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Hello all,
I've got a problem hopefully someone can help me out with. I have a computer with a 2.26 GHz cpu and 512MB of DDR SDRAM memory. I have an external Buffalo DVD Writer. Last week, I updated to Norton 2008 Anti-Virus. Since that time, whenever I write to a DVD-R on my external DVD writer and then eject the DVD-R, the screen goes black and the computer 'clicks off'. The actual computer is still on, or at least the fan is still on. I have to push the power switch to shut down and start up the computer again. Files write to the DVD-R just fine and I can look at and use files on the DVD-R using the DVD Writer. It is just when it comes to ejecting that I have this problem. I right click on the DVD Writer icon and click 'eject'. The DVD Writer goes through the motions of ejecting and then I hear a 'click' and the display goes black as the DVD is ejected from the DVD Writer. Ultimately, I would love to reinstall the software that came with the DVD Writer. However, unfortunately, the software and manual that come with the external writer has been misplaced.
Long story short, does anyone have any suggestions beyond just giving up and buying a new one? It is still pretty new and was working pretty well.
Thanks!
Krastro
I think you answered your own question when you said that the problem started when you upgraded Norton. I certainly wouldn't by a new DVD writer on account of Norton. There may be some settings it Norton, similar to the exceptions list in Windows Firewall. If not, run msconfig and remove Norton from the startup tab and reboot. Test it that way.
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What CD / DVD disk writing program, such as Nero, do you use ? Check your burning program for a possible option to shutdown PC after burning is complete.
Regards
SuatCINI
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guapo,
"There may be some settings it Norton, similar to the exceptions list in Windows Firewall. If not, run msconfig and remove Norton from the startup tab and reboot. Test it that way."
Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try and let you know what happens!
suatcini,
Thanks so much for your response. I'll try to answer your questions to make my situation clearer.
"What CD / DVD disk writing program, such as Nero, do you use ? Check your burning program for a possible option to shutdown PC after burning is complete."
I have been using Sonic DLA to write data to my DVD-R's. I don't believe there is an option for shutdown after burning. My computer isn't actually shutting down. It is more like the computer is on, but the screen goes black and just the fan in the computer is running. So, the power is on, but essentially the computer isn't 'on' anymore.
I'll take a look at all of your ideas and write back again.
Thank you so much!
Krastro
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guapo,
I gave the msconfig a try. However, even with Norton off, it did the 'click off' thing after a few tries.
The strange thing is, this seems to only happen with DVD-R's on which I have saved videos I have converted from video and saved using windows media player's format. In fact, I discovered that not only writing causes this problem. After playing videos saved in this format and then selecting eject, the DVD-Writer goes through the motions of ejecting and at the moment before the DVD-R is ejected, I hear the click of the monitor going to stand by and computer no longer is 'on' (although as I wrote above, the fan in the computer is still on).
Audio CD's seem to play just fine. Also, videos saved in DVD data form also play okay.
This is a real stumper.
Krastro
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Go to the control panel, administrative tools, event viewer. There are three log files. Check them all for errors. Search the errors on google and/or post them here.
Personally, I would get rid of Norton, which is not an easy thing to do, once it's installed.
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Hi, guapo!
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Thank you for your suggestion. I checked the event viewer.
Here is what I got:
-----------------------
Details
Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 7
Source: Cdrom
Version: 5.0
Component: System Event Log
Symbolic Name: IO_ERR_BAD_BLOCK
Message: The device, %1, has a bad block.
Explanation
The device has a bad block of memory, which Windows attempted to read. The data might be missing or corrupted.
User Action
Do one or all of the following:Retry the operation.
Clean the physical hard drive.
Use newer media.
------------------------
I am going to try getting a cleaner disk and see how that goes."Personally, I would get rid of Norton, which is not an easy thing to do, once it's installed."
I agree. I think when this subscription runs out, I will move on to a different program. What do you use?
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I don't use an anti virus program anymore and I'll tell you why. In another forum, not a week goes by that I don't see a post where someone complaining that they have a virus or a trojan. They also post a Hijack This log and the log shows the infections and an Anti Virus program in the list of running processes. That means that the Anti Virus program didn't catch the virus. It happens week after week. So, why should I pay for something like that?
