CDRW write problem with new Inspiron 600

I got my new Inspiron 6000 laptop last month with DVD/CDRW. It can read DVD and CD no problem. When I tried to write a CD (via RecordNow software came with laptop) first time, it failed half way (very surprising with such modern equipment). Then I tried again, failed right away at the beginning of the write. Then I talked to Dell support, with their suggestion:
I tried remove RecordNow and reinstalled it with the application CD came with the system. (Not work, boot me out while writing started, I mean instantly failed).
I tried to use window default burner (using file explorer directly on D: drive), boot me out while writing started.
I tried to follow the instruction to do write test via Resource CD. Somehow the resource CD Dell sent to me had graphical interface (different from the article they posted in Dell web site) and no write test under the Diagnostics 32 extended test or custom test. All other test under optical drive passed (confidence, read, seek, etc, but none of them test write).

So any experts here can suggest whether it is a driver problem or a hardware problem? If it could be a driver problem, what can I do to fix it. If it could be a CDRW hardware problem, what test I can perform to confirm this and tell Dell to replace my DVD/CDRW?

Thanks

 

A couple of things come to my mind...
first, right click on your d-drive and go to properties. then click the last tab (recording) and make sure record "enable recording on this cd drive" is checked and verify that the it is showing the d-drive. You might want to uncheck and click apply, then recheck the box and press apply again...

If that is all correct, you might want to try this link (sorry for the long link), but it is for the Inspiron systems that will not burn cds. Its a troubleshooting utility for Dell systems, that will walk you thru common problems and solutions.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&journalid=8940ED21CCC411D9B2BA8139ADD5366A&treeid=4A00A2A6D4C9409EB1CAE7708F7477C3

If its reading your cds, then it sounds like it is driver problem (unless they installed the wrong optical drive, and only gave you a cd-rom instead of burner). You can go to Dell's driver site http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/ and download the current driver for your optical drive (its under removable media storage) and install it.

I hope this helps.



~SG~
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Inspiron 9300 || 1.73GHz || 60GB 7200rpm ||1gb DDR2||ATI Radeon X300 64MB || CD/DVD RW || XP Pro

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by SouthernGirl

 

Try some different discs. Apply firmware update if available. Use Windows Update to upgrade ide drivers if available. Lastly try some differnent software. CDBurnerXP and DeepBurner are free and work well for basic tasks like burning audio and data CDs. Good Luck.







I was robbed by a sweet little old lady on a motorized cart and I didn't even see it coming.

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* 1.8Ghz Pentium M * 1.5GB Memory * 60GB Hitachi 7200RPM * 15" SXGA+ Flexview * MultiBurner * Win 2k *

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by zazonz

 

Thanks to SG, Heretofgold, zazonz.

At first I thought it could be dirver issue since it can read DVD/CD. Then I found out, now days, all the third parties are uisng optical driver come with WinXP to do read/write (if you go to your optical driver property, the provider is always Microsoft). They only optimize one layer above. This Win-XP driver is very stable for last two years for read/write. Since I tried to use window native burner to write failed, I started to doubt the hardware.

I tried 3 different media, all nice brand. The TDK one I can write it in my desktop at 48x speed. They were all failed same way (stop once write process started).

Dell is going to send me a replacement optical drive since they could not get me an old version ResouceCD to do write test (somehow they made a bad move to remove the write test in their latest ResouceCD). Fine for me to get a new one. I will try all your suggestions if the new one does not work out (if this is the case, this will be definitely a driver issue or my laptop has serious problem.)

Another question, Dell just released a BIOS upgrade for Inspiron 6000 (verison A06). My one is version A05
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=INS_PNT_6000&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=6999&devlib=1&category=1&releaseid=R99795

In its list of things fixed, the 6th item is:
6. Fixed issue in which the Operating System may intermittently configure the optical disk drive (such as a CD-ROM drive) to operate in PIO mode rather than UDMA mode.

Do you think whether this could fix my issue?

Thanks

 

I'm glad you got it all figured out. I didn't do anything to help you. I wish I could have.

Best Regards,
Heart [ ]

Karma, It'll Get You!

 

Here is the end of the story. I received the replacement DVD/CDRW on May 27. I put it in and it was a different brand (Toshiba/Samsung SN-324S). XP detected and installed the driver automatically (assume Microsoft CD/RW driver). Then I burned a CD without issue. So it was the hardware problem. I did a full test (no write test) and it passed all. So far, I have burned 5 CD already.[ ]

Thanks all your help and replies.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by New I6000