my T61 crashed after installing Nero 8 Ultimate Edition

[bautista.ekonomista]

Hi fellow thinkpadders!

it's my first post here in the forum, and i never expected that this post is about a crash i expected hours ago.

I installed Nero 8 ultimate edition in my thinkpad t61 last night. I am really not a fan of Roxio, the data burner software that came with my thinkpad. However, I got a scare when my lappy got stuck in the shut down window, after i rebooted it for the installation to be completed.

And then, after removing and replacing back the battery (since my lappy won't shut down even after i left it open for 8 hous!!), I then realized the extent of the problem after installing Nero. Not only did my DVD drive not manage to function, everytime I try to open My Computer, my thinkpad would hang. I also cannot open the USB drive i attached to my lappy. To top everything up, my thinkpad won't shut down; i was forced to remove my battery for 10 times or more just to beat the life out of my stubborn thinkpad.

Good thing, I managed to use the safe mode to back up my files after the last crash (and guess what, Nero worked there! I even used it to burn data into DVDs! :p). And then, after I had managed to backup "everything", I restored my thinkpad to the original factory state.

However..when the restoration was almost over, I saw my digicam sitting nearby..and I remembered not getting a backup for my pictures! Tough luck, I guess. haha

So is it really common to encounter problems in installing Nero in thinkpads, due to the fact that there's already a built-in data burner (i.e. Roxio)? I still am planning to reinstall Nero, since it's very user friendly, but I really am worried that the same problems will pop out.

Hope you can help me, especially the mods!

Thanks a lot!

[Harryc]

I haven't seen any problems per se, but I would recommend uninstalling Roxio before installing Nero though. Personally I like the 'RecordNow' Roxio suite...what don't you like about it? It is limited in function, I'll give it that.

[bautista.ekonomista]

hmmm.. i really like the drag-and-drop in Nero.. is there a similar user-interface in Roxio? it's just too tiring to click "add folders" everytime you add a single folder you want to burn..

[Harryc]

Well, yeah if you open up Sonic and go to create a data disk it has a window you can drag and drop into. If you're referring to a taskbar icon for drag&drop, then no it doesn't to the best of my knowledge.

[bautista.ekonomista]

Thanks a lot for the comment! But do you think uninstalling first Roxio before installing Nero would do the trick? I really don't want to do system restore all over again..

Btw, if there are also thinkpadders who encountered the similar problem, feel free to share your story.. thanks again!

[Harryc]

I think it's worth a try. Do a restore point first .

[bautista.ekonomista]

uhm.. how am i going to create a restore point? :p

[Harryc]

Start, programs, accessories, system tools, system restore, create a restore point, next ....

[Troels]

IMO, in the hope you have not bought it (but are trying the trial version) Nero has turned into bloatware, since they are now focusing on a ultimate package that takes care of everything multimedia related, installing a bunch of codecs and dependencies/drivers without your acceptance.
I have not tried it on a thinkpad, but it made WMP not function on my aging desktop, so i quickly removed it. Afaik, this was Nero 7, ultimate.
If they could make efficient coding at Ahead, they could probably make a good overall package, but it's become more and more bloated by each release, like adobe acrobat.
If you installed it for burning CD/DVDs or copy them etc., i'd recommend something like InfraRecorder. http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/

The application is very simple and quick to use and does not require a 500 MB install size, only 9 MB.

Multi burning apps is not something i'd recommend, especially since Nero wants to use it's own aspi driver. Roxio, as far as i remember, still uses the adaptec aspi driver. Having both installed will definitely result in a conflict.

[bill bolton]

So is it really common to encounter problems in installing Nero in thinkpads,

I have Nero 8 Ultimate installed on T41, T43, T60, X61 and T61 ThinkPads and on an M50 ThinkCentre, under both XP Pro and Vista Ultimate without any issues. Some of those systems also have Roxio software concurrently installed.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[icantux]

IMO, in the hope you have not bought it (but are trying the trial version) Nero has turned into bloatware, since they are now focusing on a ultimate package that takes care of everything multimedia related, installing a bunch of codecs and dependencies/drivers without your acceptance.
I have not tried it on a thinkpad, but it made WMP not function on my aging desktop, so i quickly removed it. Afaik, this was Nero 7, ultimate.
If they could make efficient coding at Ahead, they could probably make a good overall package, but it's become more and more bloated by each release, like adobe acrobat.
If you installed it for burning CD/DVDs or copy them etc., i'd recommend something like InfraRecorder. http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/

The application is very simple and quick to use and does not require a 500 MB install size, only 9 MB.

Multi burning apps is not something i'd recommend, especially since Nero wants to use it's own aspi driver. Roxio, as far as i remember, still uses the adaptec aspi driver. Having both installed will definitely result in a conflict.

Completely agree with you. Nero used to be a good, fast, trouble-free product, but it's getting to the point now that they're making it a "Walmart" 1-stop shop for all your burning needs in a huge package. Most of the stuff in there is unnecessary for those that simply wish to burn contents or backup to a CD or DVD.

I also recently discovered InfraRecorder - it's a little gem. Does exactly what I sought. Good, reliable CD/DVD burning/backup.... and it's tiny to boot!!

[bill bolton]

Nero used to be a good, fast, trouble-free product, but it's getting to the point now that they're making it a "Walmart" 1-stop shop for all your burning needs in a huge package.

You only need to install the parts of Nero you want to use.... just like shopping at Walmart, you don't need to go home with everything in the store just because it's there.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[icantux]

Well sure, but then what's the point of paying so much $$$$ for something when you can get the same thing for free in InfraREcorder, Imgburn or Ashampoo? ... and all of those at a tiny fraction of the size of the regular install of Nero.

Anyways, to each their own.

[bautista.ekonomista]

hi guys! here's an update to my exploits.

I followede harryc's advice by uninstalling roxio first then installing nero.

initially, i thought i pulled it through. Nero was working. My thinkpad didn't crash.

But then, when I decided to have a short nap due to not having a good night sleep last night (i updated drivers the whole night.. ) and shut down the computer, my fears resurfaced again..

My thinkpad won't shut down! It got stuck in the shut down screen for 20 mins..when in fact as far as I know, the longest it would take me to shut down my thinkpad before would only take about 10-20 seconds.

Could anyone tell me why this happened? Btw, i already gave up installing Nero. Good thing, there's system restore.

Thanks for the input, especially from the mods!