CD-R erratically detected
 

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
On an elderly PC I help a friend with, where he's copying a lot of his
old LPs to CD, we use burn4free (though I think the problem is not
with burn4free itself).

More often than not, when hitting the "burn" button, it says "please
insert a disc" - even if there's one in. When, by fiddling, ejecting,
closing and reopening b4f, and so on, it finally decides that there
_is_ a blank disc in, it does the burn fine.

While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
.............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
(2) In the Named box, type *.lnk, click the location you want
to search in the Look In box, and then click Find Now.
(3) Right-click a shortcut on the list of found files, click Properties,
and then click the Program tab.
(4) Delete any reference to drive A or drive B on the Command
box or Working section, and then click OK. For example,
if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com.
(5) Repeat steps 3-4, performing these steps on the next shortcut
on the list of found files until you have corrected all the
shortcuts,
and then quit the Find tool.
..........EOQ.................

Sort the Find box by folder. Look especially at .lnk's & .pif's in
folder(s) that pertain to burn4free & any in "C:\Windows\Recent". You
may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box, separated
by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete any .pif's in
"C:\Windows\PIF".

It isn't the _drive_ that's not being detected - that always shows up
in explorer; it's only the fact that there's a blank disc in it that
is so often missed.

Any ideas what's causing it, and what will improve it?

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

CD-R erratically detected
 

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
On an elderly PC I help a friend with, where he's copying a lot of his
old LPs to CD, we use burn4free (though I think the problem is not
with burn4free itself).

More often than not, when hitting the "burn" button, it says "please
insert a disc" - even if there's one in. When, by fiddling, ejecting,
closing and reopening b4f, and so on, it finally decides that there
_is_ a blank disc in, it does the burn fine.

While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
.............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
(2) In the Named box, type *.lnk, click the location you want
to search in the Look In box, and then click Find Now.
(3) Right-click a shortcut on the list of found files, click Properties,
and then click the Program tab.
(4) Delete any reference to drive A or drive B on the Command
box or Working section, and then click OK. For example,
if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com.
(5) Repeat steps 3-4, performing these steps on the next shortcut
on the list of found files until you have corrected all the
shortcuts,
and then quit the Find tool.
..........EOQ.................

Sort the Find box by folder. Look especially at .lnk's & .pif's in
folder(s) that pertain to burn4free & any in "C:\Windows\Recent". You
may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box, separated
by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete any .pif's in
"C:\Windows\PIF".

It isn't the _drive_ that's not being detected - that always shows up
in explorer; it's only the fact that there's a blank disc in it that
is so often missed.

Any ideas what's causing it, and what will improve it?

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , Meat Plow
writes:
On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:21:08 -0400, "glee"
wrote:

"Meat Plow" wrote in message
...
[]
Nero polled the floppy? I don't think I ever noticed that and it
doesn't seem logical unless Nero had a backup to floppy feature.

I've never seen Nero do it, in 10 years, but I have seen it with some
other apps....can't recall which anymore.

Can you at least recall if they were cd recording apps? It just
doesn't make sense for an app that records in ISO9660 to bother
polling a floppy controller.

Depends at what level it is written; I could imagine a prog. written at
a higher level just going through all drive letters and mapping the ones
that respond as a writer.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Lewis: ... d'you think there's a god?
Morse: ... There are times when I wish to god there was one. (Inspector Morse.)

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , Meat Plow
writes:
On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:21:08 -0400, "glee"
wrote:

"Meat Plow" wrote in message
...
[]
Nero polled the floppy? I don't think I ever noticed that and it
doesn't seem logical unless Nero had a backup to floppy feature.

I've never seen Nero do it, in 10 years, but I have seen it with some
other apps....can't recall which anymore.

Can you at least recall if they were cd recording apps? It just
doesn't make sense for an app that records in ISO9660 to bother
polling a floppy controller.

Depends at what level it is written; I could imagine a prog. written at
a higher level just going through all drive letters and mapping the ones
that respond as a writer.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Lewis: ... d'you think there's a god?
Morse: ... There are times when I wish to god there was one. (Inspector Morse.)

