Can't burn CD's...

[jwolfe71]

I am getting very frustrated... I had an issue with LimeWire (resolved) but now I can't burn CD's :mad:
It used to work flawlessly. I have made NO changes to the system or distro and everytime I try to burn with either K3B or Nero I get same results "can't unlock CDROM drive and the speed drops down to 2X (says it can't handle xx speed)! It happens with both my External DVD-RW and internal CD-RW.
I want to do most of everything with Linux so I won't have to reboot into Windows.
I am almost there getting everything to work... well it used to.
HELP!

[je_fro]

Computers are very predictable creatures...if there's a change in their behavior, there IS a reason. Either you changed something, or your hardware is failing somehow...
What do your logs tell you when you try to burn a cd? Try running one of those burning apps from the command line to capture errors...

[hard candy]

Have you tried using K3b configuration and see what it says?
Sounds like a permission has changed somewhere.
I have made NO changes to the system or distro and I had an issue with LimeWire (resolved) but now I can't burn CD's
1. Was the cd or dvd burner/player working before Limewire was fixed?
2. What distro?

[jwolfe71]

To Hard Candy..
K3B and Nero were working before the LimeWire issue..
And.. my distro is Mandriva 2005LE (Mandrake 10.2).
I checked the K3B's config and found them to be the same as before.
Like u said.. there could be a permission issue but I sure wouldn't think it would affect the burners-- which they are chmod 777 (755 on the external burner).
I did however made a change regarding my ext HD's ability to read my NTFS partition.
This may have done it. May temporarily erase that change and try to burn.
And to Je_Fro, the xscreensaver issue is resolved thanks for the help and may take your word on running K3B thru terminal. I didn't think of doing that :)
Both y'all are AWESOME in assisting me. Hard Candy did once I think it was on the NTFS read issue.

[jwolfe71]

To HC and Je..
I launched K3B thru command.. here's the error from it..

k3b: WARNING: KGenericFactory: instance requested but no instance name or aboutdata passed to the constructor!
kdecore (KAction): WARNING: KActionCollection::KActionCollection( QObject *parent, const char *name, KInstance *instance )
QObject::connect: No such signal K3bCdrecordWriter::dataWritten()
QObject::connect: (sender name: 'unnamed')
QObject::connect: (receiver name: 'unnamed')

Here's what I get from K3B Log.. (rather long)
Devices
-----------------------
Slimtype COMBO LSC-24081 3MU5 (/dev/hdc, ) at /mnt/cdrom [CD-R; CD-RW; CD-ROM; DVD-ROM] [DVD-ROM; CD-ROM; CD-R; CD-RW] [SAO; TAO; RAW; SAO/R16; RAW/R96P; RAW/R96R]

System
-----------------------
K3b Version: 0.11.20
KDE Version: 3.3.2
QT Version: 3.3.4
Kernel: 2.6.11-6mdk

