Can't read multi-session audio CDs

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michael23 · #1 Post by **michael23** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:48 am

Hi,

Does anyone know if the T40's CD-RW (Matshita UJDA745) drive can read a multi-media/session audio CD? That is, a CD containing both audio and data?

My T40 tries to read it and then gives up without any errors. When I try to access the drive, Windows prompts me to insert a disc.

The CD works fine in my stereo. Other normal audio CDs work fine in my laptop.

Can anybody confirm this? Or is there something wrong with my drive? Or is there something dodgy with the CD?

danage · #2 Post by **danage** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:28 am

yes it should read it. i've seen problems with different format/drive combinations though. is it a burnt cd?

michael23 · #3 Post by **michael23** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:43 am

danage wrote:yes it should read it. i've seen problems with different format/drive combinations though. is it a burnt cd?

No, the CD is an audio one bought from the shops.

I've just upgraded the firmware from version 1.02 to 1.06 and that didn't make a difference

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:51 am

michael23 wrote:No, the CD is an audio one bought from the shops.

I've just upgraded the firmware from version 1.02 to 1.06 and that didn't make a difference

Does it have any form of complex, significantly large DRM on it?

michael23 · #5 Post by **michael23** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:30 am

christopher_wolf wrote:Does it have any form of complex, significantly large DRM on it?

Hmmm, how can I tell?

I had another close look at the CD and I believe it is an "Enhanced CD" judging from the logo at the back. It's Michelle Branch's Spirit Room CD (Australian version 2001).

Looking at the bottom side of the disc, two distinct sections (audio and ROM) are notable.

The disc plays OK on another PC so it definitely has to be something with my drive or drivers?

Can anyone with an Enhanced CD verify whether this is a problem with the drive model in general or something more sinister with my particular drive?

Many thanks

Talon88 · #6 Post by **Talon88** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:30 am

:::

Try press & Hold the "Shift" key when you
put your CD. hold the key like 10 sec &
play with the Media Player.....!

:::

#7 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:04 pm

The latest firmware version level for your drive is 1.06. Do you have the latest firmware? Go to Device Manager, click on + for the DVD/CD-ROM drives. Double-click on the drive and choose Details. The firmware version level should be displayed along with some other information.

f1reverb · #8 Post by **f1reverb** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:46 pm

A CD containing digital audio and data (such as a movie of a band) is called a "CD Extra" disc. I burn them all the time. Here's a definition . . .

"Compact Disc Extra (also known as Enhanced CD or CD Plus). A new format for creating interactive music CDs. A CD Extra disc has two sessions. Session one consists of audio tracks. Session two consists of a data track."

You have to burn the disc properly, and here's a link that explains how (this is for a Mac but the principle is the same for Win, and you need both software and a CD burner that can burn CD Extra) . . .

http://www.macdisk.com/cdextraen.php3

Turn off auto insert notification too, as this can confuse the computer as it won't know what program to use to open the data.

michael23 · #9 Post by **michael23** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:16 pm

Talon88 wrote:Try press & Hold the "Shift" key when you
put your CD. hold the key like 10 sec &
play with the Media Player.....!

This didn't work for me.

GomJabbar wrote:The latest firmware version level for your drive is 1.06. Do you have the latest firmware?

I mentioned that I upgraded to 1.06 in my second post but it didn't work (fix the issue).

f1reverb wrote:You have to burn the disc properly, and here's a link that explains how (this is for a Mac but the principle is the same for Win, and you need both software and a CD burner that can burn CD Extra) . . .

I didn't burn the disc. It's a genuine audio (enhanced) CD from the shop as mentioned in the third post.

I should also mention that there is a partial list of enhanced CDs here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Enhanced_CDs) if anyone has any of them.

#10 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:20 pm

From what you describe, I believe you have a software problem. See following link: http://www.musicfan.com/ecd/formats.html

Musicfan wrote:But to play a CD Extra title in the CD-ROM drive of your computer, you may need to install new software, and be sure you have a multisession driver on your hard drive. A multisession driver instructs the CD-ROM drive to look beyond the audio session to find the data session. Without these new drivers, a computer won't be able to see the disc's multimedia features. If this seems like a big deal, it's not. Especially if you've spent any time with computers, in which case you've probably installed new software many times before.

michael23 · #11 Post by **michael23** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:55 pm

GomJabbar wrote:From what you describe, I believe you have a software problem. See following link: http://www.musicfan.com/ecd/formats.html

Musicfan wrote:But to play a CD Extra title in the CD-ROM drive of your computer, you may need to install new software, and be sure you have a multisession driver on your hard drive. A multisession driver instructs the CD-ROM drive to look beyond the audio session to find the data session. Without these new drivers, a computer won't be able to see the disc's multimedia features. If this seems like a big deal, it's not. Especially if you've spent any time with computers, in which case you've probably installed new software many times before.

I also arrived at that link yesterday via Google. However, I'm not too worried about being able to access the multimedia section of the disc. I can't access the disc at all!

I would have thought the multisession driver was provided by the OS. My driver details are:

Provider: Microsoft
Date: 1/07/2001
Version: 5.1.2535.0

Looking through the driver details list, there is combination of other files from Microsoft and Sonic. Which one of these is the multisession driver? My laptop is already up to date with the latest Windows Updates.

Unfortunately, I don't have a second enhanced CD to test with so that's why I was calling on other users who might have the same drive to help me verify where the problem lies.

#12 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:30 pm

OK, here are the things that I would try...

1) Download and install the latest version of RecordNow from Lenovo's site. If you already have the latest version, try uninstalling it then reinstalling it.

Software and Device Drivers - ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p

2) Go to Windows Update, choose the Custom button and make sure you have the latest updates.

3) Run DirectX diagnostic. Go to Start > Run, and type in dxdiag in the text box and click OK.

4) Run System File Checker. Go to Start > Run, and type in sfc /scannow in the text box and click OK.

5) Go to Device Manager and uninstall the CD/RW drive, then reboot. The drive software should automatically reinstall.

EDIT: Oh, and one other thing. Go to My Computer, right-click on your CD/RW drive and choose Properties > DLA > and uncheck box to: Enable DLA on your drives.

Can't read multi-session audio CDs

Can't read multi-session audio CDs

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