How come my computer tells me that blank DVDs have no space on them?
by tomhoc on September 11, 2010Q: Hi, with a brand new DVD in my burner drive, I am shown 0 free space and 0 used space. But with a brand new CD in the same drive, I see available free space and 0 used space.
I am trying to burn to the DVDs and can’t – I presume the burn failures are related to the zero/zero issue.
The zero/zero and burn failures happen with both DVD+R and DVD-R type discs.
I am using XP(Pro) SP3, fully updated. I’m stumped – any help would be appreciated. I hope I have explained the problem clearly.
Tags: DVD, DVD burner
What program are you trying to burn your disks with? What brand media are you using? Try using Deep Burner http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download (make sure you get the free one) as a test to see if it is the burning program. Does your burning program give you any errors as to why it may have failed?
Fletcha (Major Geek) says: on September 11, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Hi Fletcha, thanks for response.
Before I answer your questions, I should say that the problem I have explained above is identical on the other machine in our home network. Although that second computer is only a couple of months old, it has the same OS, namely XP (SP3).
Using both machines I have tried burning DVDs with Media Player, and Deep Burner and Arcsoft Media. Arcsoft actually did successfully burn but I didn’t realize that until the burned disc was put into a friends laptop running Windows 7. My computer continued saying zero/zero so I assumed the burn was unsuccessful. My computer will not show me the directory or files on the disc – but my friends shows it fine.
I like Deep Burner (mostly because it is free), and have used it often for CD burning.
Media? TDK GOLD discs DVD+R and el-cheapo MPM DVD-R discs.
Tom
tomhoc (Newbie) says: on September 12, 2010 at 6:02 am
Tom,
I would say try to burn another DVD using a different burning Media just to make sure that it is not the Discs that you are using. I would recommend to try using Memorex, they are a pretty reliable disc. If you still have problems after that please let me know.
Fletcha (Major Geek) says: on September 12, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Hi Fletcha, thanks again for hangin in there with me.
I’m not real keen to go buy yet another batch of DVD’s (already got two nearly full batches that it appears I can’t use), especially not just for testing. I’ll try to ‘bot’ one off a friend 🙂
I suspect the problem is more to do with Windows. Another clue that makes me think that, is when I put a blank DVD into the drive, a little window pops up, headed “CD Drive E:” indicating I have inserted a “blank CD” – note NOT a blank DVD – and then asks me to choose between “open writable CD folder” or “burn an audio CD” or “take no action” … no reference at all to DVD. It appears to me that XP (SP3) does not (by default) allow you to burn DVD’s. I’m wondering if there is a Windows setting somewhere that I should change?
Tom
tomhoc (Newbie) says: on September 13, 2010 at 1:05 am