I just built a new system and everything works except the CD-RW. My first attempt used a CD-R which gave me 45 sec. of music then a shutdown. My second attempt used a CD-RW, which gave me short tracks and only a hiss. The first attempt at erasure worked, the later attempts failed. The connections are right or I would have got nothing from the start. I need Ideas. Creatives support is a toll line and they leave you on hold forever. The software is something called NTI. I need help.

Phil
:hdspin:

I know this response isn't all that constructive but you're burner is widely recognised as the biggest pile of crap ever dumped upon the unknowing general public. The creative 8432 in all it's guises (including your 8439E)has a very poor reputation and Creatives support is even worse.

You can possibly get it going, check the ASPI layer , go to http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm and get ForceASPI and ASPI check. ASPI check will let you test your ASPI layer, if it's damaged or not correctly installed run Force ASPI to install a good generic ASPI layer to your system.

Also try a different burning package.You can get a Demos of Nero (http://www.nero.com) or CDRWin (http://www.disc4you.com/products/cdrwin/download.html)

No wonder it sold for $70. I already found out about the lack of support. I know nothing about ASPI.

Phil

The ASPI layer enables the burning software to communicate with the burner. Adaptec first introduced the ASPI to support their burning software, Microsoft then brought out their own lame version , Adaptec (now Roxio) have kindly supported burners by allowing their ASPI to be downloaded even if you dont own any of their software.

Grab ASPI check and Force ASPI, you must have a good ASPI layer installed for almost all burning software to work.
When errors are encountered on first setting up a burner sorting out the ASPI is the most likely cure.

I visited the local agent for the company that sold me the Creative Burner. They agreed to exchange it for another brand. What should I look for. What is a good brand of "inexpensive" CD-RW?

Phil

That really depends on where you are, brands with good reputatations are: LG, TDK, Yamaha, Ricoh, Lite-on, Plextor, Sanyo, You should be able to pick up a 12x or 16x quite cheaply due to the availability of the 24x & 40x burners. Look for a burner that offers 'burnproof' or 'justlink' etc buffer underrun protection. This is generally a sign of a good burner.

I'll have to see what I can find. I'll post the results later. Thanks again.

Phil

Lite-On 24x are going for less then $100 all the time here in the states. The tip off is look for the regged Tradmark "SmartBurn" on the box. They are sold under many different names BusLink, Pacific Digital, even saw a Poloroid at Office Max the other for $69 that was the LiteOn
Check out Best Buy, Office Max, Staples etc for the weekly specials. Or just go here
www.NewEgg.com

Also prolly one of the best burners out there has a $20 rebate till the end of the month Plextor's 24x which I've seen all over the web for about $135
And Dell has a special right now for Free S&H -20% which equals $100 after rebate for the Plex (Might be a refurb though but has full 2 yr warranty)

I ran ASPI check and it said one element had been replaced by an earlier version. It mentioned a JPEG converting program I installed. I then ran Force ASPI, which did nothing. Like I said, I know nothing about ASPI.

Try running the dumpaspi.bat file followed by the instaspi.bat file
That should do it

How do you run a .bat file? I thought it needed to be an exe file to run. What type of program would execute it?

Phil

bat files run in DOS just double click it, it'll run in a Win DOS window

I got tiger Direct to take back the Creative CD-RW. I ordered a Sony. I hope to have better luck with it.
Phil

I have a Sony CRX175A2-C1 CD-RW now. I am having my share of trouble with it. This problem is with software. When I load the burning software, the computer freezes and won't release. Sony says it is the antivirus causing this and gave me instructions to uninstall the recording software, turn off the antivirus, and reinstall the burning software. This worked until the next bootup. Then the computer froze again when the antivirus came back online. This shouldn't be this difficult.

Phil

Anti virus soiftware is known to cause problems with burnware. you should disable anti virus software, screen savers & power savers before starting up the burning software. Use CTRL - ALT - DEL to bring up a list of TSRs that are running, close everything except systray & explorer.