My CD writer (Samsung SM 308B) stopped reading blank disks..and causes the system to hang when a blank is in. Although it can read and play other disks normally. I know the cds are ok and changed the writer over with a spare(LG) and it burned the first 2 disks ok, then reverted to the same problem..'Please insert Disk'. Also have tried other burning progs and have the latest firnware.

I saw a similar question posted somewhere and the answer was to "reorder your CONFIG.SYS so that the driver statement is in the first line." But how do i do this? And to "add a line before the CD-ROM driver that says LASTDRIVE=Z." Again how? Or is there an alternative?

Thanks in Advance

P4 3Ghz
Asus P4R8L mobo (800fsb)
512Mb DDR (400Hz)
XP Pro SP2
Samsung SM 308B (Firmware T101)

PC_Dread

That doesnt work with an XP system. Autoexec and Config.sys are not used with XP.

Those statements are only good on like a DOS or Win9x based system.

You have tried 2 different burners and they both stop reading CD-Rs or CD-RWs?

Hi
Yes, and iv'e also checked for viruses & spyware.

Well i just changed writers over again and managed to get Alchohol 120% to burn 1 after it refused 3 disks, All from a stack of 100(Samsung btw lol) which hadnt worked earlier. Ive also given some of these ones that ive tried to friends and they worked for them. So why the discrimination between disks?

Puzzled :-/
PC_Dread

Some writers lose the adjustment in the head with wear. However you stated two burners do this. That I cant answer unless both were used very hard (lots of burning) Laser write heads do not last forever.

Yeah the LG has had a hard life but the samsung is almost unused. Will keep trying and keep you updated thanks m8.

PC_Dread

i had a similar problem, i did almost everything u could think of. my last try is to put a new writer in my computer(p4 2.6ghz), if this doesnt work, i guess imma give up and never burn again.

some things i tried: disconnecting the drive, uninstalling it, then reboot, windows update, shut down, insert back the drive, install...no luck

format computer...no luck

all of a sudden, it basically stopped reading any blank media, it said incorrect function (or something like that)..or it also said "windows cannot read from this disk....caused by bad media or a format that is not compatible with windows"..it would read dvd and cds with data on them already.

then i decided to put it in my older computer, (p2 300mhz)..it didnt work their either. so it must of meant the drive was damaged...well atleast the writing part because if im not mistaken, the writing lens has to read the blank media and do the writing, right?

yead man i also have ASUS P5SD2-VM and me too having the same problem.........