changing CD/DVD RW driver settings

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changing CD/DVD RW driver settings

Hi all,

My internal CD/DVD RW drive is on the fritz and my computer is beyond warranty so I recently bought an external CD/DVD RW drive which has worked smoothly with iTunes...until now.

I have no problem importing music to iTunes from the external drive but I am unable to burn CD's using the external drive; iTunes insists that I use the (broken) internal drive. In the 'preferences' section I don't see a way to change the default driver to the external one. Can anyone puhleease help me?? In case it's a help, I have pasted the CD diagnostics info below.

Thanks everyone!

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
iTunes 5.0.1.4
CD Driver 2.0.4.3
CD Driver DLL 2.0.3.2
LowerFilters: MXLW2K (1.0.1.104), CDR4_XP (5.1.0.103),
UpperFilters: Cdralw2k (5.1.0.103), pwd_2k (5.1.0.105), GEARAspiWDM (2.0.4.3),
Video Driver: Dell 2650\GeForce2 Go

IDE\DiskHITACHI DK23DA-20______________________00J2A0G1, Bus Type ATA, Bus Address [0,0]
USBSTOR\DiskApple __iPod____________1.62IDECdRomTOSHIBA_CDRW/DVD_SDR2102________________1D13___, Bus Type ATA, Bus Address [0,0]
USBSTOR\CdRomHL-DT-STDVDRAM_GSA-4167BDL11, Bus Type USB
If you have multiple drives on the same IDE or SCSI bus, these drives may interfere with each other.
Some computers need an update to the ATA or IDE bus driver, or Intel chipset. If iTunes has problems recognizing CDs or hanging or crashing while importing or burning CDs, check the support site for the manufacturer of your computer or motherboard.
Check the Windows Update website to verify that you have the latest service packs and patches for your OS. Service packs affect the performance of USB and firewire CD / DVD drives.

Current user is administrator.

D: TOSHIBA CDRW/DVD SDR2102, Rev 1D13
Drive is empty.

E: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B, Rev DL11
Media in drive is blank.
Get drive speed succeeded.
The drive CDR speeds are: 4 8 16 24 32 40 48.
The drive CDRW speeds are: 4.
The drive DVDR speeds are: 4.
The drive DVDRW speeds are: 4.

Dell Inspiron 2650, Windows XP

Posted on Feb 27, 2006 12:09 AM

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Answer 1

toonz

Level 7

22,360 points

Feb 27, 2006 10:54 AM in response to snailz

snailz,

When you go to the iTunes preferences, Advanced / Burning tab, is there a popup at the top of the dialog that lets you choose which optical drive to burn from?

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Answer 2

snailz Author

Level 1

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Feb 27, 2006 2:17 PM in response to toonz

Dear toonz,

Thanks very much for the reply. In answer to your question, when I open that dialog there is no pop-up allowing me to choose the external or internal drive: the internal drive is posted as my 'CD burner'.

Does that mean that this is a conflict between devices I have to resolve in the Device manager?? Thanks for your help to this point and any further suggestions you may have would be much, much appreciated.

Best, snailz

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Answer 3

toonz

Level 7

22,360 points

Feb 27, 2006 2:56 PM in response to snailz

snailz,

That's really odd because they're both there in your diagnostics, so it must be finding the drive alright. (You've rebooted since the first time you've plugged in the drive, correct? Sometimes with USB devices you have to reboot after the first time it sees the device.)

There's new firmware for that drive, but since the instructions start with "mount the drive as the master on the IDE bus with no secondary drive", I'm going to pass on that. The firmware update that doesn't require that the drive be internally installed is for the version you have.

To check on the status of the drive in the device manager,right click on "My Computer", select Properties, select the Hardware tab, select the "Device Manager" button. In the window that comes up, find the entry "DVD/CD ROM drives", click on the "+" sign next to it to expand it. You should see it there in the list and if there's no exclamation point next to it and other applications see it, then that shouldn't be a problem. iTunes sees the CD if you put an audio CD in the drive, correct?

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Answer 4

snailz Author

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Feb 27, 2006 9:22 PM in response to toonz

Dear Toonz,

Thanks again for your help. Very generous.

I checked out the status of both drives in the Device Manager and there were no exclamation points or other distinguishing marks.

And yeah, iPod recognizes blank discs when I put them in the external drive. In fact, it prompts me to start burning a CD but then when I select the burn disc tab the internal drive pops open and refuses to burn to the external drive. So frustrating!

Again, thanks so much for your help. If you have any more suggestions of what the problem is, please do let me know.

Best, snailz

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Answer 5

toonz

Level 7

22,360 points

Feb 28, 2006 11:06 AM in response to snailz

snailz,

Well, let's try to trick it. Let's try removing the iTunes machine preferences (which caches your default burner) and see if that forces it out of its stupidity.

Delete the file.

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Data\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref

You might have to turn on "show hidden files" to find them. (Right click "my computer", select open, select Tools menu -> Folder Options. Select View tab, "show hidden files" radio button is in the center scrolling panel.)

If iTunes doesn't find the file (because you've deleted it), it will recreate it. (Though I would check through your preferences to make sure nothing has been set back to the default.) If this works, when you go to the iTunes preferences, you should see a popup with the two burners listed.

If this doesn't work, I've got one more theory. But let's try the obvious first.

And one more thing to check, if you click on the eject button on the lower right hand corner of the iTunes window with nothing in either drive, does it open just the broken internal drive or both drives?

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Answer 6

snailz Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2006 3:08 AM in response to toonz

Dear toonz,

I am very sorry to report that trying to trick iTunes by deleting the preferences file did not work out. In the peferences/advanced section the internal drive is still the only drive available for burning. I also tried disabling the internal drive in Device Manager thinking that might force iTunes to recognize the external drive. Sadly, no. Now when I put a CD in the external drive, iTunes still prompts me to start burning but then when I select the 'start burning' tab I get a message saying 'cannot find CD burner or software'. Aaargh.

Also, in answer to your question, when I press the eject button both drives open.

You are very kind to help me with this problem. Thanks!

Best, snailz

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