cdrecord
-----------------------
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Cannot allocate memory. WARNING: Cannot do mlockall(2).
/usr//bin/cdrecord: WARNING: This causes a high risk for buffer underruns.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Operation not permitted. WARNING: Cannot set RR-scheduler
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Permission denied. WARNING: Cannot set priority using setpriority().
/usr//bin/cdrecord: WARNING: This causes a high risk for buffer underruns.
scsidev: '/dev/hdc'
devname: '/dev/hdc'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial libscg transport code version (schily - Red Hat-scsi-linux-sg.c-1.83-RH '@(#)scsi-linux-sg.c 1.83 04/05/20 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
SCSI buffer size: 64512
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2004 Jörg Schilling
Note: This version is an unofficial (modified) version with DVD support
Note: and therefore may have bugs that are not present in the original.
Note: Please send bug reports or support requests to http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla
Note: The author of cdrecord should not be bothered with problems in this version.
TOC Type: 0 = CD-DA
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
Driveropts: 'burnfree'
atapi: 1
Device type : Removable CD-ROM
Version : 0
Response Format: 1
Vendor_info : 'Slimtype'
Identifikation : 'COMBO LSC-24081 '
Revision : '3MU5'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-ROM.
Current: 0x0009
Profile: 0x0010
Profile: 0x000A
Profile: 0x0009 (current)
Profile: 0x0008
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags : MMC-3 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE FORCESPEED
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO SAO/R96P SAO/R96R RAW/R16 RAW/R96P RAW/R96R
Drive buf size : 1895168 = 1850 KB
FIFO size : 4194304 = 4096 KB
Encoding speed : 549x (41152 sectors/s) for libedc from Heiko Eißfeldt
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Drive needs to reload the media to return to proper status.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Cannot load media with this drive!
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Try to load media by hand.
pregap1: -1
Track 01: audio 28 MB (02:46.58) no preemp copy
Total size: 28 MB (02:46.58) = 12494 sectors
Lout start: 28 MB (02:48/44) = 12494 sectors
Current Secsize: 2048
ATIP info from disk:
Indicated writing power: 4
Is not unrestricted
Is not erasable
Disk sub type: Medium Type A, low Beta category (A-) (2)
ATIP start of lead in: -12508 (97:15/17)
ATIP start of lead out: 359845 (79:59/70)
Disk type: Short strategy type (Phthalocyanine or similar)
Manuf. index: 22
Manufacturer: Ritek Co.
Trying to clear drive status.
Forcespeed is OFF.
Speed set to 4234 KB/s
Re-load disk and hit <CR>
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Cannot get next writable address for 'invisible' track.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: This means that we are checking recorded media.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: This media cannot be written in streaming mode anymore.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: If you like to write to 'preformatted' RW media, try to blank the media first.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Operation not permitted. WARNING: Cannot set RR-scheduler
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Permission denied. WARNING: Cannot set priority using setpriority().
/usr//bin/cdrecord: WARNING: This causes a high risk for buffer underruns.
Forcespeed is OFF.
Speed set to 353 KB/s
Starting to write CD/DVD at speed 2.0 in real RAW/RAW96R mode for single session.
Last chance to quit, starting real write in 2 seconds.
1 seconds.
0 seconds.
Operation starts.
Waiting for reader process to fill input buffer ... input buffer ready.
BURN-Free is OFF.
Turning BURN-Free on
Performing OPC...
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Cannot get next writable address for 'invisible' track.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: This means that we are checking recorded media.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: This media cannot be written in streaming mode anymore.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: If you like to write to 'preformatted' RW media, try to blank the media first.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: WARNING: Drive returns wrong startsec (0) using 0 from ATIP
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Illegal startsec (0)
/usr//bin/cdrecord: Could not write Lead-in.
Writing time: 2.383s
/usr//bin/cdrecord: fifo had 64 puts and 0 gets.
/usr//bin/cdrecord: fifo was 0 times empty and 0 times full, min fill was 100%.
BURN-Free was never needed.

cdrecord comand:
-----------------------
/usr//bin/cdrecord -v gracetime=2 dev=/dev/hdc speed=24 -raw96r driveropts=burnfree -eject -overburn -useinfo -pad -shorttrack -audio /tmp/k3b_audio_0_01.wav

Seems maybe cdrecord may have permission issues(?). Don't know why this happened just recently.
Thanks.

[jwolfe71]

Tried it thru root.. same issues with not accepting more than 2x speeds.. but the CD did unlock.
I also got output msg with cdrao instead of cdrecord I had in /home.
this is getting weird! I'll continue to find out what's going on..

[hard candy]

Is the temp directory cdrecord uses to store files while it writes them somehow locked? The hard drive FIFO buffer? A yellowdog thread (http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/yellowdog-general/July01/0053.html)
"I run into the same troubles with cdrecord, I posted about it earlier with
no response. My roommate and I figured out what is causing this is
cdrecord can't set the FIFO buffer. We both belive this to be a kernel
issue, I have not had time to recompile a kernel to test this, and I'm not
even sure what would be missing. I am also looking for help on this issue.

