T40 CD/RW Problem on NT4

[cremsky]

Hi

I know I know, NT4? Why? No choice...expensive old software. This T40 2373-7CU seems to be a good machine for this (though USB support poor...mouse works but no memory support).

My problem is this: I am able to read CD properly, but can not burn.

Nero 5.0 goes through the motions of allowing me to access the data I need to burn, looks like it is burning, and says it has finsihed burning the data. But when I check, there is nothing on the disk.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

[Neil]

Hi there cremsky, welcome to the forum.

I guess we need to determine if you have a software or hardware problem.... So, can you burn disks with a different utility other than Nero? Or, how about a different OS, the original XPPro or how about if you boot, for example, Puppy Linux?

A yes to any of those would indicate software issue, no to all would point to a defective optical drive. Unusual to be able to read disk and not write, but not impossible.

[cremsky]

Hi Neil and thank you for your reply

I have used the Nero v5 software successfully on a desktop application with NT4, and this is my first time trying to get to work on the Thinkpad T40. I am pretty confident the software is good.

My suspicion is that something is not set up correctly with the drivers to allow burning, but I am at a loss to figure it out.

[RealBlackStuff]

In the 'olden' days, the likes of Nero used an ASPI layer.
Could that be missing form your NT4?
Get it e.g. here: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/syste ... s/aspi.cfm

[cremsky]

thank you Realblackstuff

As per your suggestion, I installed ASPI v 4.71.2, and checked that the 4 files were found in the system and system32 folder; I presume this is where they are supposed to be.

I ran Nero, but it still only allows me to chose "image recorder"option, and not the CD burner.

As before, it will not burn a CD.

I am wondering if I upgraded to a higher version of Nero say 6, would it help. But where to find obsolted software like this?

[Neil]

Check http://www.oldversion.com/

[cremsky]

Thanks neil

I downlaoded v 6.1.35, installed it, but it is only a demo. You have to pay for the version; I have no problems with that but the payment link does not work. I am not sure if these guys are still in business.

Any thoughts?

[Neil]

Use the trial version to see if it's going to work...if it does, then start looking for a free burning utility from the NT4 era.

[cremsky]

I have removed Nero 5.5.9 and installed ver 6.3.1.25.

I can Read CD's as before, but still can not write.

If I try to copy a disk, I get "Source Read" to be the recognized drive (HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8083N), but the destination drive is alway the "Image Recorder", just as it is in pure burn mode.

This leads me to a bigger question. This T40 (2373-7CU) is supposed to have a CD/RW + DVD. But now...I am not sure the part number installed in my T40 is a burner at all. It sure doesnt behave like one, and the model description above gives no indication of RW ability.

...I have tried to confirm if it is RW, but have had no luck with IBM/Lenovo tec.

Any thoughts?

[ajkula66]

Pull the media drive out. What's the FRU number on it?

[cremsky]

How do I pull out the media drive?

[ajkula66]

There's a latch under the drive but...you don't have to pull it out.

The code for the drive from one of your previous posts reveals it as DVD-ROM only, no CD burner there...

[RealBlackStuff]

Stop messing about.
You don't have a WRITE-enabled drive.
Yours is a READ-ONLY drive (HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8083N).

[cremsky]

went back to the supplier, explained the problem..put the right CD/RW drive into the T40.

Everything works.

Thankyou all for yor help along the way.