Can only burn disks intermittently

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hi

I use Easy CD Creator 5.3.5.10 which came pre-installed on a Dell Optiplex
GX270 running Windows XP Pro with SP2 and all updates. I have a CD/RW combo
DVD reader drive.

I frequently receive an error message when trying to burn CD's. The error
message is:
The Disc in the recorder is not the proper media for this project.
Insert a blank CD or a CD with enough free space to record the project.

When I originally had this problem Dell Support directed me to a document
which recommended opening ECDC and running the System Tests... under the
Tools menu. This 'recalibrates' the data transfer speed information held by
ECDC about the drive. Apparently, if a removable disk or other removable
media is attached to the computer it causes ECDC to lose this info. I
frequently attach a camera and an MP3 player to my computer, so have used
this workaround several times, though I don't often burn CD's.

Lately this 'workaround' does not work. I repeatedly get this error message.
I have run the system tests... several times. I am trying to burn 38MB of
data onto a 700MB CD. It's worked in the past, but not now.

So far I have...

I uninstalled ECDC and installed a free CD burning application. This worked
first time. Next, I connected my camera and iPod, transferred the pictures
from my camera, disconnected it, and then tried to burn another CD. The new
software could not detect a CD in the drive. I uninstalled the free software
and rebooted. I next tried to burn a playlist using Windows Media Player 10
but this did not work either. Next I tried iTunes, this immediately ejected
the disc, I pushed the tray back in, and then could burn to disk! Presumably
iTunes worked because it is designed to work with my music player. I could
not burn files to disk using the OS - the wizard reports there is no disk in
the drive and prompts me to insert a writable disk.

I disconnected the player and rebooted and was able to write files using the
OS. So, I reinstalled the free software but still could not write a CD, so I
uninstalled it again.

However, although I can now write files using the OS, XP does not support
creating disks from ISO images.

I've just run spyware scans (3), a full AV scan, I've run a registry scan
using Norton Utilities 2005 (this only detected broken links to the
uninstalled ECDC), and also system file checker and everything was fine.

I am reluctant at present to buy any CD writing software because I wonder if
this has something to do with the way Windows is configured. I do not want to
install and have the same problem, as I frequently connect my music player
and camera.

Does anyone have any suggestions I might try?