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
[]
While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Assuming this means the shortcut via which we start Burn4free, I know
where that is, as it's on the desktop.
[]
(4) Delete any reference to drive A or drive B on the Command
box or Working section, and then click OK. For example,
if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com.
[]
Sort the Find box by folder. Look especially at .lnk's & .pif's in
folder(s) that pertain to burn4free & any in "C:\Windows\Recent". You

I don't think there will be any such reference, but I will certainly
look; thanks for the tip.

may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box, separated
by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete any .pif's in
"C:\Windows\PIF".

I hadn't thought of .pifs either. (Aren't they just for DOS prog.s?) Why
delete the ones in ..\PIF; sounds like a good place for them!

It isn't the _drive_ that's not being detected - that always shows up
in explorer; it's only the fact that there's a blank disc in it that
is so often missed.

Any ideas what's causing it, and what will improve it?

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Lewis: ... d'you think there's a god?
Morse: ... There are times when I wish to god there was one. (Inspector Morse.)

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
[]
While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Assuming this means the shortcut via which we start Burn4free, I know
where that is, as it's on the desktop.
[]
(4) Delete any reference to drive A or drive B on the Command
box or Working section, and then click OK. For example,
if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com.
[]
Sort the Find box by folder. Look especially at .lnk's & .pif's in
folder(s) that pertain to burn4free & any in "C:\Windows\Recent". You

I don't think there will be any such reference, but I will certainly
look; thanks for the tip.

may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box, separated
by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete any .pif's in
"C:\Windows\PIF".

I hadn't thought of .pifs either. (Aren't they just for DOS prog.s?) Why
delete the ones in ..\PIF; sounds like a good place for them!

It isn't the _drive_ that's not being detected - that always shows up
in explorer; it's only the fact that there's a blank disc in it that
is so often missed.

Any ideas what's causing it, and what will improve it?

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Lewis: ... d'you think there's a god?
Morse: ... There are times when I wish to god there was one. (Inspector Morse.)

CD-R erratically detected
 

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
[]
While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Assuming this means the shortcut via which we start Burn4free, I know
where that is, as it's on the desktop.

Yea, look in that one & also in any in the folder(s) mentioned in its
Target field or any folders to do with the app..

[]
(4) Delete any reference to drive A or drive B on the Command
box or Working section, and then click OK. For example,
if the command line reads a:\edit.com, change the line to read
edit.com.
[]
Sort the Find box by folder. Look especially at .lnk's & .pif's in
folder(s) that pertain to burn4free & any in "C:\Windows\Recent". You

I don't think there will be any such reference, but I will certainly
look; thanks for the tip.

You are welcome.


may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box,
separated by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete
any .pif's in "C:\Windows\PIF".

I hadn't thought of .pifs either. (Aren't they just for DOS prog.s?)
Why delete the ones in ..\PIF; sounds like a good place for them!

All right. Maybe don't delete them all, just any mentioning A:\ or
B:\ -- & inform us of any others. (I have none in there.)

A complex Windows app may have DOS commands & .pif's in its folder(s).
(I don't have or know Burn4Free.)

C:\Windows\PIF\ is used to hold .pif's that Windows creates when they
cannot be put anywhere else. A .pif (shortcut to a DOS command) is
created when a DOS command is clicked to execute. Normally, the .pif
will be put into the folder of the command that is clicked. I suppose if
one is clicked on a write-protected A:\drive, Windows might put the .pif
into
C:\Windows\PIF\.


It isn't the _drive_ that's not being detected - that always shows
up in explorer; it's only the fact that there's a blank disc in it
that is so often missed.

Any ideas what's causing it, and what will improve it?

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
[]
While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Assuming this means the shortcut via which we start Burn4free, I know
where that is, as it's on the desktop.

Yea, look in that one & also in any in the folder(s) mentioned in its
Target field or any folders to do with the app..

Followup for general interest: There was no mention of A: or B: in the
properties of the desktop shortcut we used to get to burn4free ...
[]
may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box,
separated by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete
any .pif's in "C:\Windows\PIF".

