[RESOLVED] Disable cd/dvd writing via Explorer

[Nightwalker83]

Hi,

How do I disable cd/dvd writing via Windows Explorer? Half the time I can't view the contents of the disk in the drive because each time I go to open/explore the drive the Windows burning software starts up. I don't know what the problem is but the icon for the drive doesn't always update itself if the drive is empty or not. Sometimes it just displays the last disk in the drive instead of the drives current state.

Thanks,


Nightwalker

[Lord Orwell]

sounds like the disc lens needs cleaning. It's detecting there is a disc in the drive but not reading any info on it, so it's assuming it's a blank disc

[Nightwalker83]

sounds like the disc lens needs cleaning. It's detecting there is a disc in the drive but not reading any info on it, so it's assuming it's a blank disc

However, it doesn't happen all the time! I will clean the disc lens and see if I encounter the problem afterward.

Edit:

I have just spent 44 minutes cleaning the lens! Hopefully the problem will be resolved when test the drive tomorrow.

[JuggaloBrotha]

If you really want to disable the windows explorer cd/dvd burning abilities open the 'Services' window in the Admin Tools in the Control Panel and set the 'IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service' to 'Disabled'.

Note other burning software will still work fine, just not the built-in windows one.

[Nightwalker83]

If you really want to disable the windows explorer cd/dvd burning abilities open the 'Services' window in the Admin Tools in the Control Panel and set the 'IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service' to 'Disabled'.

Note other burning software will still work fine, just not the built-in windows one.

Ah ok, thanks!

[Nightwalker83]

Hm, Windows is still not detecting the disk in the drive for a cfew minutes after I put the disk in the drive! How would I check what the problem is? Whether it is the drive malfunction or Windows.

[Lord Orwell]

Hm, Windows is still not detecting the disk in the drive for a cfew minutes after I put the disk in the drive! How would I check what the problem is? Whether it is the drive malfunction or Windows.

this just occurred to me. Certain forms of copy protection (securom) are nearly unreadable by older drives. I remember when i first bought oblivion. I would put the disk in the drive, go take a shower, come back, and sometimes it would have finally shown the files. It usually took at least ten minutes. If your drive is merely a reader, new ones can be had under $30. If this is indeed the issue, sometimes there is a drive bios update available.

but to answer your question, windows is software. It doesn't "sometimes" work to read a disk. It only knows what the drive tells it.

[Nightwalker83]

My cd/dvd device is a HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4040B ATA Device. LG is the manufacturer!

[JuggaloBrotha]

My cd/dvd device is a HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4040B ATA Device. LG is the manufacturer!

Try it on a comp that has a burner for the drive, I can remember back when I used to use cd/dvd-rom/ram drives, too many problems considering you can buy a burner for same $$ or less anyways

[Nightwalker83]

Try it on a comp that has a burner for the drive, I can remember back when I used to use cd/dvd-rom/ram drives, too many problems considering you can buy a burner for same $$ or less anyways

My pc only have one cd/dvd drive and it is a burner!

[Lord Orwell]

My pc only have one cd/dvd drive and it is a burner!

did you clean both lasers? a dvd that can also play cds has two different ones.

[Nightwalker83]

did you clean both lasers? a dvd that can also play cds has two different ones.

I have a cd that is actually a cleaner! I used that. It's is a cd with dusters on the bottom which apparently cleans the lasers as the disc gets read. Although, the problem still happens so I think it was a rip off. What other method are there to clean the lasers/the drive?

[Lord Orwell]

I have a cd that is actually a cleaner! I used that. It's is a cd with dusters on the bottom which apparently cleans the lasers as the disc gets read. Although, the problem still happens so I think it was a rip off. What other method are there to clean the lasers/the drive?

physically disassembling the drive. I had to use this method to clean the lens on a dvd player in our living room twice. Note to everyone: If you have any devices that require optics to operate, don't let anyone smoke near them. I got cigarette smoke soot off of the lens.

as for your cleaning disc, did it come with a solution of some kind to add to it? If something sticky (such as soot) is on the lens, a dry wipe won't help.

[Nightwalker83]

as for your cleaning disc, did it come with a solution of some kind to add to it?

I'm not sure! My dad bought it. I will have to ask him.

physically disassembling the drive.

