Speaking of coasters....

[mgordon99]

I think my Smart & Friendly CD Racer has died. I have tried now (4 times) to burn a backup of win98 CD and every time has failed (system froze). BTW, nothing running in the background, have latest easy CD creator version.

OK, I bought it at Staples a few months ago, I have the original packaging and no reciept.
Inside the box says: Do not return this product to retailer, call 1-800-XXX-XXXX

Will Smart & Friendly really stand behand this? I remember reading somewhere that they were having problems.

[Brydon]

Try with the basics like cables etc. You could also try and reinstall the burning software or even try another one like nero www.ahead.de (http://www.ahead.de) . Also if you have DMA enabled on the burner tey disabling it. Does it still work as a cd-rom. I dont think it is busted I think it is a software problem.

[mgordon99]

OK, works fine as CD ROM, just problems when I try to record. DMA is disabled. It seems this problem has occured since I went from Win98 to Win98SE, but it was a clean install.

Cables are OK also....

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

[Brydon]

How is it configured ie is it master on the secondary ide channel if so set it as the slave and see if that helps. Do try some other burning software or at least try reinstalling the one you have as to try and eliminate it.though

[mgordon99]

It is set as the master and my Creative 52X CD ROM is slave.

I will try the Nero and let you know.

[buddmann]

Mgordan99,
Brydon suggested that you try setting it as slave NOT master.

buddmann

[mgordon99]

I know what he said, I just don't think that is the problem.

How could I have been able to burn CD's up to this point with it set as master?

BTW, Nero did not work either.

[Brydon]

I'm kinda stumped but it would seem strange that the cd-rom feature still works but the burner feature is busted. It seems likely to be something other than hardware failure especially as you upgraded the OS and then it stopped working. I'll keep thinking about it but I'm sure someone else will come up with something to try http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

[Darvocet]

I had almost the same thing happen to my Memorex 2224 burner. After going to Win98se it stopped burning. I upgraded the firmware and it began sort of burning, it just would not do the Table of Contents and made coasters even from CDRW's. I contacted Memorex and found that the drive was actually a JVC and I used that firmware to no avail. Then I obtained a copy of Win 2000 and Adaptec 4. My burner burns better now than it ever has. I think it has something to do with the ASPI drivers in Win98se. Go back to a clean install of Win98 vanilla and I'd bet it straightens out.

[brandon184]

Hmm.. Reminds me a $180 scanner I bought at Staples.. 2 weeks later it stopped working, I took it back to staples, when they told me I could not return it, nor get support for it, since the company who made it, went out of business..

Or when I bought a HP Printer there, and the next day when it starting making very loud sounds, and went to return it, I had opened the package, and they wouldn't take it back..

I don't like that if I open something up, it breaks down in an hour, the retailer acts like they regret selling it to me.. As if it was their burden - now its mine.

Oh well..