"No writable DVD drive available" PSE3

[derring do]

We're digging out of a very large HP-induced PC disaster, and are finally on the last few steps (I hope.) I've recovered all of our music and photos (I am waving frantically in favor of multiple external hard-drive backups and copies, if anyone is counting proponents) and we have just had to replace our lightscribe CD/DVDW drive as well.

Now, the problem.

Although iTunes sees this new drive without an issue, PSE3 apparently does not. I get the error "No writable CD or DVD drive available" when I go to the File>Burn command, and try to write out a copy.

I have a brand-new copy of PSE5 in its box waiting to be installed, but want to solve all the hardware issues first, I think, rather than introduce yet another variable.

This is definitely a feature I need to get working, but am finding nothing when I search on the error, either on the forum, or online. Does anyone have a hint as to what might be wrong, or where to address the issue? Many thanks for any insight.

[ATR]

I am assuming that your operating system is Windows XP rather than Vista???

If Windows XP, did you do any troubleshooting using the Device Manager? One example,
(Right Click) My Computer
Properties
Hardware
Device Manager
DVD/CD ROM drives

When you click on the + to expand the DVD/CD ROM drives category, do you see your drive listed? And, if so and you double click that drive listing, do you see Enabled in the Device Usage description?

How many DVD/CD drives do you have, what are they, and how have you configured them (Master/Slave) when you installed them?

Let us start with that.

BTW When you do get to PSE5 you will notice a significant difference in the burn options as compared to PSE3, more details when appropriate.

ATR

[genevh]

I wonder if this is not so much a hardware issue as it may be a software issue. And its not especially PSE3 being at fault, either, since the program is now a few years old. It simply may not be able to recognize some of the newer drives. I remember using an older copy of Roxio CD Creator that had that problem on a new drive I had installed. Fortunately, there was an update to the program that fixed the problem. I would think if iTunes can see and burn to the drive with no issues, and you don't have a bad disk, that the drive itself is OK and you most likely won't have any problems installing PSE5 and seeing the drive with it.

Just my 2¢.

[derring do]

Thanks for the quick reply, and sorry for skipping the basics. Yes, this is XP, and via the device manager, the drive is enabled.

iTunes sees no problems addressing the device, and even Windows will pop up its "What do you want to do with this media type?" window whenever I load a disk in the drive.

I have 2 drives on the PC:
IDE-DVDROM6216 and
TssTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H652M (PSE ignores)

Via the device manager troubleshooting, the DVDW is working. I'm not sure how to check your master/slave issue with the 2 drives.

I find also that Roxio's Sonic DigitalMedia Plus V7 (pre-loaded on this PC) will not find this DVDW. I'm thinking perhaps this is an issue with an unsupported drive? Thanks again for your help.

[derring do]

Gene, sorry we cross-posted. Yes, definitely NOT a hardware issue was my thought too. This is a replacement for a DVDW which was clearly not functioning, but I'm thinking software as the problem here.

Huh. So I have 2 non-functioning software packages with the drive now. I'll have to see if Roxio provides updates for this software, and think about installing PSE5.

I was really hoping to get all the issues straightened out before adding new version variables! At least I will have 3 copies of my catalog and files before I begin.

[genevh]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. I checked the Roxio site and they swear all their products are compatible with any drive manufactured after 1996 or 1997. (Found it once now can't find it again!) But there are always exceptions. :)

[derring do]

Thanks, Gene, you've gotten farther with Roxio than I have (they are a maze of websites, that's for certain!) I'll post back if I have any luck.

I guess Adobe doesn't have a listing anywhere of supported drives, or a way (for ancient versions) to update the software, except to upgrade? I was really hoping for an easy fix, and a chance to enjoy normalcy around here, before diving into a major upgrade. This has been a dreadful month of repair/re-do.

Thanks to both of you for your time.

[genevh]

Normalcy in the computer world? There is such a thing??

My kids hate when they see me open up my PC. The conversation sorta goes like this:

"Dad, how long's it going to take this time?

"Oh, shouldn't be more than an hour or so."

-- 24 Hours later ---

"Daaaddd!! How much longer?"

"GO AWAY!!!!"

Seriously, though. I haven't seen any real updates to PSE3, and I doubt they'll ever do any more since we're now on PSE5 (with rumors and predictions of PSE6 soon).

[derring do]

I figured this was a lost cause... although PSE3 had supported my previous DVDW (which was also a lighscribe) before HP broke it... and most everything else on the PC.

I guess "normalcy" is rather a relative concept. :) I'd just be happy to get the computer back as a tool, and lose it as a task. I'm immensely grateful not to have lost my 40k+ photos, and 50GB of music.

