Drive Cannot Write to Writable Discs

Drive Cannot Write to Writable Discs

Use the steps in this document to troubleshoot problems that occur while trying to create music or data discs with your CDRW or DVD+RW drive.
Before continuing make sure that the disc you are trying to burn with is high quality and matches the drive capabilities. If you are unsure, use CD-R type. If the disc already contains data, set it aside and use a new CD-R or CD-RW disc.
Use the following steps if the writable drive is still unable to write data to a writable disc. Try writing to a CD after completing each step to see if the problem is resolved.

NOTE:
Make sure your drive is actually capable of burning to the type of media that you want to use. For example, a combination DVD/CDRW drive will NOT burn DVDs. You can use the first step below to help find the type of drive in your PC.
Ensure that the CD is listed in Device Manager:
In Windows XP, click Start, and right-click My Computer.
In Windows 98 and Me, right-click My Computer.
In Windows 98 and Me, select Properties, and click the Device Manager tab.
In Windows XP, select Properties, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.
Click the plus sign ( +) next to DVD/CD-ROM Drives (or similar) category.

If the CD or DVD drive is not showing up in Device Manager, close Device Manager and use HP and Compaq PCs - CD or DVD Drive is not Detected .
If the CD or DVD drive is listed, continue using these steps to troubleshoot.

Decrease the CD writer's burn speed by half. The following steps are for Windows XP only. For Windows 98 and Me, decrease the write speed from within the software that you are using to write discs (RecordNow, Easy CD Creator)
Click Start, and then My Computer.
Right-click the drive icon, and select Properties.
Select the Recording tab and reduce the Current Write Speed by half (for example, from 16x to 8x).
Click OK and close the My Computer window.
Try writing to a CD. If the drive fails to create the CD, go to the next step.

If you are using Windows XP and you are trying to use the drag-and-drop burning capabilities of Windows XP (not other burning software like RecordNow or Easy CD Creator), use the following steps to ensure that native burning is enabled:
Place a blank disc into the drive.
Click Start, and then My Computer.
Right-click the writable drive icon, and select Properties.
Select the Recording tab and select Enable CD recording on this drive and click OK

If you had to enable recording, try writing to a CD by dragging and dropping files into the writable disc's open Window. If the drive fails to create the CD, go to the next step.

If you are using HP DLA to create discs (not other burning software like RecordNow or Easy CD Creator), use the following steps to ensure that DLA is enabled:
Place a blank disc into the drive.
Click Start, and then My Computer.
Right-click the writable drive icon, and select Properties.
Click the DLA tab and select Enable DLA on your drives.

NOTE:
HP DLA and Windows XP drag-and-drop burning cannot both be enabled at the same time, and only one writeable optical drive can be enabled to use DLA.
Double-click My Computer and right-click the drive icon containing the disc that is enabled for DLA.
Select Format and fill out the drive label name.
Click Start on the Window that is open.
Once finished, the disc can be used to write files to it.
Try writing files to the disc by dragging and dropping files into the open window for the disc. If the drive fails to create the CD, go to the next step.

NOTE:
If you want a CD-R or DVD+RW that you created to play in another computer, use the make compatible feature of DLA. With the disc in the drive, right-click the drive icon in My Computer, select Make Compatible and follow the information on the windows that appear.

Ensure that the disc you created can work in other drives. Remove any disc that you created and place them into a different CD or DVD drive and try to open the files on the disc. What happens?
If the files can be read from a different drive, then the disc is not bad. You are done.
If the files cannot be read in another drive, ensure that the type of disc that is being used matches the work you are performing (for example, a CD-R is not being rewritten to, or being formatted as if it was a CD-RW).
If the files cannot be read in another drive, ensure that you are using the CD writing software that came with the computer.
If the files cannot be read in another drive, use a new disc that it is not scratched or dirty and try creating the disc again.
If the files cannot be read in another drive, use a new disc that is from a different brand or manufacturer and try creating the disc again.
If you still cannot create a disc that can be read in another drive, go to the next step.
Reseat the drive cables to the optical drive as follows:

WARNING:
The edges of metal panels can cut skin. Be careful not to slide skin along any edge of the computer's interior metal.

