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HP CD Writer

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by l lynch Mar 8, 2002 last reply Mar 19, 2002

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Have a HP CD Write cd4e series running off the USB port on Acer Extensa notepad PII266 128Ram.

The HP RecordNow software crashes when you are at the writing stage.

There isn't any conflict. Have re-installed software and devices, checked that DMA is running of CD device and Hard drive.

What else could it be?

9 replies

by bobho Mar 8, 2002

Check the recording speed. If you're getting a cache underrun it means the recorder is writing faster than the pc can send it informaiton to write. Most HP recording software allows you to set the recording speed. Slow it down until you can get a good record. I've had to bring it all the way down to 1x on some pc's to make a good recording.

You might also want to disable DMA. Some pc's just can't handle it efficiently.

Bob

by l lynch Mar 9, 2002

Everything that I have read says to enable DMA, but I try disabling.

The speed shouldn't be too big of an issue as it tries to read the speed from the CD Rom D:\ which is internal when the software crashes, so it doesn't even get to begin the writing stage.

by thechas Mar 9, 2002

I recommend that you shut down all background programs.
This includes everything in the sytem tray, and most everything that shows up when you press Alt-Ctrl-Del.

You just don't have enough RAM to support having any additional applications running while recording CDs.

It wouldn't hurt to check with Acer support, and see if there are updated system drivers for your notebook.

If you have Windows 95, I would upgrade to Windows 98. W95 doesn't always handle the USB ports well.

by thechas Mar 9, 2002

Also, check with HP for firmware updates for the drive.
And either HP or whoever supplied the burner software for software updates.
If the software is Adaptec, the web site is www.roxio.com

by l lynch Mar 9, 2002

I don't have any any background applications running, nor a screen saver. The Task Manager is empty except for the HP program.

I would have thought that 128 Mb RAM + 1.00Gb HDD would be enough space.

Have already checked for Acer updated system drivers, but I already have them.

I am also running Windows 98

by dcosgrove Mar 11, 2002

I agree with the software critique you received previously but you may also wist to turn off DMA on the writer and try that. I think your ultimate solution will be upgrading your software.