Sorry if this is a long post, I want to give as much detail as possible of
the problem I am having.

I have an Acer TravelMate C303XMi Tablet PC running Windows XP Pro. It came
with a Pioneer DVD-RW drive installed. When I bought it last November,
everything worked fine. I was even able to burn a DVD data disk to backup my
files. But, ever since I used the recovery disks to get my system back to the
original setup, I can no longer write to DVDs.

My drive will play movie DVDs, read CDs, read previously burned DVD-RWs, and
burn to CDs. What I can no longer do is write to a DVD disk of any type.

From the following information, it seems to me like my recovery disks have
the wrong drivers on them (Acer says these are the only drivers they have -
no upgrades). Windows only sees blank DVDs as CDs. Please take a look at this
info and let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm pretty frustrated at the moment.


The following is a summary of what Windows shows when I put a DVD in the
drive:

When a blank DVD-RW disk is in the drive, this information appears when
viewing "My Computer": The icon has "DVD-R" under it but the drive is
listed as "CD Drive (E:)"

When right-clicking on the DVD drive and clicking on "Properties", this is
what is seen under the "General" tab: Type: CD Drive, File System: RAW,
Used space: 0 bytes, Free space: 4.38 GB


When checking the DVD drive properties in the Device Manager, this is the
information seen:

Under "General" tab
Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Properties
Device type: DVD/CD-ROM drives
Manufacturer: (Standard CD-ROM drives)
Location: Location 0 (0)
Device Status: This device is working properly.

Under "Driver" tab
Driver Provider: Microsoft
Driver Date: 7/1/2001
Driver Version: 5.1.2535.0
Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher

You may try tracking down an upgrade for the firmware for the drive.
There's some information (I'm not sure it is your exact model) here:
http://support.packardbell-europe.co...rdware&lang=1&
(through the "&"). From the looks of your information, it looks as though
you're running not running the full drivers, but generic drivers, and the
original need to be reinstalled off your recovery disks or updated from the
real manufacturer's web site. You may need to be in Safe Mode for the
process to make sure of a good install.
--
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
In memory of a true friend, Windows MVP Alex Nichol

Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"tattingbird" <tattingbird@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B54C9272-623A-468D-8BBF-877A28611150@microsoft.com...
> Sorry if this is a long post, I want to give as much detail as possible of
> the problem I am having.
>
> I have an Acer TravelMate C303XMi Tablet PC running Windows XP Pro. It
> came
> with a Pioneer DVD-RW drive installed. When I bought it last November,
> everything worked fine. I was even able to burn a DVD data disk to backup
> my
> files. But, ever since I used the recovery disks to get my system back to
> the
> original setup, I can no longer write to DVDs.
>
> My drive will play movie DVDs, read CDs, read previously burned DVD-RWs,
> and
> burn to CDs. What I can no longer do is write to a DVD disk of any type.
>
> From the following information, it seems to me like my recovery disks have
> the wrong drivers on them (Acer says these are the only drivers they
> have -
> no upgrades). Windows only sees blank DVDs as CDs. Please take a look at
> this
> info and let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly
> appreciated.
> I'm pretty frustrated at the moment.
>
>
> The following is a summary of what Windows shows when I put a DVD in the
> drive:
>
> When a blank DVD-RW disk is in the drive, this information appears when
> viewing "My Computer": The icon has "DVD-R" under it but the drive is
> listed as "CD Drive (E:)"
>
> When right-clicking on the DVD drive and clicking on "Properties", this is
> what is seen under the "General" tab: Type: CD Drive, File System: RAW,
> Used space: 0 bytes, Free space: 4.38 GB
>
>
> When checking the DVD drive properties in the Device Manager, this is the
> information seen:
>
> Under "General" tab
> Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Properties
> Device type: DVD/CD-ROM drives
> Manufacturer: (Standard CD-ROM drives)
> Location: Location 0 (0)
> Device Status: This device is working properly.
>
> Under "Driver" tab
> Driver Provider: Microsoft
> Driver Date: 7/1/2001
> Driver Version: 5.1.2535.0
> Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher
>
>

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 16:05:01 -0800, tattingbird wrote:

> Sorry if this is a long post, I want to give as much detail as possible of
> the problem I am having.
>
> I have an Acer TravelMate C303XMi Tablet PC running Windows XP Pro. It came
> with a Pioneer DVD-RW drive installed. When I bought it last November,
> everything worked fine. I was even able to burn a DVD data disk to backup my
> files. But, ever since I used the recovery disks to get my system back to the
> original setup, I can no longer write to DVDs.
>
> My drive will play movie DVDs, read CDs, read previously burned DVD-RWs, and
> burn to CDs. What I can no longer do is write to a DVD disk of any type.
>
> From the following information, it seems to me like my recovery disks have
> the wrong drivers on them (Acer says these are the only drivers they have -
> no upgrades). Windows only sees blank DVDs as CDs. Please take a look at this
> info and let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> I'm pretty frustrated at the moment.
>
>
> The following is a summary of what Windows shows when I put a DVD in the
> drive:
>
> When a blank DVD-RW disk is in the drive, this information appears when
> viewing "My Computer": The icon has "DVD-R" under it but the drive is
> listed as "CD Drive (E:)"
>
> When right-clicking on the DVD drive and clicking on "Properties", this is
> what is seen under the "General" tab: Type: CD Drive, File System: RAW,
> Used space: 0 bytes, Free space: 4.38 GB
>
>
> When checking the DVD drive properties in the Device Manager, this is the
> information seen:
>
> Under "General" tab
> Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Properties
> Device type: DVD/CD-ROM drives
> Manufacturer: (Standard CD-ROM drives)
> Location: Location 0 (0)
> Device Status: This device is working properly.
>
> Under "Driver" tab
> Driver Provider: Microsoft
> Driver Date: 7/1/2001
> Driver Version: 5.1.2535.0
> Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher

When you restored the system, were there any additional disks for
supplemental applications? Did you install the disk burning program?

I ask because if you skipped installing those and are using XP's CD burning
feature, it will not burn DVDs. You need to install third party software,
such as Roxio or Ahead (Nero), to burn DVDs. .

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

I just want to put in my ten cents.
I didnt read the whole thing, so i dont know if you went to the manufacture.
But I do know that CD or any optical drives have been poorly made. I have
seen many dell machines with DVD drives that just quit! And they are out of
warenty, so they are required to just buy a new one. I have seen CD-rw
drives just not work... I don't know how many other people have seen
problems with optical drives... they just make them so cheap anymore.
I wish there was a better way, but I just recommend forking out the cash for
a new one. that is if you can afford it.

-James


"tattingbird" <tattingbird@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B54C9272-623A-468D-8BBF-877A28611150@microsoft.com...
> Sorry if this is a long post, I want to give as much detail as possible of
> the problem I am having.
>
> I have an Acer TravelMate C303XMi Tablet PC running Windows XP Pro. It
> came
> with a Pioneer DVD-RW drive installed. When I bought it last November,
> everything worked fine. I was even able to burn a DVD data disk to backup
> my
> files. But, ever since I used the recovery disks to get my system back to
> the
> original setup, I can no longer write to DVDs.
>
> My drive will play movie DVDs, read CDs, read previously burned DVD-RWs,
> and
> burn to CDs. What I can no longer do is write to a DVD disk of any type.
>
> From the following information, it seems to me like my recovery disks have
> the wrong drivers on them (Acer says these are the only drivers they
> have -
> no upgrades). Windows only sees blank DVDs as CDs. Please take a look at
> this
> info and let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly
> appreciated.
> I'm pretty frustrated at the moment.
>
>
> The following is a summary of what Windows shows when I put a DVD in the
> drive:
>
> When a blank DVD-RW disk is in the drive, this information appears when
> viewing "My Computer": The icon has "DVD-R" under it but the drive is
> listed as "CD Drive (E:)"
>
> When right-clicking on the DVD drive and clicking on "Properties", this is
> what is seen under the "General" tab: Type: CD Drive, File System: RAW,
> Used space: 0 bytes, Free space: 4.38 GB
>
>
> When checking the DVD drive properties in the Device Manager, this is the
> information seen:
>
> Under "General" tab
> Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Properties
> Device type: DVD/CD-ROM drives
> Manufacturer: (Standard CD-ROM drives)
> Location: Location 0 (0)
> Device Status: This device is working properly.
>
> Under "Driver" tab
> Driver Provider: Microsoft
> Driver Date: 7/1/2001
> Driver Version: 5.1.2535.0
> Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher
>
>

You should read the whole thing, James. Then you'll see what we've replied
to hours ago.
--
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
In memory of a true friend, Windows MVP Alex Nichol

Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"James Gockel" <flibbertigibbet007_at_hotmail_dot_com> wrote in message
news:uvmXgkAOFHA.2748@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I just want to put in my ten cents.
> I didnt read the whole thing, so i dont know if you went to the
> manufacture.
> But I do know that CD or any optical drives have been poorly made. I have
> seen many dell machines with DVD drives that just quit! And they are out
> of warenty, so they are required to just buy a new one. I have seen CD-rw
> drives just not work... I don't know how many other people have seen
> problems with optical drives... they just make them so cheap anymore.
> I wish there was a better way, but I just recommend forking out the cash
> for a new one. that is if you can afford it.
>
> -James
>
>
> "tattingbird" <tattingbird@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B54C9272-623A-468D-8BBF-877A28611150@microsoft.com...
>> Sorry if this is a long post, I want to give as much detail as possible
>> of
>> the problem I am having.
>>
>> I have an Acer TravelMate C303XMi Tablet PC running Windows XP Pro. It
>> came
>> with a Pioneer DVD-RW drive installed. When I bought it last November,
>> everything worked fine. I was even able to burn a DVD data disk to backup
>> my
>> files. But, ever since I used the recovery disks to get my system back to
>> the
>> original setup, I can no longer write to DVDs.
>>
>> My drive will play movie DVDs, read CDs, read previously burned DVD-RWs,
>> and
>> burn to CDs. What I can no longer do is write to a DVD disk of any type.
>>
>> From the following information, it seems to me like my recovery disks
>> have
>> the wrong drivers on them (Acer says these are the only drivers they
>> have -
>> no upgrades). Windows only sees blank DVDs as CDs. Please take a look at
>> this
>> info and let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly
>> appreciated.
>> I'm pretty frustrated at the moment.
>>
>>
>> The following is a summary of what Windows shows when I put a DVD in the
>> drive:
>>
>> When a blank DVD-RW disk is in the drive, this information appears when
>> viewing "My Computer": The icon has "DVD-R" under it but the drive is
>> listed as "CD Drive (E:)"
>>
>> When right-clicking on the DVD drive and clicking on "Properties", this
>> is
>> what is seen under the "General" tab: Type: CD Drive, File System:
>> RAW,
>> Used space: 0 bytes, Free space: 4.38 GB
>>
>>
>> When checking the DVD drive properties in the Device Manager, this is the
>> information seen:
>>
>> Under "General" tab
>> Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K14RA Properties
>> Device type: DVD/CD-ROM drives
>> Manufacturer: (Standard CD-ROM drives)
>> Location: Location 0 (0)
>> Device Status: This device is working properly.
>>
>> Under "Driver" tab
>> Driver Provider: Microsoft
>> Driver Date: 7/1/2001
>> Driver Version: 5.1.2535.0
>> Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher
>>
>>
>
>

Sharon,

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes, there was a supplemental disk with NTI CD & DVD-Maker software on it. I
assumed I didn't need to install this since a copy of this program was
already installed from the recovery disks.

Apparently I was mistaken. The original install did not work properly.
Re-installing from the supplemental disk enabled DVD burning.

Thank you for the advice.


Robin C

Awesome (both Sharon and Robin). Glad you got it fixed.
--
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
In memory of a true friend, Windows MVP Alex Nichol

Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"tattingbird" <tattingbird@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2E9BE5B0-D087-44D2-9B2A-E5E949AEEE1F@microsoft.com...
> Sharon,
>
> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
>
> Yes, there was a supplemental disk with NTI CD & DVD-Maker software on it.
> I
> assumed I didn't need to install this since a copy of this program was
> already installed from the recovery disks.
>
> Apparently I was mistaken. The original install did not work properly.
> Re-installing from the supplemental disk enabled DVD burning.
>
> Thank you for the advice.
>
>
> Robin C

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 22:05:01 -0800, tattingbird wrote:

> Sharon,
>
> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
>
> Yes, there was a supplemental disk with NTI CD & DVD-Maker software on it. I
> assumed I didn't need to install this since a copy of this program was
> already installed from the recovery disks.
>
> Apparently I was mistaken. The original install did not work properly.
> Re-installing from the supplemental disk enabled DVD burning.
>
> Thank you for the advice.
>
>
> Robin C

You're most welcome, Robin. Glad to have helped.
--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User