Instead, I use MJRegWatcher. I lock the registry with it. A virus or trojan can't get in. If I want to install a program, I set it to 'accept changes'. Then I set it back to reject.
A locked door is better than an opened door with a security guard. An AV program is a security guard in front of an opened door and the door happens to be your registry.
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Sorry, one more thing. That bad block message is not good. If that's referring to your main drive, I would start backing up your files in case that drive goes.
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guapo,
Here's an update. Whatever the problem is, does not seem to be with the DVD Writer. I plugged it into an old laptop and it worked just fine.
"That bad block message is not good. If that's referring to your main drive, I would start backing up your files in case that drive goes."Yes, I agree. I can I tell if it is referring to my main drive? I was assuming it was referring to my DVD Writer.
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Here is another update. I took a look at the event viewer after it happened again and there are no events related to it. I checked the previous event I mentioned above and it says in the properties: "Device\CDRom, has a bad block"
I can't figure out what could be wrong.
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Sorry, in my message two message above I meant to ask if there is any way to tell if the error is referring to my main drive.
Thanks!
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Usually it would tell you HD0 which would be the main drive but you can check it by going to the website of the people who make the drive. Download the diagnostic tools for that drive and run the tests.
Then you won't have to guess. I never heard of a bad block on a DVD or CD ROM.
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guapo,
I will try to look for the diagnostic tool for my hard drive and get back to you on that.
In the meantime, I tried the DVD-R in my internal DVD Writer (which came with the computer) and it played and eject just fine.
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guapo,
I went poking around device manager and I came up with a yellow exclamation point under network adapters "WAN Miniport (IP) - Freedom Miniport".
In addition, I just tried to print something and the computer clicked off. It is the first time this has ever happened.
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I don't know anything about WAN Miniport. I searched it on google and some of the results sent me to some porn site.
Going back to your original post, you said that the problem didn't start until you installed Norton. Other than correcting the possible bad block problem, I don't think you'll have any peace while Norton remains on your PC.
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"I don't know anything about WAN Miniport."
According to my google search, it is hardware for the broadband connection.
"I searched it on google and some of the results sent me to some porn site."
Really? When I just did a google search, the first 3 pages seemed clean. I just find pages discussing the hardware. I found some discussing my device manager issue, but no solutions.
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Forgot to mention: "WAN" stands for "Wide Area Network". I think it has to do with wireless broadband.
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I know what a WAN is. I just don't think it's relevant to your problem but at the same time the yellow mark should be resolved.
As you said, the problems started with Norton and many times, there is only one way to resolve conflicts with Norton and that is, uninstall it.
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"I know what a WAN is."
Oops! Sorry! I misunderstood!
"As you said, the problems started with Norton and many times, there is only one way to resolve conflicts with Norton and that is, uninstall it."
I think I will try that. BTW, I tried using the diagnostic tool for my hard disk (thanks for that advice, too!). However, I can't seem to get the computer to boot to the floppy disk on which I have saved the diagnostic tool (as per the instructions on the tool's homepage). I'll keep at it and come back with an update. Thanks for all your patient help!
Krastro
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You probably have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS. I can't believe the diagnostic tools haven't started to use CDs to boot. Many PCs don't have floppies any more.
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guapo,
Thanks again for all your help!
"As you said, the problems started with Norton and many times, there is only one way to resolve conflicts with Norton and that is, uninstall it."
I uninstalled Norton completely. Unfortunately, the problem still occurred. So, although the problem started around that time, it doesn't seem as though this has anything to do with Norton.
"You probably have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS. I can't believe the diagnostic tools haven't started to use CDs to boot. Many PCs don't have floppies any more."
Actually, I downloaded it and put it on a floppy disk. I just thought it would be easier. For some reason, I seem to be having trouble getting to BIOS in the start up. I am sure I have done it before using F8. However, I just get start up choices such as safe mode.
Anyway, I will keep plugging away. In the meantime, I have backed up everything and, except for this one problem, the computer does seem to work okay otherwise.
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F8 doesn't take you to the BIOS. By that time Windows has started to load. It might be F1, F2 or the DEL key.
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