Since the drive detects some disc correctly it might just be a faulty drive! I can't remember how long I've had it for. Nor can I remember if I experienced this problem when I was running WinXP. Will ask my dad if he wants to take the drive out of my pc and check it.

[Lord Orwell]

it's actually really easy to clean them. You take the screws off the sides and the case lifts off exposing the laser immediately.

[Nightwalker83]

Ah ok! Will try it and see if that fixes the problem.

[Nightwalker83]

Damn, I'm still having the same problem as above! Does anyone know of any Explorer like software that won't trigger the burner when the drive is accessed?

Edit:

Exploring the cd/dvd seems to work sometimes after I reboot my pc but I can't understand why.

[stanav]

If you still want to disable windows cd burning on that drive, in windows explorer, right-click on the drive and go to properties. On the Recording tab, uncheck "Enable CD burning on this drive" and click OK.

[Nightwalker83]

If you still want to disable windows cd burning on that drive, in windows explorer, right-click on the drive and go to properties. On the Recording tab, uncheck "Enable CD burning on this drive" and click OK.

There is no check box that enables/disables cd burning for the drive. Only drop-downs for selecting the drive you want to use as the burner and which hard drive to burn from.

Edit:

There is no option on those drop-down lists to disable or enable the device either.

[stanav]

What OS do you have? This is in winXP. The enable burning option is circled in red.

[Nightwalker83]

What OS do you have? This is in winXP. The enable burning option is circled in red.

Sorry for the late reply but I'm having the problem again but I forget how I solved it last time, in fact I don't think I solved it. The operating system I am using is Windows Vista which is newly installed and yes, I recently reinstalled all the updates for the operating system.

Edit:

Well, that is strange! The drive reads cd-roms but is not reading dvd-roms. After Windows checked for new drivers it reported that the drivers were up to date. Maybe it is just thee drive that is failing! The same thing is happening that I reported in post #6. Well, hopefully, next week I can get a new dvd burner and hopefully it is just the burner that is the problem and not Vista. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a problem with Vista.

[Lord Orwell]

Sorry for the late reply but I'm having the problem again but I forget how I solved it last time, in fact I don't think I solved it. The operating system I am using is Windows Vista which is newly installed and yes, I recently reinstalled all the updates for the operating system.

Edit:

Well, that is strange! The drive reads cd-roms but is not reading dvd-roms. After Windows checked for new drivers it reported that the drivers were up to date. Maybe it is just thee drive that is failing! The same thing is happening that I reported in post #6. Well, hopefully, next week I can get a new dvd burner and hopefully it is just the burner that is the problem and not Vista. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a problem with Vista.

dvd/cd players have two lasers. It sounds like one is failing.

[JuggaloBrotha]

I've got a drive that'll read/write dvd's just fine but it wont do cd's anymore

because of it's dvd abilities I'm keeping it around and in semi-use but yea, it is limited with one of the lasers dead.

[Nightwalker83]

dvd/cd players have two lasers. It sounds like one is failing.

Ah ok! I'll ask my dad to put it his computer to double check that it is the drive failing! It would be a waste to get rid of it and its not the drive at fault. Although, I reckon I've had this drive for awhile now. I can't remember when I first received it.

I've got a drive that'll read/write dvd's just fine but it wont do cd's anymore

because of it's dvd abilities I'm keeping it around and in semi-use but yea, it is limited with one of the lasers dead.

Yeah, I know what you mean! I've be using my laptop to open the dvds then senting the contents to my computer via the network. Although, it is a pain switch back and forth between thwe two all the time.

[Lord Orwell]

Ah ok! I'll ask my dad to put it his computer to double check that it is the drive failing! It would be a waste to get rid of it and its not the drive at fault. Although, I reckon I've had this drive for awhile now. I can't remember when I first received it.



Yeah, I know what you mean! I've be using my laptop to open the dvds then senting the contents to my computer via the network. Although, it is a pain switch back and forth between thwe two all the time.

not to mention the time involved in transferring files.

[Nightwalker83]

Yeah! Hopefully, I will have the new drive installed this weekend.

Edit:

Installed the new dvd drive tonight this one is an HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NP20 ATA! It works like a charm.