I bought an Emprex DVD writer from PC world last month. The pinnacle software thet came with it doesnt seem to work.
Ive managed to copy my wedding DVD using different software & Mp3 files using Media player burner so the writer its self is not at fault.
Im unable to save any of my digital photos or data to cd.
Ive emailed Pinnacle but not yet have a reply.
Using my old CD writer with Nero was so easy.

Any one got any suggestions or had the same problem ???

Might be easier to take the stupid thing back to PC world

I would use your nero software if I was you, might have to upgrade it though to make it compatible.:thumbsup:

Or try Sonic Record Now, It's free on t'internet :thumbsup:

I'd go with the latest version of Nero my friend!

The only make of DVD writer I touch with a bargepole now is Pioneer - have had 3 of them and they have all been fantastic.

If your drive is still playing up - take it back to PC World and see if you can trade for a pioneer.. dont touch the Philips ones by the way as well.. they are cack.

Thanks for your help.

I will try yet more software and see how it goes.
(If it doesnt work will remove writer & throw a paddy in PC world)

Why are PCs like children??They some times behave & you love em to bits then other times drive you round the twist & make you scream & loose sleep

I had EXACTLY the same problem when I bought my Emprex from Comet. But I don't really think it's for the same reason: I was dim enough (it was my first dvd experience) not to realise that I was trying to record onto a + disc with a - writer. What a silly moo. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ANGELUS
I'd go with the latest version of Nero my friend!

The only make of DVD writer I touch with a bargepole now is Pioneer - have had 3 of them and they have all been fantastic.


I second Pioneer. Not sure how much you paid for your 'Emprex' but you probably could have got a Pioneer for the same price if not cheaper.

If you can't get Pioneer, Lite-On are also very good.

Steer clear of Sony, they use cheap Optowrite components and just re-case and rebadge them.

EDIT: Just checked the prices-

Empirex @ PC World: £59.99 (£44.50 online)

Pioneer @ Microdirect: £44.59

recommend nec dual layer from e buyer @ under £40.

latest nero should solve any issues withe burning dvd's - i had similar problems with the actual burning of the files in dvd format,it worked onto cd - but nero sorted it.

If you can return it, you could get the Lite-on model. That comes bundled with the full Nero suite - which includes video capture and editing, and all the usual burning software.

I am having pretty much the same problem with my lite-on cd-rw....I can copy images and music using nero no problem but data is just a complete no, no and I get nearer and nearer to smashing my pc up every time I think "I'll just give it one more go, maybe it was just summit else last time"

It will start to burn and then at usually about 5-6% the green light will stay on, the whole computer will crash and someone sneaks in and superglues my cd-rw draw shut, and the only way out is to power down and re-boot....remove the cd asap and leave it for another few weeks.....pretty annoying as I have loads I wanna get onto cd's....

Any help 4 me would be great also...:heyhey: :heyhey:

I have had similar probs with my Artec cd-rw. It gets to about 8% than locks completely up or I get Focus errors. I upgraded the drives firmware and it works perfect now. From what I can gather about Emprex drives your best off upgrading the firware anyway. Firmware upgrades are easy with Emprex drives, just go to http://www.drvupdate.com/ and use liveupdate. It runs in windows and will check your exhisting firmware to see if its already a new version.

Not entirely sure how many people this effects, but if you have a dvd burner that suddenly seems to burn at its slowest possible speed and the number of coasters your drive produces increases ten fold, then it is entirely possible that your system has disable DMA or Direct Memory Access behind your back.

I had no idea this could occur myself, but one website mentioned that a cause for the problems mentioned above could happen in Windows based OSs if your drive encounters a certain type of disc error 6 times in a row. Not sure on the specifics, but evidently, if you uninstall either the secondary or primary (whichever one your drive is on) IDE controller from your device manager, and let Windows reinstall it, then you can re enable DMA on your drive again. That fixed my problem.

Cheapest Pioneer latest model I've seen-
£30.98 from SVP for the Pioneer DVR-111 DVD+/-R/RW/RAM MultiWrite

No problems for me with them at the moment

111D at Scan for just £25, but only useful if you're local or making the trip.

Play.com have the 110 in for £29.99