DVD burner problem for data

[Raccoon Man]

Hi,

I have a compaq presario with a DVD-RW which burns cd's no problem. I have too much stuff for cd so I tried to burn on DVD but it didn't work. I used NERO startsmart.
Besides this I have found the computer no longer plays radio stations from www.di.fm and the nero video player often opens but does not play.
When I try to launch that radio station, I either get "Invalid Menu Handle" or it tries to open a new internet explorer window which can't find the page. This never used to happen.
I don't know if these are related.

[Billy_Black]

Well let's look at your DVD burning problems. PMA (Program Memory Area) errors can sometimes be caused by media your burner doesn't like. At the end of the burn, that area needs to be read back so the Table of Contents can be written. Looks like you are using Optodisc, which is not held in high regard. You could try other brands, preferably one's made in Japan although Verbatim from Taiwan are fine.

Try this, use NeroExpress and do the same burn but instead of choosing your burner (upper right dropdown) choose Nero's 'Image Recorder [DVD]' and add your files and burn, this will create a Nero image, .nrg file similar to an ISO, and see if it completes successfully this way. This should tell you if Nero is working/configured correctly. Open NeroExpress again, select your burner (the entry with [DVD] at the end) this time from the dropdown, choose 'Disc Image or saved Project', point it to your just created Image (.nrg) file and see if it burns. This should bypass the PMA process.

Other random thoughts. You log shows 'Prassi/Veritas drivers', Nero does not always play well with other burning apps. You didn't mention what chipset/MOBO drivers you are running and if they are up to date, VIA, Intel, Nvidia etc. To further complicate matters sometimes the latest chipset drivers are not a good choice with older chipsets.

[Raccoon Man]

When you say it Looks like I'm using Optodisc; and to try other brands; are we talking software or hardware, and if hardware then you are suggesting replacing the current burner with another?

When you discussed the 'Prassi/Veritas drivers', and what chipset/MOBO drivers I am running / if they are up to date, whether the latest chipset drivers is or isn't a good choice with older chipsets;

I'm not sure what you mean by chipset or MOBO drivers - do you mean AMD Sempron and the drivers that come with the computer?
If it is faster fire me a link where I can read up on all this to better understand

Besides this, I tried the opening Nero Express and the Image Recorder - the burn process says it has been completed - but when I check to see what's on the DVD it says it is still blank.
However I can still burn music cd's.

It might also be important to point out that I am trying to make a backup of my computer, so it is not just one DVD file, but about 6 file folders containing files of various types.

I have also emailed NERO support to ensure I have the right drivers.
Thanks

[Billy_Black]

The discs are Opti's, I suggested you try some other brand of media/blanks "preferably one's made in Japan although Verbatim from Taiwan are fine".
I tried the opening Nero Express and the Image Recorder - the burn process says it has been completed - but when I check to see what's on the DVD it says it is still blank.
Choosing 'Image Recorder' will save/create an image of the files you chose on your Hard Drive. It will have an .nrg extension (it is Nero's version of an ISO). It is not being burned to a disc. This will tell you if Nero is functioning properly, not the burner. To burn this Image, from Nero Express you choose 'Disc Image or saved project' then point it to wherever you had saved the Image.
When you discussed the 'Prassi/Veritas drivers',
Do you have any other burning programs installed, ie Roxio, Sonic etc? Nero sometimes does not play well with them.

Fire up Nero InfoTool and see what it says, check Configuration and see if DMA is on, check ASPI and see if it's installed (for ASPI use the drop down and also check for Nero ASPI.

It is fairly common for a faulty DVD burner to still work with CD's.

[Raccoon Man]

I will pick up some Sony discs and try them once I check the other stuff.

It saved the .nrg file as an image and when I go to 'Write a premastered image' I can get it to select the .nrg but when I change the destination drive from 'image recorder DVD' to ' D: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4082N [DVD] '
the next box at the bottom of the screen changes so I cannot select it.

The Nero infotool says
ASPI - under ASPI drop down list: System ASPI and Nero ASPI, but at the bottom there is a yellow box saying ASPI not installed.
Configuration - DMA on
- says this for both primary channel and secondary channel

I also have Sonic installed, so if this is creating the problem, which should I delete, Sonic or Nero?

Thanks

[Billy_Black]

... will pick up some Sony discs and try them once I check the other stuff.
The Sony's made in Japan are TY's, great media. The ones from Taiwan not too good.

It saved the .nrg file as an image and when I go to 'Write a premastered image' I can get it to select the .nrg but when I change the destination drive from 'image recorder DVD' to ' D: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4082N [DVD] '
the next box at the bottom of the screen changes so I cannot select it.
I've never seen this term in NeroExpress.

This is how I do it:
1. Open NeroExpress
2. Select your burner (the entry with [DVD] at the end) this time from the dropdown,
3. Choose 'Disc Image or saved Project', point it to your just created Image (.nrg) file and see if it burns.
and Nero ASPI, but at the bottom there is a yellow box saying ASPI not installed.
So when you choose Nero ASPI you still get 'ASPI not installed'? Your log shows the current version.

http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/eng/WNASPI32.DLL.html

I also have Sonic installed, so if this is creating the problem, which should I delete, Sonic or Nero?
Have you had any luck with Sonic? Try the same files there.

If you choose to uninstall Nero , go all out with the CleanTool.

http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/eng/General_Clean_Tool.html

If you choose to re-install Nero and drop Sonic, do not install InCD.

You might want to check for newer firmware for your burner, Nero InfoTool will give you the current one, unfortunately it's an OEM and LG won't have it. You could check the maker of your computer.

Deep Burner (free) will handle DVD data chores. You might give it a shot.

http://www.deepburner.com/

[Raccoon Man]

ok,

I used a sony dvd and sonic and it burned ok. I think you were right about having a good dvd. Thanks

So my other unresolved problem is listening to www.di.fm
I used to be able to do this however now it doesn not work.
If I click on windows media player, it opens an internet explorer page and says cannot find webpage..
The other option opens a file download box that says 'do you want to 'open' or 'save' but picking open makes it open a box that says
C:\Documents and Settings\RaccoonMan\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\KPUFC1EN[1].pls
Invalid menu handle

Do I need to download a driver that I used to have? Before I never had this happen, it would automatically open and play the station.