Backups! Everyone remember to copy and backup! And get a file recovery program (which was invaluable to reclaim photos off a formated SD card... saved our last set of trip pictures!)

[ATR]

Just a few comments which may or may not contribute to the resolution, but here they are:

(1) I still have Photoshop Elements 3.0 and Premiere Elements 2.0 with a Windows XP Professional Operating System. For several years I have used these programs successfully with an HP DVD/CD Writer 640i in the computer, no recognition problems anywhere around. My software is Nero, Record Now, Window XP burn, and of course the burn software in the Adobe products. Only a few months ago, I added the newer HP DVD/CD Writer 940i to the system, 640i = Master and 940i - Slave. At no time did I experience any recognition problems. When I am ready to burn, both appear in the pop up menu for me to select a drive for the task. So, the ancient Photoshop Elements 3.0 is not being ignored by this newer DVD Writer.

(2) This Master/Slave business may not be the issue, but you did ask how to check this short of removing the hardware from the computer and checking its setting on the back of the hardware. I can do this two ways, one where it is spelled out, and another where it is inferred. There may be other ways.
(a) I have Nero Software that includes the Nero Info Tool. So, if I open Nero and go "Get System Info"/Nero Info Tool/Configuration, it is all spelled out for me which is Master and which is Slave.

(b) The inferred route is via the Device Manager check that I mentioned previously. The first listed drive appears to be the Master, and the second listed drive appears to be the Slave.


(3) The following are some links from Adobe:
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb402306&sliceId=2

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bb6e868
This last one is a little old, but names the burn engine for the 3.0 Version
which appears to be consistent with that for version 4.0 and 5.0 in this next later link

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=331459&sliceId=2

Check it out and see if there is anything in there that is helpful.

ATR

[derring do]

Thanks, ATR, that's very interesting (and not a little befuddling.) I'm glad to hear that your version of PSE3 recognized your drive, perhaps not all hope is lost.

I checked out the Sonic site (no surprise any longer why Sonic and PSE are both not working), and their "Record Now!" drive compatability list. Ours is a Toshiba, and I can't find it there... device manager says it is a TS-H652M. It was also not listed in the pdf file.

The device manager also lists it second, after the listing for the CD/DVD ROM drive... presumably making the new one the slave drive of the pair?

Just playing around with options, I stole an idea from the bottom of this post:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-2293.html
and disabled the ROM, trying both pieces of sw again with the DVDW, but to no avail.

I'm grateful for your assistance. :confused:

Talked to The Man about the settings on this drive, and then hauled out the replaced (non-functional) lightscribe DVDW we just replaced. The left-hand pair on this is jumpered, as is the pair on the one we just installed. What we cannot ascertain for sure is that this jumpering makes the new drive the master... He said they were set to "cable select" which is not something I understand. Sorry if this is not clear.

[ATR]

This is how it goes with both the HP DVD/CD Writer 640i and 940i...

If you are looking at the back of the drive, the drive jumper sets from left to right are:
Cable Select Slave Master

I used tweezers to move the cap from Cable Select to Master for the 640i. For the 940i I used the tweezers to move the cap from Cable Select to Slave. Some place I saw needle nose pliers mentioned for moving these very tiny caps. If you start moving them, be sure to do it over a confined surface to avoid searching the floor for them.

These jumpers are supposed to direct data to the appropriate device. To use Cable Select you need to check your PC manual or guru to see if your PC is configured to use Cable Select. In my case, I went the Master/Slave route and did not bother with Cable Select. Take a look at the following HP link to see if there is anything helpful in there:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=no&cc=no&dlc=no&docname=lpg40238

ATR

[derring do]

This has proven to be just a little too strange for me. I went ahead and uninstalled all of the Sonic software I had that was pre-loaded on the PC, rebooted, and then went through HP Application Recovery, to re-load the sw from the recovery partition.

Amazingly, now the Sonic software sees the new drive. More amazingly, now PSE3 does, too.

I'm currently burning a DVD of our most recent trip pictures, something I will make a habit of in the future.

I really like PhotoShop Elements and the Organizer, but my feelings for Roxio and Sonic are shading from unhappy down to active dislike.

We seem to be working, and without an upgrade, which is a relief. Many thanks to both of you for your help.

[ATR]

I was so pleased to learn that everything is OK now.

If you ever do go to Photoshop Elements 5.0, you will note some differences in the burn paths as compared to Photoshop Elements 3.0. But, that is for another time. Let us enjoy your success and the production of a creation to be shared.

Who knows what challenges Photoshop Elements 6.0 will present????

ATR

[genevh]

Glad you got it sorted out. We just keep banging our heads together and figure out something eventually.