.... and Windows\PIF existed, but was completely empty.
[]
However, we've decided to upgrade to a different PC (still '98SElite);
the one this was on has had intermittent and infuriatingly untraceable
problems for a year or two. I already rebuilt it once (formatting the
HD) sometime in (I think) the last year. Could be software (though a
format and reinstall suggests not!), or hardware, but if so it's a rare
fault: could be PSU not up to it for brief instants, or HD throwing
brief funnies, or RAM, or mobo - basically it's too much to try
replacing on an investigative basis, and it's not as if I'm exactly
short of '98 systems! The only reason I've held out this long is that I
didn't want to make such a big change for the elderly chap who uses it;
however, this evening he agreed with me (after burn4free had shown its
decidedly erratic behaviour again actually detecting the presence of the
CD-R blank, despite actually writing two perfectly OK audio discs when
fiddling did actually make it accept there was a disc there, the first
one done at maximum speed).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe. -Galileo
Galilei, physicist and astronomer (1564-1642)

CD-R erratically detected
 

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , PCR
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
[]
While looking, it rattles the floppy drive before it "finds" the
writer (from within b4f, that is).

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216752
Floppy Disk Drive Is Active When Opening or Saving Files
............Quote..................
To resolve this issue, change the command line reference in the
Properties of the shortcut, or delete the shortcut:

(1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Assuming this means the shortcut via which we start Burn4free, I
know where that is, as it's on the desktop.

Yea, look in that one & also in any in the folder(s) mentioned in its
Target field or any folders to do with the app..

Followup for general interest: There was no mention of A: or B: in the
properties of the desktop shortcut we used to get to burn4free ...

OK. I presume you've looked through Burn4Free's docs & FAQs & menus for
any mention of an option to use the floppy. I guess it's possible the
product is looking for something to burn to, since it has trouble
finding the CD. But I really have nothing left to recommend. Maybe post
the machine's Config.sys & Autoexec.bat from "START, Run, SysEdit" to
see whether any shenanigan is going on their that could cause a
confusion between the floppy & CD-ROM.

[]
may add a search for .pif's by adding ".pif" in the Named box,
separated by a comma from ".lnk".. Look in their Program tab. Delete
any .pif's in "C:\Windows\PIF".

... and Windows\PIF existed, but was completely empty.

OK. That's normal.

[]
However, we've decided to upgrade to a different PC (still '98SElite);
the one this was on has had intermittent and infuriatingly untraceable
problems for a year or two. I already rebuilt it once (formatting the
HD) sometime in (I think) the last year. Could be software (though a
format and reinstall suggests not!), or hardware, but if so it's a
rare fault: could be PSU not up to it for brief instants, or HD
throwing brief funnies, or RAM, or mobo - basically it's too much to
try replacing on an investigative basis, and it's not as if I'm
exactly short of '98 systems! The only reason I've held out this long
is that I didn't want to make such a big change for the elderly chap
who uses it; however, this evening he agreed with me (after burn4free
had shown its decidedly erratic behaviour again actually detecting
the presence of the CD-R blank, despite actually writing two
perfectly OK audio discs when fiddling did actually make it accept
there was a disc there, the first one done at maximum speed).

That may be best, if there are a lot of intermittent problems that a
fresh install hasn't cured. You could test the hard drive with its
manufacturer's utility first, if you suspect that. Get it from the WEB
site. To test RAM...

http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp RAM tester
http://www.memtest86.com/ RAM tester
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp RAM tester


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

CD-R erratically detected
 

In message , PCR
writes:
[]
OK. I presume you've looked through Burn4Free's docs & FAQs & menus for
any mention of an option to use the floppy. I guess it's possible the

I don't _think_ it had such an option - it's a CD-writer prog., really.

product is looking for something to burn to, since it has trouble
finding the CD. But I really have nothing left to recommend. Maybe post
the machine's Config.sys & Autoexec.bat from "START, Run, SysEdit" to
see whether any shenanigan is going on their that could cause a
confusion between the floppy & CD-ROM.

I'm half-way through transferring the user to another PC ATM ... (-:
[]
That may be best, if there are a lot of intermittent problems that a
fresh install hasn't cured. You could test the hard drive with its
manufacturer's utility first, if you suspect that. Get it from the WEB
site. To test RAM...

http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp RAM tester
http://www.memtest86.com/ RAM tester
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp RAM tester


Thanks, I knew about simmtester and memtest86 at least, not sure about
the last one. But probably not going to bother - as I said, this PC had
been a little grumpy for some years, and I'm part way through
transferring to another machine anyway.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum." Translation: "Garbage in, garbage out."