DVD-RW changes to CD Drive in XP

[jpChris]

Hi all,

 

I have a Pioneer 16X, Dual Layer DVD/CD writer, model #: DVR-A08xl. It came with ULEAD software with about a terabyte more crud than I wanted. All I wanted was to be able to burn data disks; that's all. Pioneer Support told me that it was the whole disk with the stuff I didn't want ? or nothing. I couldn't just install the burning software.

 

I downloaded IMGBurn and burned what I wanted (nice program, by the way) which was a .bkf file.

 

However, when I went into Windows Explorer (with the disk still in the DVD drive) to double check the size, I noticed that the drive had changed from DVD-RW to CD Drive.

 

??????

 

I contacted Microsoft and found out that I needed a MPEG-2 Decoder codex driver. So, I did a Google and downloaded from DeskShare the Mpeg2Decoder.exe. I installed it (clicked the .exe) and I'm still having the same problem.

 

Obviously, I'm missing something\everything about how to add the codecs driver to my system. In Device Mangler, the drive shows the correct Mfg and Model #, and says this device is working properly. I even tried to update the driver, pointing to where the codecs is, and it said "file not found".

 

Again, ??????

 

Can anyone please guide me on what to do? I'm stumped.

 

OS: XP Pro SP1

Proc: AMD 3200+

Mem: 1GB PC3200 DDR2, Dual Channel.

 

Thank you in advance.

jpChris

[LIGHTNING UK!]

The drives always change to say 'CD Drive' if you put a blank in that doesn't have a volume label. It happens to everyone, not just you. As such, don't worry about it

 

As for playing the bkf file, I should think a search on Google would tell you something.

 

But of course you didn't need to actually burn the file to a disc so you could play it, you could have played it from your hard drive.

[jpChris]

Hi LIGHTNING UK!,

 

Thanks for getting back to me. I realized after I re-read my post I didn't state it properly.

 

After I burned the disk (by the by, a .bkf file is a Windows System backup file [for when I remember to backup]) when I put it in the drive, that's when it changed to CD Drive *and* when I clicked on properties, it showed there was nothing on the disk ? even though by eyeballing the disk I could see that it was written to.

 

Does that help to clarify things? (I hope)

 

Thanks,

jpChris

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Oh, did you just burn it in write mode?

 

As it's not meant for burning as an ISO, you'd need to use Build mode.

[lfcrule1972]

There are Guides for using Build Mode in the Guides section of the forum in case you haven't found them already

[jpChris]

Hi all,

 

My bad. I just found out I need a decoder for WXP to play\read a DVD. Imgburn is a very nice program and has an easy to use interface ? kinda like Nero.

 

And, I'm not burning an ISO. A ".bkf" file is the Windows backup file for when you backup your computer (Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Backup).

 

Now, does anyone know where I can get the MPEG2\decoder I need for free?

 

Thanks,

jpChris

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Wow, I'm really confused now!

 

What's playing a dvd got to do with your bkf file?! (Nothing so far as I understand it!)

 

My previous post just said that it looked like YOU'D burnt the bkf file in Write mode - and write mode is for burning disc images, which your bkf file is not.

 

So if you want to burn it to disc, you need to add it as a normal file in 'Build' mode.

 

lfc then said guides for using Build mode can be found in the Guides section. Even though they primarily aimed at burning DVD Video discs, the same basic principals apply.

[mmalves]

My bad. I just found out I need a decoder for WXP to play\read a DVD. (...)

You only need a MPEG2 decoder if you want to play a DVD-Video (movie, series, etc). If you want to read the contents of a DVD (i.e. showing what files/folders are inside, copying files, etc), Windows XP already does this and doesn't use (nor needs) codecs for that.

 

By the way, I don't think he was able to burn the *.bkf file as an image, since ImgBurn would say "Invalid or unsupported image file format!".

[LIGHTNING UK!]

It would burn it if it's > 1GB and it's size is exactly divisible by 2048.

[jpChris]

Hi all,

 

Geez, I *hate* having to learn the hard way!

 

First off, when I put a movie DVD in the drive, Windows asks to "please insert a disk". That's just using the standard WXP drivers. And, when I right click on the DVD drive, it shows as being "0" in size.

 

Second, mmalves wrote: "If you want to read the contents of a DVD (i.e. showing what files/folders are inside, copying files, etc), Windows XP already does this and doesn't use (nor needs) codecs for that."

 

WXP does not "read" a DVD. As I stated above, it asks to insert a disk in drive(X). Nor does MS supply a download for any decoders. They even say so on their site and they direct you to download any one of several decoders, at varying costs, to play a DVD.

 

Also, the first time out when I burned the ".bkf" file in 'write' mode, it did it. I could physically see where the disk was written to. However, when I tried "Properties" it showed "0" and I got an error message saying Windows cannot read from this disk. . . may be using a format not compatible with Windows."

 

So, I downloaded a MPEG-2 decoder anyway (even though you said it was unnecessary), and lo' and behold, I was able to read and play DVDs!

 

Next, I tried to burn the same file again, using LIGHTNING UK!'s advice and using 'build' mode. It worked. But, I did notice a size difference between the original file size and what was on the disk, which I was finally able to see after installing the decoder.

 

Is this normal?

 

Thanks,

jpChris