problem with dvd drive functioning in Win7

Dan Konecny

PROBLEM SUMMARY STATEMENT: Windows 7 believes my DVD drive will only
burn approximately 2.5 GB worth of content to a 4.7GB DVD-R. DVD Drive
is recognized for read, but only incorrectly for write operations.



I have googled a bit and found solutions to dvd drives not being
recognized and other general problems, but nothing specific to the very
strange problem I have.

I have 64 bit windows seven installed on a reasonably new hp pc (about a
year old)

This is a special pc, for work only (primarily video editing, dvd
creation). I do not keep this pc internet connected as it is too
critical to my work. I only connect as needed to update drivers and such.

Originally PC was Vista, but I upgraded to Win7. Everything worked fine
for many months (including the dvd burner).

Then, suddenly the dvd drive began to misbehave.

The problem I have is that Windows does not recognize the size of the drive.

I first noticed the problem when I was using explorer to write some
large (roughly 4GB files) mpg files to DVD for backup. Windows DVD
wizard tells me the files are too large to burn. I rebooted the PC many
times, connected to the net and tried to update the driver, but to no avail.

I found imageburn would bypass the problem with explorer and allow me to
burn DVD's with large backup files.

Unfortunately, my editing/dvd authoring software (Pinnacle 14) seems to
defer to windows to report the size of the disk. Thus I cannot render
an ISO or VOB file using Pinnacle as it now seems to accept the new size
of the DVD burner (roughly about 2.5 GB) as Windows must be reporting it
through some API function.

What this means is that I can't create an ISO file to use with ImageBurn
since Pinnacle keeps telling me my project file is too large for the DVD
burner. Installing a USB external dvd burner did nothing to alleviate
this problem.

I am doing advanced dvd authoring that requires Pinnacle or another
robust product to generate my image file. Now I need to transport my
MPG input files via USB drive to a second computer, where I can
successfully author the disk. However as this is a regular tasks I
perform, this is a real pain.

I found what appeared a solution online. Using F8 I was able to
"Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and create a disk image ISO file.
However when I tested a disk I burned from the ISO, the chapter stops
were not recognized.

Even worse, I rebooted and tried to "Disable Driver Signature
Enforcement" again to retry, but that solution no longer functions.

Once again, the machine worked with Win7 for months. I installed no new
software. Machine was not connected to internet at the time the problem
emerged.

Has anyone heard of such a problem before? Any help or advice?

Paul

Dan Konecny wrote:
> PROBLEM SUMMARY STATEMENT: Windows 7 believes my DVD drive will only
> burn approximately 2.5 GB worth of content to a 4.7GB DVD-R. DVD Drive
> is recognized for read, but only incorrectly for write operations.
>
>
>
> I have googled a bit and found solutions to dvd drives not being
> recognized and other general problems, but nothing specific to the very
> strange problem I have.
>
> I have 64 bit windows seven installed on a reasonably new hp pc (about a
> year old)
>
> This is a special pc, for work only (primarily video editing, dvd
> creation). I do not keep this pc internet connected as it is too
> critical to my work. I only connect as needed to update drivers and such.
>
> Originally PC was Vista, but I upgraded to Win7. Everything worked fine
> for many months (including the dvd burner).
>
> Then, suddenly the dvd drive began to misbehave.
>
> The problem I have is that Windows does not recognize the size of the
> drive.
>
> I first noticed the problem when I was using explorer to write some
> large (roughly 4GB files) mpg files to DVD for backup. Windows DVD
> wizard tells me the files are too large to burn. I rebooted the PC many
> times, connected to the net and tried to update the driver, but to no
> avail.
>
> I found imageburn would bypass the problem with explorer and allow me to
> burn DVD's with large backup files.
>
> Unfortunately, my editing/dvd authoring software (Pinnacle 14) seems to
> defer to windows to report the size of the disk. Thus I cannot render
> an ISO or VOB file using Pinnacle as it now seems to accept the new size
> of the DVD burner (roughly about 2.5 GB) as Windows must be reporting it
> through some API function.
>
> What this means is that I can't create an ISO file to use with ImageBurn
> since Pinnacle keeps telling me my project file is too large for the DVD
> burner. Installing a USB external dvd burner did nothing to alleviate
> this problem.
>
> I am doing advanced dvd authoring that requires Pinnacle or another
> robust product to generate my image file. Now I need to transport my
> MPG input files via USB drive to a second computer, where I can
> successfully author the disk. However as this is a regular tasks I
> perform, this is a real pain.
>
> I found what appeared a solution online. Using F8 I was able to
> "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and create a disk image ISO file.
> However when I tested a disk I burned from the ISO, the chapter stops
> were not recognized.
>
> Even worse, I rebooted and tried to "Disable Driver Signature
> Enforcement" again to retry, but that solution no longer functions.
>
> Once again, the machine worked with Win7 for months. I installed no new
> software. Machine was not connected to internet at the time the problem
> emerged.
>
> Has anyone heard of such a problem before? Any help or advice?

