CD & DVD go BOOM after SP2 !!!!!!!!!!!

I have XP pro full version on a homebuilt AMD 2600 and after the SP2 install
my SONY 510A DVD/R/RW and DDU CD/R will no longer burn discs and 98% of the
time I can no longer pull up directories of disks inserted. For awhile I
could go to device manager and go to CD/DVDs and FORCE a volume directory,
but now that even stopped. Short of wiping my hard drive and the associated
data, is there anything I can do (I have already deleted and reinstalled the
drives/software)?

I have had the same problem, but with a P4. I have been in contact with tech support from Microsoft. So far little progress has been made. Microsoft is aware that there is a problem burning to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. The problem seems to be in the "imap" program upgraded by SP2, so far the fixes they have are beta hotfixes and have not worked on my unit or like the last fix emailed to me, just caused a BSOD, that required a system restore from safe mode to get back up and running. When I am able to get a fix from Microsoft I will post the steps to fix the problem. I guess just hang in there like I am doing, at least Microsoft is aware of the problem and is trying to produce a hotfix to correct the problem. Check out this Tech Support Article and see if it helps you any. The hotfix in the article is only available from Microsoft, and must be sent to you. I have received 3 downloads and for my unit no repair yet.
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;883523

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.

Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

*************
"old" devildog
Simper Fi
*************



"Celldude" <> wrote in message news:7A069404-9C79-43BC-9BC8-...
|I have XP pro full version on a homebuilt AMD 2600 and after the SP2 install
| my SONY 510A DVD/R/RW and DDU CD/R will no longer burn discs and 98% of the
| time I can no longer pull up directories of disks inserted. For awhile I
| could go to device manager and go to CD/DVDs and FORCE a volume directory,
| but now that even stopped. Short of wiping my hard drive and the associated
| data, is there anything I can do (I have already deleted and reinstalled the
| drives/software)?

I have a P4 also (2.53) and haven't used the write function on my DVD-CD RW
drive since installing SP-2. Surprise! I can write files to a DVD or CD, but
get weird error messages when I try to read them back. Also, the files are
all checked "read only". After I clear the error messages the file will open.
However, when I close the file, the desktop disappears and I'm left with a
blue screen. At the same time, I loose my APC PowerChute UPS monitor and DSL
connection!! If I pop out the offending DVD disk, the desktop comes back but
not the other items i mentioned. A "restart" brings everything back. That's
nice, but I still can't use the DVD or CD burner. I'm still able to play
music and load software, though. What a mess.

""old" devildog" wrote:

> I have had the same problem, but with a P4. I have been in contact with tech support from Microsoft. So far little progress has been made. Microsoft is aware that there is a problem burning to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. The problem seems to be in the "imap" program upgraded by SP2, so far the fixes they have are beta hotfixes and have not worked on my unit or like the last fix emailed to me, just caused a BSOD, that required a system restore from safe mode to get back up and running. When I am able to get a fix from Microsoft I will post the steps to fix the problem. I guess just hang in there like I am doing, at least Microsoft is aware of the problem and is trying to produce a hotfix to correct the problem. Check out this Tech Support Article and see if it helps you any. The hotfix in the article is only available from Microsoft, and must be sent to you. I have received 3 downloads and for my unit no repair yet.
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;883523
>
> You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.
>
> Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
>
> I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
>
> *************
> "old" devildog
> Simper Fi
> *************
>
>
>
> "Celldude" <> wrote in message news:7A069404-9C79-43BC-9BC8-...
> |I have XP pro full version on a homebuilt AMD 2600 and after the SP2 install
> | my SONY 510A DVD/R/RW and DDU CD/R will no longer burn discs and 98% of the
> | time I can no longer pull up directories of disks inserted. For awhile I
> | could go to device manager and go to CD/DVDs and FORCE a volume directory,
> | but now that even stopped. Short of wiping my hard drive and the associated
> | data, is there anything I can do (I have already deleted and reinstalled the
> | drives/software)?

