thanx for reply, you well could be on right track.  just purchased today  a
compact portable storage device. upon plugging in to usb port, tried to
install, then error message 'windows unable to complete the format' i'll try
to use another software to burn, but what does that have to do with the
ability to read cd's?
stephen r stanfield

-------Original Message-------

From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
Date: 04/22/04 20:57:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] non-functioning cd and floppy

Greetings Joe and list--

> Hi Joe,
>
> Thanx for the reply. ran scan as suggested and did not return any viruses.
i
> use norton and mc afee. now it doesn't allow me to burn cd with new cd/r
> drive. thanx again
>
> stephen r stanfield
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
> Date: 04/20/04 09:39:00
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] non-functioning cd and floppy
>
> Hi,
>
> Did you check for virus or Trojans? Even if you have something
> installed on your system, you may want to try a different one. Try
> www.housecall.antivirus.com and do an on line scan.
>
> I find when something working well, just stops and a new replacement
> gives the same result it is a virus issue.
>
> Thanks and have a Great Day!
>
> Joe Lore
> ========================
> i have a AMD Athlon XP 2100+, 1.024 GB memory, 40 GB HD. i was using
> floppy to backup data daily for small program. floppy quit working,
> "windows unable to read disk", purchased new one and same problem.

> started saving data to cd, it shows it burns to disk, but will not read
> disk or install programs from any disk. purchased new Samsung CD-R/RW
> 252F, same error message as with floppy. also replaced cables and
> checked connections. could this be motherboard problem? windows tips and
> solutions no help. any suggestions?
---------------------
This does begin to sound like a motherboard problem,
but you do need to be certain about your data cables.
If they are 'known good', another tip I have seen with
respect to Windows XP and CD-RW drives is that if you
use software such as Roxio EasyCD Creator/Direct CD or
Ahead Nero Burning ROM, you should right click the icon
for the burner, go to the properties pages, and uncheck
use to write CDs (or whatever the wording is). This way
Windows and the preferred burning software won't "fight
over" the burning task. I have run into problems with
Windows XP doing a really bad job of handling data burning
tasks on an HP Pavilion, a Gateway E series, and a home-built
computer. It is my opinion that burning CDs is best done
with software dedicated to that purpose, rather than allowing
Windows to do so using the Roxio-licensed OS feature. In
all of the above examples, Windows would either write to the
RW one time, fail to recognize good disks, indicate a given
disk was bad or unusable, or only write some of the total amount
to be copied (taking an inordinately long time to do so). Using
software (Nero) installed thereafter, some disks previously
indicated as bad were entirely usable, and have been ever since.
This is with the same CD-RW hardware.

HTH,

Paul A. Shippert
-----------------------------------
and I'm hovering like a fly
waiting for the windshield on the
freeway." Genesis
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