General Chat

Ooops posted twice lol

Well, now when I try to drag the file to the disk (using Roxio, pre-installed by Dell) it tells me the disk is read only.

When I try to format the disk it gets only part way and said Windows was unable to format.

I'm looking at the hardware now. It's a Dell Inspiron 1501 Lappy, and the disk drive is TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD TSL 462D ATA Device

Does that help?

I'll have to get in touch with Dell I think.

Bashes head on wall lol

Hi TW, Just formatted a blank disc to copy a file onto it. Had a similar problem. In that, at end of formatting....message said unable to complete formatting. But I was able to burn the file to disc.

Have you tried this? with the blank disc in....close the format box.

Then from your start button, click on computer & right click on e-drive.

From the list click on properties. If this read protected this will show in the attributes part of this window. If you are just shown a blank CD with no attributes. Try to burn your files in from this point. It will then format (hopefully) & save your files to disc.

Steve

EDIT...Ignore this TW. Peipal has the answer below for you.

Heres the spec for your drive, and it looks like it WONT burn DVDs, but will burn the two types of CDs CD-R CD-RW


Read CD Text : Yes
Return C2 Pointers : Yes
Read CD-R : Yes
Read CD-RW : Yes
Read DVD-ROM : Yes
Read DVD-RAM : Yes
Read DVD-R : Yes
Read DVD-RW : Yes
Read DVD-R DL : Yes
Read DVD+R : Yes
Read DVD+RW : Yes
Read DVD+R DL : Yes
Read BD-ROM : No
Read BD-R : No
Read BD-RE : No
Read HD DVD-ROM : No
Read HD DVD-R : No
Read HD DVD-RW : No
Read HD-BURN : No
Read Digital Audio : Yes
Read CD+G : Yes
Read VideoCD : Yes

Write CD-R : Yes
Write CD-RW : Yes
Write DVD-R : No
Write DVD-RW : No
Write DVD-R DL : No
Write DVD+R : No
Write DVD+RW : No
Write DVD+R DL : No
Write DVD-RAM : No
Write BD-R : No
Write BD-RE : No
Write HD DVD-R : No
Write HD DVD-RW : No
Write HD-BURN-R : No
Write HD-BURN-RW : No

Nope, still not working.For some reason after attempting anything, it goes to format then fails. Then it tells me there is no disk...and ejects it.

Yep, fair enough with the DVD;s Peipal, but it still doesn't want anything to do with CD-RW...because I can't bypass the format stage, and it won't complete the format.

Steve, I looked at properties, hows this for different?

Yes the CD-RW shows blank, but

blue is used
Pink is free right?


Err. it says it's blank, but it shows blue.

I give up.

sorry had to go pick up daughter lol, yes the colours are as you say, pink free blue full.

But CD-R are pre formated, CD-RWs may need formating depends on the make of disc

when you use roxio to burn the cd you are burning a data disc (i know but its easy to forget the mode)

the only other thing is your drive does not like that make of disc

Hmmm I would have thought using Memorex I wouldn't go far wrong. There' s no advice which make of disk to use, and I can see wasting a lot of money on them.

Thing is, it will save to a CD/R ok, no problem, just not a CD-RW, yet it is supposed to be able to, one of the things that prompted me to buy the b***** lappy in the first place LOL

I need the RW as lots of files will need changing. *SIGH*

Thanks Piepal and Stevie xx

PS I've tried other options too including using windows to write to the disk, and not using Roxio...still the same result, refuses to format, so I guess it must be the disk. ggggrrrrrrr

TW i have a similar problem with my new PC - it won't accept the TDK and Tesco own brand discs I had been using previously - so far the only one that has worked is Sony - i bet they are the dearer ones lol


You'd think the drives would be universal wouldn't ya ??? lol xx

I'll have to look at trying to buy individual disks and trying them instead of the mulit-packs...

Oh well, I'm off shopping tomorrow for CD-RW..(not memorex)

I'll try the Sony first I think.

To be honest if you use CD-RW discs a lot because the documents need to be changed quite often, have you thought of using online storage along side an external hard drive (thats what i use these days) that way you can access your documents at home or away make changes re save them and no piles of Cds that can be scratched or corrupted.

You can get free 50gb of online storage at http://www.adrive.com/

and an external hard drive only costs about £30

worth a thought :-)

I never thought of that ...

Good point...I can always save some stuff to just a CD/R if I need to send it on anywhere...at least I know they work!

Hmm, online storage is the way to go I think, and an external harddrive for backup too....

Thanks for that Piepal MWAHHH xx ;-)

Or a memory stick - i got a 'massive amounts of GB' one really cheap off Amazon a while back ........... but then they are easy to lose lolol

You're a helpful chap Peipal ;O)

Mac I nearly beat you to it LOL

I'm sure you're about to enlighten us Mac LOL

LOL Mac...I think most of us have got that virus.

Mind you, some have a common failure...known as I D Ten T

or


IDIOT

But this happened yesterday Mac LOL