Reinstalled Nero has made no difference.
I think SP3 was downloaded with the updates following the Windows reinstall at the beginning of November. Just had a look at the updates in Add/Remove and SP3 is not listed.
Does it have a particular KB number?

There is a box at the top of the list that says: Show Updates. Do you have this checked?

If so you should see: Windows XP Service Pack 3

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer

SP3 was there all the time.
Despite a host of warnings I deleted it and I now have a blank desktop, all the apps I was warned may no longer work have vanished, and a I am looking at a dialog saying it is setting personalized settings for IE, very handy for a Firefox user.
What was this supposed to achieve? I have no Start button, and a totally useless computer that is just hanging. Seems I now have no option but to reinstall Windows, oh joy.

Try Safe Mode then choose System Restore.

Sorry I got a little tetchy there.
An unsuccessful attempt to restore got me out of the hanging computer situation.
I then reinstalled dMC (I uninstalled it at the same time as SP3) and it makes no difference.
If Roxio has left something behind in the registry, where would I find it? I don't like messing around in there as I don't really understand what I am doing. Even backing up before hand leaves me a little nervous.
Any reason why I should not reinstall SP3?

The reason I suggested it was from your first post quoting that other forum:

"Other programs would not effect each other, only drivers, security software and SCSI filters could effect ripping."

I was thinking of SP3 as "security software" especially if its installation coincided with your problem.

The only other Roxio issue that I am aware of is this: Right click your DVD drive under My Computer then click Properties and UNCHECK the option to allow recording.

However ironic this seems it has been a known issue with third party software. It can easily be reversed.


Have you tried your program with all other programs turned off? Including AV & firewall?

In the meantime I am re-reading your first post and trying to get more ideas.

Okay, that makes more sense now, although I didn't really think of SP3 as security software - to tell the truth I don't know what is in SP3 and have heard varying accounts of how big SP2 and SP3 are.
When I was on a slow connection SP2 took around 5 hours to download and install, SP3 was downloaded on a faster connection and was pretty quick. Of course Microsoft is unhelpful, Add/Remove just lists the updates, does not say what size they are, and in the case of SP3 it did not give an installation date.
Just so you know, this winding back has caused some other things to get unstable, a couple of things have experienced dotenfx issues and closed down.

I'd suggest going to Windows Update and take all Critical Updates which will probably include SP3 and DOT NET Framework.

SP3 was little more that the accumulated security updates issued post SP2.

Okay will go to Update and get the critical updates.
I have attempted two rips with recording disabled as you suggested. One of these was with all AV and anti malware software removed, and the second with all of the former and the firewall disabled as well. Neither was successful.

I have since found I have found a couple of sites which say to look for Upper and lower filters in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SYSTEM, and then expand CurrentControlSet.
3. Expand Control, and then expand Class.
4. Under Class, click {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
5. In the details pane of Registry Editor, on the right side, click UpperFilters.

I have no upper or lower filters in any entry for {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Any other suggestions?

Microsoft offer a "Guided Help" download to solve this issue, it "encountered problems and exited after step 0."
I am in danger of getting a complex here.

First off please post a new post as "edits" are not notified and I wouldn't have ever seen it but I was re-reading the thread.

These are the filters we have been talking about. It is a standard issue with burning problems.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Just to verify: you highlight this entry: then in the right hand window you see no mention of filters?