CD-RW can Read but not Write

[schultzm]

I have an LG CD-R/RW Model GCE-8520B with the most recent firmware loaded.

The PC is a 900MHz Duron processor (SIS 730S Motherboard with AMI Bios V 1.21.06), a DVD, a 20Gb HDD and 256Mb RAM. The OS is W2K. Recently, I have noticed that the drive can read CD's but cannot recognise or write. The CD Burning software is Nero 5 which used to work. The InCD icon in the bottom right of the screen has a red exclamation mark in a yellow diamond.

I have also installed this drive on a Dell 8300 which was also unable to write to the drive.

I assume this means the drive is defective and needs replacing.

Has anyone any diagnostics.

[Paul Komski]

Have never seen this yellow overlay on the InCD icon in the systray - and I guess it could mean either a hardware or a software problem.

Which OS? - and if WinME or WinXP you could try a system restore.

Have you checked the Device Manager for any CDROM problems?

Have you installed any other burning software such as Easy CD Creator?

Have you tried uninstalling Nero and InCD and then reinstalling them?

One long-shot would be check for a loose ide ribbon cable connection.

[schultzm]

OS is W2K

Device Manager shows no H/W problems.

Will try Roxio BUT not convinced this will provide different results.

Nero has been uninstalled and re-installed - no different behaviour found.

IDE cable is firmly in slot at both end?

[rik148755]

Has it ever burnt a disc??? i.e is it a new CDRW?

[Paul Komski]

Like your own thinking - it does look very likely to be a defective drive. The only other thing I can think of would be to blow out any dust and use a lens cleaner - though if the drive can read stuff it OK would seem unlikely that the lens is dirty enought to prevent writing.

[yolagp]

I'm afraid this burner is not among Nero's supported recorders: take a look here (http://www.nero.com/en/632012038142166.php?manu=LG+%2F+Goldstar&lang=en).

[schultzm]

It has successfully burn't CD's before but under Windows ME with Nero

[yolagp]

Maybe you can try downloading the newest drivers from here (http://www.lge.com/products/mobile/mobil/sidemenu.do?action=read&group_code=CTG1000502&list_code=PRD_SW&seq=3806&page=1&target=prread&categoryId=CTG1000500&modelCategoryId=CTG1000502&parentId=CTG1000439)
I once had that same problem with Nero and my cd burner (hp), and the new drivers solved that.
Good luck.

[schultzm]

That was the first thing I did - see initial post.

[schultzm]

I have just installed a new CD-RW and this has the same problem.

The only real difference between now and the last time this drive worked is that the OS has been upgraded from Wondows ME to W2K. I have applied all patches so the OS is as up-to-date as it can be.

Do you think there is a chance that the integrated controller is defective?

The only other possible cause would be that the BIOS is incorrectly configured? I have checked out the settings and cannot find an obvious problem?

Help....

[yolagp]

Hello Schulzm. Sorry you're still in trouble. I'm not an expert, but I once had this same problem under winxp, and solved it this way (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316529). I don't know where are those entries in the win2k registry, but maybe some expert in this forum can help you with that.

[schultzm]

I will need help with this one as I cannot find the entries in W2K