Sorry but it all seems to be going haywire at the moment, the error message when I try to write files to my cdwriter is" The drive or network that the shortcut Reorder.Ink refers to is unavailable. Make sure the disc is properly inserted or the network resource is available and then try again" The writer works ok with Nero and Cdex and plays if I select open but wont let me copy files to it. I have no idea what is wrong, I have searched Microsoft and Google but nothing helps but I know you will not let me down. Running XP

oxocubeman,

i think we are looking at two different types of burning here, one using Nero and CDex for iso's, mp3's etc and the other, which you are having problems with, sounds like Packet Writing, simple drag and drop to a cdrw.

firstly please let us know if the above is correct.

next what application are you using to burn, Nero InCD or XP's built-in writer?

The only things I can think of at the moment are as follows

1. find the file recorder.lnk and check to see if it has a target by right clicking and going to properties. the target may be looking at the wrong drive, especially if you have added and extra hard drive recently as the drive letters may have changed.

2. If using Nero InCD, try reinstalling it.

HTH, T.

Thanks for your time, first of all I am using XPs own writing to write files to cd after they have been saved to a cdburning folder. Nero works fine, as you correctly said, with cds, mp3s. I have redone the shortcut from "my computer", checked all the ide cables and so on. The drive plays cds and reads cdroms fine but only when I right click on it and select "open". I have went to properties and when I select find target I get the message that the drive or network connection is unavailable. I have recently installed an external hard drive (as you somehow suspected, Holmes) but it is working fine under drive H so it seems that since the target cannot be found then thats my problem but where to now? I have been at this for 72 hours solid now and weakening, the window looks very inviting and Mr XP might just end up out there, lol.

i quick win maybe, and can't see why it would cause problems, would be to remove the cd writer from device manager, reboot and make sure it gets picked up ok by Windows.

then go into disk management and change the drive letter it is installed on, to a different letter, say Z.

then try again.

HTH, T.

Removed from device amnager, rebootedm and yes it was picked up by it in my computer but everything still the same, cannot find disk management to change drive letter ..........yet.

ok, disk management is in Start/Programs/Administrative Tools/Computer Management and it is on the left, half way down or so.

out of interest you say the external HD is on drive H. Did this cause a change of letter for the CDR at all?

Cheers, T.

The drive letter has now changed, the hard drive did not interfere with the lettering at all and I have removed the drive for now to see if I can get this sorted. The drive still records from Nero, no problem but the error message still comes up if I try to copy any files to the cdrw.

I found the quoted below on another site, which I thought may be possible if you have inadvertantly set up some other software like InCD.

"If you have any other packet writing software on your computer, then Windows XP's system is automatically disabled. To enable it for use, go into My Computer, right-click on the CD-RW drive icon, select Properties, and then select the Recording tab. Select the box marked "Enable CD recording on this drive." That will shut off any other packet writing software, and will permit you to use Windows XP's system."

HTH, T.

Have already checked that and all as suggested but problem with shortcut message persists, now a wreck and frustrated-- this should be easy, lol. Have another go on Google and see what happens but many thanks for your efforts, appreciated, and any other thoughts, just let me nkow.

damnations...........

out of interest you said earlier, and i'm not commenting on the English:), that when clicking on the properties of the recorder.lnk file and going to Find Target...

" I have went to properties and when I select find target I get the message that the drive or network connection is unavailable."

do you then get a chance to select another target at all? If so just set the target to the correct drive or see if you change any other options in there to the correct drive letter.

otherwise i think we are looking at a registry problem but will need to look into that further.

Cheers, T.

OK, next I have shut down removed the ide cable and power from cdrom then booted up checked that the cdwriter was gone from device manager, switched off and then reconnected ide/power and powered up again--guess what? Still the same. This is getting critical, lol, help.

Latest news, lol, its working again after an error message "The instruction at 0x77f58odb referenced memory at 0x00000067 The memory could not be written" Click ok to terminate program. I redid the shortcut and dragged and dropped files to new shortcut and back to normal but still don't know why. Thanks Tierra for you help anyway.

no worries, the joys of computing :)