I have found a "fix" to this problem brought on by the SP2 upgrade.
Understand I got many e-mails from Microsoft Support, and one e-mail from
support even stated the only "fix" at this time, to the problem of "burning"
to CD was to uninstall SP2 from the computer, that the fault was in the SP2
upgrade. Another e-mail goes as far as stating that Microsoft is aware of
many problems generated by the SP2 upgrade, and they will be addressing
these problems "in the future in the form of upgrades or "hotfixes"". I
followed Microsoft's advice to do a firmware flash of my CDRW drive. Bad
news. A new CDRW was damaged beyond repair by this firmware flash. I was
also told this new CDRW did not meet SP2 specs. Samsung and Microsoft (on
their own web pages) show it as being compatible with all Microsoft OS's
from 98se on. After growing tired of Microsoft's inability to address this
problem, I used my 30+ years of computer experience to trouble shoot the
problem myself. As follows is the way I fixed the problem. The following is
a copy of the final e-mail I sent to Microsoft Windows Support this morning.
The "fix" works as stated on an 6 month old eMachine computer and new "out
of the box" HP computer. This does not include the same problem some of you
are having with DVDRW drives, as I do not have this type of drive and have
not been able to test it on them. Use it at your own risk with a DVDRW
drive! But waiting on Microsoft to to admit to the problem may take years,
if at all.

"old" devildog
Simper Fi

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Jeffrey Tan
Microsoft Windows Support Professional

I was able to find a fix for the problem of "burning" to a CD-R/RW drive
after the upgrade to SP2, you and other support staff had been helping me
with.

The damaged (from the firmware flash suggested by Microsoft) CDRW was
replaced with a 3 year old very well used Samsung CDRW drive ( drivers were
also installed). The inability to write to CD-R or CD-RW media was still
present. The properties of a new CD-R or CD-RW was still showing no free
space.

I removed all of the files related to imapi (exe, dll & sys) from my
computer (noting the locations of all files removed). I then copied the
same files to CD-R media from a brand new (out of the box) HP computer with
XP Home Edition with SP1a service pack preinstalled.

I then installed the "old" imapi files (SP1a versions) into the same
locations the SP2 version files were in. Rebooted my computer, and checked
it. The 3 year old CDRW drive now can burn to CD-R or CD-RW media without
any problems. Properties shows the new media as having free space, or in
the case of the CDR with the imapi files, the space left on the drive. The
damaged CDRW drive was reinstalled (along with it's drivers) in the computer
and is unable to even play a music CD. The "used" CDRW drive was
reinstalled. It still works normally, but as it is 3 years old, much
slower.

The HP computer was then upgraded to SP2, using the upgrade CD provided
by Microsoft. When the HP computer was checked for ability to "burn a CDR
or CDRW after the upgrade to SP2, it failed. Properties showed no free
space even on new media. The same data CD-R was used to restore the imapi
files from SP1a to it. It now is able to "burn" to CD-R and CD-RW media,
without removing the entire SP2 upgrade as suggested by you.

The problem has been found and the problem lies with the SP2 upgrade. My
opinion is either "bad code" in the CD "burning" software of SP2 or
intentional disabling (by Microsoft) of the CD "burning" software to appease
the music industry, are the only logical answers.

I do not copy music CD's, in I fact never listen to them on my computer,
as I have a very nice home system that sounds many times better. All I ever
"burn" to CD is the photo's taken on my digital camera and data files I
back-up to protect my computer in case of OS or hardware failure. I am not
"burning" copyrighted music or software.

My computer came with the eMachine OEM version of XP Home Edition SP1a
preinstalled, and new HP computer came with the HP OEM version of XP Home
Edition SP1a preinstalled. Since reverting back to the SP1a versions of all
imapi files solved the problem on both the eMachine and HP computers, I
would suggest a "hotfix" from Microsoft with the same fix I have discovered.
I will be opening up this "fix" to others who have had the same problem.
But as the "fix" I have discovered requires a pre-SP2 computer, and most
users of XP do not have this advantage. Also a great deal of the XP users
do not have the technical skills to perform this "fix" on their own.

Microsoft should make this "fix" available ASAP. Waiting until the next
"hotfix" cycle leaves many people in the cold. As Windows Xp was advertised
as having the ability to "drag and drop" CD "burning", loss of this ability
by the SP2 upgrade, and the continuing adverting as being able to is a case
the FTC needs to be made aware of. I believe it is called false
advertising. I am still going to pursue the Small Claims case against
Microsoft for the replacement of the CDRW drive damaged by following the
advice of Microsoft Windows Support Staff.

<<snip>>
(Deleted my name and e-mail address to stop the spam)
"old" devildog
Simper Fi


"Celldude" <> wrote in message
news:7A069404-9C79-43BC-9BC8-...
|I have XP pro full version on a homebuilt AMD 2600 and after the SP2
install
| my SONY 510A DVD/R/RW and DDU CD/R will no longer burn discs and 98% of
the
| time I can no longer pull up directories of disks inserted. For awhile I
| could go to device manager and go to CD/DVDs and FORCE a volume directory,
| but now that even stopped. Short of wiping my hard drive and the
associated
| data, is there anything I can do (I have already deleted and reinstalled
the
| drives/software)?