XP burning problems

About two weeks ago my computer started to hang when burning a CD with Nero. It would freeze at 4% of writing to disk. The CD-burner (Creative 8432E) would show activity for about then seconds and then quit.

I attributed it to Nero. So I removed the program and installed NTI CD-Maker Pro. I was able to burn one cd with NTI and now the same problem is occuring in that program.

I thought it may have been the burner, however, if I run the 'test without burning option' in Nero it still locks - likewise with NTI. Since that feature doesn't involve any writing I have eliminated the burner as the source of the problem.

Burning in Media player produces a 'will not fit error' even though it is only two songs occupying 12 minutes/ 8 MB of space.

I am now starting to think it's somethign within XP itself. Any thoughts on the subject??


Gary

Athlon 1.0, XP Pro, 512 MB Ram
__________________

 

Have you tried burning with XP's CD Burn?? Could it be your burner?

 

Could be one or more of many possibilities... Hears a couple of things to try. Update to the latest version of Nero (5.5.9.0).
Use the Windows task manager tabs of performance and applications to monitor any resource hogging that windows does whilst burning as this will cause problems. Make sure no other apps are "working" whilst burning, this includes some task bar programmes. Switch off indexing services (start|programs|admin tools|computer management|services and applications|right click on indexing services and select all tasks and tune performance and select never used and click OK, as this can unexpectantly slow or even freeze your computer causing any burning process to flame out. You may need to select system from indexing service and click on directories and turn eack sub directories indexing off to be sure. I haven't been able to tell if this selection is required to fully turn off indexing?
Run the defrag utility on a regular basis as windows does some automatic defragging that can grab system resources when you least expect it. Finally it's best to burn from a contigious image on the HD, at least 700Mb of contigious space rather than rely on burner caching and burn proof technology.

 

And the hits just keep on coming....

Dobhar, the XP burner program is part of remedial player - that was one of the first things that I tried.

Turned of the indexing liked you suggested Paul, and tried to burn with everthing shutdown that wasn't necessary - no difference.

I have Nero 5.5.9 and I've downloaded that supposed 'burning fix' path from M$. Still no joy.

Switched the burner with the Sony 8X down stairs. Sony burner performs flawlessly under XP - no problems whatsoever. Nero and NTI both burn to it without problems.

Must be the drive - right?

I put that Creative down stairs in the system the Sony came from - 98 SE on that machine - it works perfectly. No lock ups no errors - am even able to burn from my network drives without problems (not that I normally do that though).

So what gives?

I admit I haven't done a lot of burning with that drive since I loaded XP - not nearly as much as when I had 98 and first go the drive and went burn crazy.

Still, I've come to the conclusion that nothing with the brand Creative will agree with my pc. My sound blaster card creates static during playback - but that's another thread....

Creative - it's what I have to be if put their products on my comptuer!!!

Thanks for the suggestions though guys - always appreciated.

Gary

 

One other thought Gary...
You have tried burning at a reduced speed on the creative? 4x is often the sweet spot, particularly for reducing errors in the burnt disc.

 

Woops, here's another...
Try changing the master/slave order of the burner on the IDE port, and check in the device manager that DMA is enabled for the IDE controller. I'd even go as far as slaving to the Hard drive on IDE 1 just for the excercise as a LAST resort.
Let us know?

 

Another option to try is go to creative's website and see if they have a XP patch for your burner. When I updated to XP I was using Easy Cd Creator and I had to go to their website and download a patch and everything worked fine. I also have no trouble with Nero either.

 

I checked Creative's site and they don't have anything for updates or patches for their burners. They claim everything you need is supported by XPs native drivers.

I'm just going to leave the burners as I swapped them, since the Creative works fine on the other system. The 98 system doesn't perform nearly as much burning as I do on my XP system.

After all, VH1 just had their top 100 one-hit wonders - had to get those on CD!!