I finally found the answer, and to help anyone else with the same problem
here it is.
The problem was that after installing and uninstalling Roxio "stuff", the CD
and DVD drivers never worked correctly. A blank CD would automatically get
formatted with Live File System. Autoplay would never prompt.
The problem is something that Roxio installed but didn't remove.
{ How can something be certified as compatible with Windows/Vista if
uninstalling it doesn't remove it? Hello! }
In the Registry, Registry Key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class
Key Name: {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Remove the data for UpperFilters.
Reboot.
Presto. DVD and CD drives work normally again.
I found the tip here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/restore_..._dvd_drive.htm
"freddy" wrote:
> Pete,
>
> LOL, yeah, that falls into the category of
> I-don't-understand-everything-I-know.
> --
> freddy
>
>
> "Pete" wrote:
>
> > I've read the help topics and everything I could find on the web and
> > newsgroups using a combination of search terms.
> >
> > But it hadn't occurred to me to turn off AutoPlay altogether.
> >
> > When I do that, and insert a blank CD, the CD light flashes for 20 seconds
> > (normal behavior) but no windows opened on the desktop. I opened Explorer and
> > right clicked on the drive in the folder view, selected "Open AutoPlay...",
> > and the Autoplay option only had a choice of "Open folder to view files".
> >
> > It appears that the blank disk was set to LFS, automatically, irrespective
> > of AutoPlay options.
> >
> > When I turned AutoPlay back on, with "Ask me..." for blank CD, it again
> > returned to the earlier behavior of just opening Explorer.
> >
> > BTW, the same is also the case with Blank DVD. The AutoPlay is set to "Ask
> > me..." but it automatically opens Explorer.
> >
> > None of the AutoPlay options, in the AutoPlay control panel applet, is set
> > to "Open folder".
> >
> > Since turning off AutoPlay altogether doesn't open a window, and turning on
> > AutoPlay always defaults to "Open Folder", it appears that AutoPlay is
> > invoked by inserting media, but that AutoPlay is ignoring the user
> > preferences.
> >
> > I tried logging in as another user, and the behavior is the same.
> >
> > "freddy" wrote:
> >
> > > Pete,
> > >
> > > The various settings for things like Auto Play and Auto Run, etc., and how
> > > they all work can get tricky. A good way to get a handle on all this is to
> > > use Windows Help and Support under Start. Launch the applet and search on
> > > Auto Play (or any term you prefer). You'll get plenty of instructions on all
> > > those settings. sometimes to get what you want, you need to turn Auto Play
> > > off. Go figure.
> > > --
> > > freddy
> > >
> > >
> > > "Pete" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I couldn't find that option in the Control Panel Sound applet.
> > > >
> > > > But in the Control Panel AutoPlay applet, that checkbox is checked, and the
> > > > "Blank CD" pulldown is set to "Ask me every time". I tried setting it to
> > > > "Burn files to disc using Windows", and then back to "Ask...", but it always
> > > > opens Explorer with LFS.
> > > >
> > > > "freddy" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Pete,
> > > > >
> > > > > In the Sound section of Control Panel, at the top of the window is a check
> > > > > box that reads, "Use Auto Play for all media and devices." Did you mean that
> > > > > when you check that option Auto Play isn't enabled? Sorry, but I didn't
> > > > > understand the inference in your post.
> > > > > --
> > > > > freddy
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Pete" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I installed and removed some Roxio software, and now autoplay won't run when
> > > > > > I insert a blank cd.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Instead Explorer opens up with the CD set to Live File System and there's no
> > > > > > way to switch it to Mastered.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > How can I turn Autoplay back on?
> > > > > > I already checked the autoplay options, and blank cd is set to prompt.
> > > > > > The ShellHWDetection service is running.
> > > > > > In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\cdrom Autorun is set
> > > > > > to 1 and blanking AutoRunAlwaysDisable didn't make any difference.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If Autoplay can't be turned back on, is there a way to set the default CD
> > > > > > format to Mastered? None of my music devices can read LFS CDs.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I mainly used this computer to organize my music and create CDs for home and
> > > > > > car and it is essentially useless if I can't create mastered CDs.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks in advance for any suggestions.