Just a guess. Your drive is (somehow) in DVDRAM mode. Are
you using DVDRAM media by chance ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-RAM

"Single-sided, one layer discs with a capacity of 2.58 GB"

I don't know how such a thing is triggered, but the capacity
you name is suspicious.

I'd start looking at the software on the machine, and see
if some third party program has added its own burning capabilities.
For example, iTunes adds third party burning software. It could
be something quite innocent you've added, that is doing it.

Also, if you post back, try to include the model number of
the optical drive itself.

Paul

Dan Konecny

Paul wrote:
> Dan Konecny wrote:
>> PROBLEM SUMMARY STATEMENT: Windows 7 believes my DVD drive will only
>> burn approximately 2.5 GB worth of content to a 4.7GB DVD-R. DVD
>> Drive is recognized for read, but only incorrectly for write operations.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have googled a bit and found solutions to dvd drives not being
>> recognized and other general problems, but nothing specific to the
>> very strange problem I have.
>>
>> I have 64 bit windows seven installed on a reasonably new hp pc (about
>> a year old)
>>
>> This is a special pc, for work only (primarily video editing, dvd
>> creation). I do not keep this pc internet connected as it is too
>> critical to my work. I only connect as needed to update drivers and
>> such.
>>
>> Originally PC was Vista, but I upgraded to Win7. Everything worked
>> fine for many months (including the dvd burner).
>>
>> Then, suddenly the dvd drive began to misbehave.
>>
>> The problem I have is that Windows does not recognize the size of the
>> drive.
>>
>> I first noticed the problem when I was using explorer to write some
>> large (roughly 4GB files) mpg files to DVD for backup. Windows DVD
>> wizard tells me the files are too large to burn. I rebooted the PC
>> many times, connected to the net and tried to update the driver, but
>> to no avail.
>>
>> I found imageburn would bypass the problem with explorer and allow me
>> to burn DVD's with large backup files.
>>
>> Unfortunately, my editing/dvd authoring software (Pinnacle 14) seems
>> to defer to windows to report the size of the disk. Thus I cannot
>> render an ISO or VOB file using Pinnacle as it now seems to accept the
>> new size of the DVD burner (roughly about 2.5 GB) as Windows must be
>> reporting it through some API function.
>>
>> What this means is that I can't create an ISO file to use with
>> ImageBurn since Pinnacle keeps telling me my project file is too large
>> for the DVD burner. Installing a USB external dvd burner did nothing
>> to alleviate this problem.
>>
>> I am doing advanced dvd authoring that requires Pinnacle or another
>> robust product to generate my image file. Now I need to transport my
>> MPG input files via USB drive to a second computer, where I can
>> successfully author the disk. However as this is a regular tasks I
>> perform, this is a real pain.
>>
>> I found what appeared a solution online. Using F8 I was able to
>> "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and create a disk image ISO
>> file. However when I tested a disk I burned from the ISO, the chapter
>> stops were not recognized.
>>
>> Even worse, I rebooted and tried to "Disable Driver Signature
>> Enforcement" again to retry, but that solution no longer functions.
>>
>> Once again, the machine worked with Win7 for months. I installed no
>> new software. Machine was not connected to internet at the time the
>> problem emerged.
>>
>> Has anyone heard of such a problem before? Any help or advice?
>
> Just a guess. Your drive is (somehow) in DVDRAM mode. Are
> you using DVDRAM media by chance ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-RAM
>
> "Single-sided, one layer discs with a capacity of 2.58 GB"
>
> I don't know how such a thing is triggered, but the capacity
> you name is suspicious.
>
> I'd start looking at the software on the machine, and see
> if some third party program has added its own burning capabilities.
> For example, iTunes adds third party burning software. It could
> be something quite innocent you've added, that is doing it.
>
> Also, if you post back, try to include the model number of
> the optical drive itself.
>
> Paul

I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
change it in win7?

Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
and was uninstalled.


Dan

Ed Cryer

On 04/10/2010 18:49, Dan Konecny wrote:
> Paul wrote:
>> Dan Konecny wrote:
>>> PROBLEM SUMMARY STATEMENT: Windows 7 believes my DVD drive will only
>>> burn approximately 2.5 GB worth of content to a 4.7GB DVD-R. DVD
>>> Drive is recognized for read, but only incorrectly for write operations.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have googled a bit and found solutions to dvd drives not being
>>> recognized and other general problems, but nothing specific to the
>>> very strange problem I have.
>>>
>>> I have 64 bit windows seven installed on a reasonably new hp pc
>>> (about a year old)
>>>
>>> This is a special pc, for work only (primarily video editing, dvd
>>> creation). I do not keep this pc internet connected as it is too
>>> critical to my work. I only connect as needed to update drivers and
>>> such.
>>>
>>> Originally PC was Vista, but I upgraded to Win7. Everything worked
>>> fine for many months (including the dvd burner).
>>>
>>> Then, suddenly the dvd drive began to misbehave.
>>>
>>> The problem I have is that Windows does not recognize the size of the
>>> drive.
>>>
>>> I first noticed the problem when I was using explorer to write some
>>> large (roughly 4GB files) mpg files to DVD for backup. Windows DVD
>>> wizard tells me the files are too large to burn. I rebooted the PC
>>> many times, connected to the net and tried to update the driver, but
>>> to no avail.
>>>
>>> I found imageburn would bypass the problem with explorer and allow me
>>> to burn DVD's with large backup files.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, my editing/dvd authoring software (Pinnacle 14) seems
>>> to defer to windows to report the size of the disk. Thus I cannot
>>> render an ISO or VOB file using Pinnacle as it now seems to accept
>>> the new size of the DVD burner (roughly about 2.5 GB) as Windows must
>>> be reporting it through some API function.
>>>
>>> What this means is that I can't create an ISO file to use with
>>> ImageBurn since Pinnacle keeps telling me my project file is too
>>> large for the DVD burner. Installing a USB external dvd burner did
>>> nothing to alleviate this problem.
>>>
>>> I am doing advanced dvd authoring that requires Pinnacle or another
>>> robust product to generate my image file. Now I need to transport my
>>> MPG input files via USB drive to a second computer, where I can
>>> successfully author the disk. However as this is a regular tasks I
>>> perform, this is a real pain.
>>>
>>> I found what appeared a solution online. Using F8 I was able to
>>> "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and create a disk image ISO
>>> file. However when I tested a disk I burned from the ISO, the chapter
>>> stops were not recognized.
>>>
>>> Even worse, I rebooted and tried to "Disable Driver Signature
>>> Enforcement" again to retry, but that solution no longer functions.
>>>
>>> Once again, the machine worked with Win7 for months. I installed no
>>> new software. Machine was not connected to internet at the time the
>>> problem emerged.
>>>
>>> Has anyone heard of such a problem before? Any help or advice?
>>
>> Just a guess. Your drive is (somehow) in DVDRAM mode. Are
>> you using DVDRAM media by chance ?
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-RAM
>>
>> "Single-sided, one layer discs with a capacity of 2.58 GB"
>>
>> I don't know how such a thing is triggered, but the capacity
>> you name is suspicious.
>>
>> I'd start looking at the software on the machine, and see
>> if some third party program has added its own burning capabilities.
>> For example, iTunes adds third party burning software. It could
>> be something quite innocent you've added, that is doing it.
>>
>> Also, if you post back, try to include the model number of
>> the optical drive itself.
>>
>> Paul
>
> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
> change it in win7?
>
> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
> and was uninstalled.
>
>
> Dan

Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are installed.