CAUTION:
This product contains components that are easily damaged by ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD). To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a non-carpeted floor, use a static dissipative work surface (like a conductive foam pad), and wear an ESD wrist strap that is connected to a grounded surface (like the metal frame of the PC).
Turn off the computer, unplug all cords from the computer, then press the Power button on the front of the computer.
Open and remove the computer's side-panel or cover. If you do not know how to remove the cover, search support for instructions on how to take apart the case. for example, type the following when searching: presario + service guide
Remove both the ribbon cable and the power cable from the back of the CD drive.

Figure 1: Back of a CD or DVD drive
1 - Audio connector
2 - Drive jumper settings
3 - IDE connector
4 - Power connector

Reinsert both cables into the back of the drive making sure that the cables fit snug into their connectors and there are no bent pins in the connectors. Use a different power cable that is not in use, if possible.
Remove and reinsert the CD drive's ribbon cable from the connector on the motherboard. Be careful to not dislodge other ribbon cables.
Replace the cover, plug in the cords, and turn the computer on.
Try creating a disc again. If you still cannot create a disc that can be read in another drive, go to the next step.

Remove the drive from Device Manager:
Open Device Manager and select the CD Drive name.
Click the Uninstall or Remove button (in Windows XP this is the square button with a red X).
Click Yes or OK to remove the CD listing. Do not restart the computer.
Close Device Manager.
If your computer has Windows XP or 2000, go to the next step without restarting the computer.
If your computer has Windows 98 or Me, restart the computer and skip the next step (clear the registry files).
Clear the registry filters (for Windows XP only):
Click Start, Run, and type the following into the Open field: regedit
Click OK. The registry editor appears.
In Windows XP, click File, Export, type a filename that is easy for you to remember, and click Save.
A copy of the registry has been saved for back-up purposes.
Click the plus sign ( +) next to the following items in the listed order:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet (or the current control set with lowest number if that is all that is listed)
Control
Class

Select 4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318.
Select UpperFilter in the right window and press the Delete key.
Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
Select LowerFilters in the right window and press the Delete key.
Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
Close the registry editor, restart the computer, and wait until Windows configures the necessary drivers for new hardware.
Do not perform this step if you do not know how to reinstall your CD writing software. Uninstall all CD writing software (RecordNow, EZ CD Creator) using add/remove programs.

CAUTION:
These steps require the removal of the CD writing software (RecordNow, EZ CD Creator, etc..). On some models of HP and Compaq computers, it is not possible to restore the CD Writing software without doing a system recovery. Look in the application recovery portion of System Tools to make sure that you can restore the CD writing software. If the name of the CD writing software is not listed, do not use these steps.
After all CD writing software has been removed, restart the computer and then reinstall the CD writing software using the HP or Compaq application recovery software or by using Compaq's quick restore.
Try creating a disc again. If you still cannot create a disc that can be read in another drive, go to the next step.
If the computer still cannot write to the disc, use system restore to go back to a time when the drive was recognized by Windows. This step is only for Windows Me and XP. If you do not know how to restore Windows, use the Support document " Using Microsoft's System Restore Feature ."
When done, use the CD or DVD drive again to see if it works. If it works, you are done. If it does not, go to the next step.
If the computer still cannot write to the disc, recover the computer. If you do not know how to recover the computer, use one of the following documents:
Pavilion: Running a System Recovery in Windows 98 and Me
HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Performing a System Recovery in Windows XP
If the Presario computer came with quick restore discs, insert the first disc into the top CD or DVD drive, restart the computer, and follow the onscreen instructions.
When done, use the CD or DVD drive again to see if it works. If it works, you are done. If it does not, go to the next step.
If the PC still cannot read the disc, open PC Doctor to gather more information and respond accordingly (not on Classic Presario units).
Click Start, Run, and type the following into the Open field: pcdrw32
Click OK and wait for the PC Doctor window to appear.
Open the appropriate CD/DVD-ROM test from the list of tests (as in the column to the left of the first menu).
If an error code is reported, the computer may need to be serviced. Run the test again to confirm the error code. Use the following support document if you need more information about PC Doctor or you want to look up an error code: Using PC Doctor
If, after you have tried all these steps, the drive still cannot read commercial disc, the drive is probably bad and should be replaced.