tray has a red circle with a line through it for some reason and when I put a Direct CD disc with some files in the drive it tells me there is no disc in the drive. I will try again tomorrow or failing that ring round and find someone who has got Direct CD/Roxio.
Thanks Again
Andrew Wilson

Sometimes the software that comes with a CD burner only works with that burner. I suspect that's why your old software doesn't install correctly.

You could download the Adaptec UDF reader at the following site:

http://download.com.com/3000-2100-10021086.html

This should allow you to read the files on your CD-RWs. It's free but I don't know if it works with WinXP.

Thanks GW.
As they were both Samsung CDRW's I expected them to use the same software but they have obviously changed to Nero (more reliable possibly??).
I have Win98SE so I will download the file tomorrow and see what happens.
Andrew Wilson hoping for an easy and stress free life now!!
:) :)

Your problem with Easy CD Creator having the Direct CD icon in your taskbar with the red line through it may be that it is not recognizing your new CD-RW drive. I had this same problem and had to upgrade to Easy CD creator 5 Platinum to get the right support for my newer drive. Since you said you purchased a new drive, it is probably a very fast burning and is not supported in the original version of the software. Look here for the update if it even exists. http://www.roxio.com/en/support/ecdc/index.jhtml

The older version might not have the update you are needing, so if you are really wanting to use CD creator you may have to upgrade to one of the newer versions. I have used Easy CD creator and I love it. I tried the Nero that came with one of my drives and did not like it as much. If you are using the Nero now and like it, then maybe the link to the UDF reader that gwallen left you will take care of your problem of reading the discs as they are. So again, b4 you buy the newer version, if thats what you decide, make sure there is not an update for your version first.

I have installed the Adaptec UDF reader but the CDRW still shows my discs as empty. Should I uninstall Nero software before downloading and installing the UDF reader?
Andrew Wilson

I have just established that the version of DirectCD that I was running was 3.0.
Andrew Wilson

I think you might have to uninstall InCD (Nero) before the Roxio UDF reader will work.

With version 4 of easy creator and Nero on the same machine you had a conflict. If you looked for, and remaned, the following file you could get Nero to work.

File CDR4VSD.VXD Change the last three digits to old (easy to remember for naming back if you want)


Change the figure 4 to 3 and see if this will work for version 3

I took the old CDRW to bits and plugged it into the machine. I noticed the lid was stopping the mechanism that spun the disc so I took this off and when I inserted a disc the disc spun. I then uninstalled all software and reinstalled Easy CD Creator 4. I could then insert all the CD's I had recorded under Direct CD control and retrieve my files easily. I then stored the old CDRW and reinstalled the new one with Nero software. Thanks again everyone for your help tips and valuable advice.
I realise that I must use InCD with CDRW discs for files that I may alter periodically but which method should I use in Nero burning CD to just save folders of photographs and/or other data. I will be saving the photographs/other data permanently but will be adding further files to the CD on a regular basis. Should I use Data CD multisession or ISO or another method? In other words I need the CDR disc just like a floppy disc with data/files of photos added on a regular basis but the data/files of photos will be permanent and not altered.
Andrew Wilson

Isn't Nero's multisession cd the equivalent to direct cd? I had always used Easy Cd, but some time ago I changed to Nero. I still haven't used the multisession mode, but as far as I know, it does the same as direct cd: you record your data, but don't close the disc until you want to do so, and in the meantime you can keep adding data. So from now on you can do the same thing with Nero.

If you use Multi-Session CD you cannot access the files until you finalise the CD. Better to use InCD until you have the required files you want to put onto a CD and then write with actual Nero program.

To permanently save folders of photos or other data you will burn a CD-R. Use CD-Rom(Iso) and multisession in Nero. You can burn multiple sessions until the disk is full.

There is no need to close a data disk until you have filled it, and even then it is optional. You will still be able to read this disk with no problems.

Confusion sometimes occurs about whether CD-R's must be closed. Virtually all modern CD-Rom drives will read any format of CD whether the disk is closed or not. Older CD players sometimes had problems reading CD-R audio disks if they weren't closed. Some DVD players (home entertainment) are able to play .MP3 files and .jpg files, and may require the disk to be closed to do that.

I have used Nero Burner with multi session and ISO successfully. I then reinserted the disk and added further data again successfully so I can use it to save files when necessary as I did with Direct CD and floppy disks. Is it wiser to keep using ISO format as they should be readable in any drive rather than UDF which I believe can only be read with a further download? I have just downloaded the Nero manual (138 pages) and have reached page 2. I think a book in Nuclear Physics would be easier to follow and remember than the manual!!
Andrew Wilson :) :)

For data CD-R disks always use CD-Rom(Iso) multisession.
For audio CD-R always use Audio CD

CD-RW's may be formatted as UDF using programs like Direct CD(Roxio/Adaptec) and InCD(Nero). They are then able to be used like a floppy to add/delete/erase files, but this can only be done on computers with a burner and Direct CD or InCD installed. Other computers may read the CD-RW UDF files if you install a UDF reader.

CD-RW's may also be burned just like a CD-R, and then they can be read by any CD-Rom without installation of special software.