Ed

relic

"Dan Konecny" <konecny@ptd.net> wrote in message
news:87-dnbt_C6pZjjfRnZ2dnUVZ_v6dnZ2d@ptd.net...
> Paul wrote:

>>
>> Also, if you post back, try to include the model number of
>> the optical drive itself.
>>
>> Paul
>
> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
> change it in win7?
>

See what this free utility calls your drive and media (VSO Inspector):

http://www.vso-software.fr/products/.../inspector.php

Worn Out Retread

?Much snipped---------------------

>> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
>> change it in win7?
>>
>> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
>> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
>> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
>> and was uninstalled.
>>
>>
>> Dan
>
> Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are installed.
>
> Ed

While in the Device Manager and click on the Volumes tab to see if there are
entries there especially in the Capacity field.

In any event, I would just delete the drive from the Device Manager and
reboot the computer. Windows will install the driver again.

relic

"Worn Out Retread" <newdoverman@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:i8fb2o$9ug$1@news.datemas.de...
> ?Much snipped---------------------
>
>>> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
>>> change it in win7?
>>>
>>> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
>>> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
>>> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
>>> and was uninstalled.
>>>
>>>
>>> Dan
>>
>> Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are installed.
>>
>> Ed
>
> While in the Device Manager and click on the Volumes tab to see if there
> are entries there especially in the Capacity field.
>
> In any event, I would just delete the drive from the Device Manager and
> reboot the computer. Windows will install the driver again.

Usually, it's necessary to delete the controller instead of the drive. IDE,
SATA, or USB.

Ed Cryer

On 05/10/2010 15:00, Worn Out Retread wrote:
> ?Much snipped---------------------
>
>>> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
>>> change it in win7?
>>>
>>> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
>>> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
>>> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
>>> and was uninstalled.
>>>
>>>
>>> Dan
>>
>> Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are installed.
>>
>> Ed
>
> While in the Device Manager and click on the Volumes tab to see if there
> are entries there especially in the Capacity field.
>
> In any event, I would just delete the drive from the Device Manager and
> reboot the computer. Windows will install the driver again.

Would that get rid of 3rd party drivers? I'm quite new to W7, but with
XP when I tried that it reinstalled the lot. I had to uninstall the
things manually.

Ed

relic

"Ed Cryer" <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> wrote in message
news:i8fpdn$irp$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> On 05/10/2010 15:00, Worn Out Retread wrote:
>> ?Much snipped---------------------
>>
>>>> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
>>>> change it in win7?
>>>>
>>>> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
>>>> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
>>>> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
>>>> and was uninstalled.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dan
>>>
>>> Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are installed.
>>>
>>> Ed
>>
>> While in the Device Manager and click on the Volumes tab to see if there
>> are entries there especially in the Capacity field.
>>
>> In any event, I would just delete the drive from the Device Manager and
>> reboot the computer. Windows will install the driver again.
>
> Would that get rid of 3rd party drivers? I'm quite new to W7, but with XP
> when I tried that it reinstalled the lot. I had to uninstall the things
> manually.

What 3rd Party drivers? Windows 7 doesn't need any 3rd party drivers for
DVDs... It has everything your drives need.

Ed Cryer

On 05/10/2010 23:36, relic wrote:
>
> "Ed Cryer" <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> wrote in message
> news:i8fpdn$irp$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> On 05/10/2010 15:00, Worn Out Retread wrote:
>>> ?Much snipped---------------------
>>>
>>>>> I am not using dvdram media. Do you know how to access this mode or
>>>>> change it in win7?
>>>>>
>>>>> Also as I said, a work only computer. Not internet connected. Software
>>>>> is kept deliberately stable. Haven't installed anything since early
>>>>> 2010, nothing since win7 except adobe dvd software, whcih didn't work
>>>>> and was uninstalled.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dan
>>>>
>>>> Look in Device Manager for the DVD unit; see what drivers are
>>>> installed.
>>>>
>>>> Ed
>>>
>>> While in the Device Manager and click on the Volumes tab to see if there
>>> are entries there especially in the Capacity field.
>>>
>>> In any event, I would just delete the drive from the Device Manager and
>>> reboot the computer. Windows will install the driver again.
>>
>> Would that get rid of 3rd party drivers? I'm quite new to W7, but with
>> XP when I tried that it reinstalled the lot. I had to uninstall the
>> things manually.
>
> What 3rd Party drivers? Windows 7 doesn't need any 3rd party drivers for
> DVDs... It has everything your drives need.

Quite so, but that doesn't stop filter drivers getting installed when
you install new software. And the OP has a strange problem which could
be driver related.
GEAR Software DVD filter drivers, for example, are installed by many
apps. and they are liable to corruption.

Ed