Computer won't recognize blank CD-R's

Question

Computer won't recognize blank CD-R's

I stick a blank CD (tried many different makers) into my Combo Drive slot. It takes too long to recognize, then when it does, it thinks that the CD has a song on it (usually Blue Cantrell). But they're completely blank, according to every other computer I try.

This all happened when I upgraded to iTunes 5.

In fact, my Finder won't even recognize the blank CD-R's half of the time. My computer recognizes other CD-ROM's and DVD's just fine!

Am I going crazy?

Posted on Oct 11, 2005 9:37 PM

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Answer 1

scapesuiter

Level 7

27,670 points

Oct 12, 2005 10:41 PM in response to Brooks Hanes1

Brooks, have you tried trashing the CD Info.cidb in Users/Home/Library/Preferences?

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2005 10:30 AM in response to scapesuiter

Yes, I picked that tip up elsewhere on this Discussion forum...

... It didn't help.

I've used TechTool Pro as well and when I try to analyze the combo drive, then TechTool pro will crash. So will iTunes 6.

When I put a blank CD in, iTunes recognizes it sometimes and when it does, I get "Blue Cantrell" as a song on it, and I cannot play the song (there's NO song) and I cannot even get iTunes to work...

It's like my Combo drive is crashing my apps whenever I put a blank CD in... I've zapped PRam too...

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Answer 3

scapesuiter

Level 7

27,670 points

Oct 14, 2005 12:59 PM in response to Brooks Hanes1

Do all brands of CDs fail?

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Answer 4

Oct 14, 2005 6:03 PM in response to scapesuiter

Yes... HP, Memorex, etc. All fail...

Thank you for your help on this Spacesuiter.

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Answer 5

scapesuiter

Level 7

27,670 points

Oct 14, 2005 6:23 PM in response to Brooks Hanes1

Then it might be one of the earliest signs of the drive failing. When my CD-RW drive started to fail, it wouldn't recognize blank CDs, but would other CDs just like you see. Eventually it wouldn't recognize any CDs even the Mac OS installation CD.

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Answer 6

Oct 14, 2005 7:43 PM in response to scapesuiter

Excellent advice. My original hard disk failed this summer (with a lot of the same, odd behavior I'm experiencing with the CD drive now). The timing would make sense.

I will proceed with caution and carry a Lacie burner around with me now for my business.

Thanks again Spacesuiter!!!

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Answer 7

Ccd

Level 1

20 points

Nov 19, 2005 4:03 PM in response to Brooks Hanes1

I just had the same problem two days ago. Everything was fine before I installed Roxio Toast. Now, it's hard for me to say what is the problem exactly because I deleted Roxio with another bunch of preferences at the same time. I did not reinstall it because I don't need it so I don't know if it was the problem.

Hopefully this may help you, if you have Roxio, I suggest you see if it recognizes the CD-R. I've deleted: desktop preferences and every other preferences linked to Roxio Toast Platinum and the other programs it installed: spin doctor etc. You can try this first and reboot your computer. Goodluck!

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Answer 8

Jan 8, 2006 1:33 PM in response to Ccd

i'm experiencing this same issue with my dual-core G5 now. I trashed the 'CD Info.cidb' file as well and still nothing. I very much doubt that my drive is failing since the computer isn't even 4 months old. i've heard that media faster than the 16x drive will not read. the cd-r's that I tried using were 48x and 52x. is this true?

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Answer 9

me22

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2006 4:53 PM in response to Ccd

i'm having that same problem now. my comp wont recognize blank cd-rs. i deleted roxio toast and i'm still having this problem. anybody know what to do? it's really annoying and i want to burn stuff so i can delete it off my hard drive.
thx.

~me

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Answer 10

Apr 23, 2006 12:06 PM in response to Brooks Hanes1

My girlfriend and I are having the same problem with our Powerbooks 15" and 17". The problem started at the same time, so it seems unlikely that this is a drive issue. I am wondering about recent updates that may have caused a conflict. Neither of us has ever had burn problems until now.

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