As a temporoary work around you can use the -fs switch to set the FIFO
size to 0, cdrecord --help will give you the exact syntax. That works for
me for the time being, just as a lot of other little problems that I'm
having with the distribution, but that's another topic. You will want to
likely burn in test mode the first time to see if that will work for you. "
On the Gentoo forums:
"you might be interested in this: I found out that my problem doesn't exist if I tell k3b not to eject the disc after burning (don't know what the english translation in the preferences dialog of k3b is but I'm sure you know what I mean). This said, I can burn one DVD after another. " from this thread:
Gentoo thread (http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-247459-postdays-0-postorder-asc-start-0.html)

[jwolfe71]

I tried a lot today.. making sure all necessary programs are giving permission.. I even upgraded to Mandriva 2006 ended up loading back 2005 I had backed up (from Acronis true image). The upgrade didn't accept the new kernel.
Still.. I either get "CD can't unlock" and speed only goes to 2x (External DVD is 48X and Internal 24X)
Looks like I'll boot to Windows2000 for burning CD's :(
thanx.

[je_fro]

Things are progressing normally...

1. Notice a problem
2. Try the obvious to fix it.
3. Search for errors and fixes.
4. Post for help.
5. Try "everything"
6. Say you're going to "Give up".
7. Curiosity gets the best of you.
8. You tinker until it's fixed :D
9. Slap forehead while saying "Doh!!" because the fix was right under your nose...

Looks like we've just hit Step 6!! :D

[jwolfe71]

I must have said "giving up" too soon..
I normally say that but don't mean it :)
I have fooled with computers for 20+ YEARS now. Started with Apple IIe (u may not remember that).
I want to learn *Nix as much as possible. I just don't have the time a lot and I know it takes time to learn a OS.
You and Hard Candy have helped me A LOT :)
if I do get this issue resolved I'll let you know.
btw.. do ya have a Yahoo or MSN or ICQ #??
If so let me know email me at jwolfe71@verizonmail.com
lata.

[je_fro]

Started with Apple IIe (u may not remember that).

Heh...my first computer was a Sinclair, the second computer was a massive upgrade to the Mighty VIC 20. So yeah, I remember the IIe.
The best way to get ahold of me (if I'm at my computer) is via IRC. Go to the irc.freenode.net server and /join #justlinux
Somebody's always willing to help in there...

[jwolfe71]

Je_Fro..
I have trillan in win2k and Gaim in nix.... what host and irc channel and port do I use to get u
be honest.... I haven't used IRC

[jwolfe71]

how do I register to #justlinux??
I got in the room

[je_fro]

you don't need to register...if you want to register your nick, jwolfe71, you can to that but it's not required...

[jwolfe71]

To let u guys know.. this issue I am having very well is a hardware problem. I get the same results in windows!!! Only can burn at 2x and burn fails :(

My laptop seems like it's ready to quit soon as I have a overheating issue long going and it's already caused on of my ram chips to go bad so something with the board is going really bad.
So.. this issue is more than likely hardware related instead of linux.
thanx.

[jwolfe71]

I thought of something.. I remembered now I haven't burned anything on CD since I installed a laptop cooler powered by USB. I turned it off before starting the pc.
I was SUCESSFULLY able to burn with Nero in windows with no problem. But.. still getting issues with Linux. It accepts the speed problems I had (going only at 2x). But, it still gives me output logs of "can't decode files" and "Can't unlock CD".
I recently found a way for my NTFS partition to be read on my external HD. Maybe I'll take that off to see if that causes it.
thanx.

[jwolfe71]

Issue FULLY resolved now.. can burn in linux now I upgraded the K3B program :)
Thanks for all the replies.

[crow2icedearth]

I think i know what your problem is . you don't have DMA enabled. If you don't your burner will run very slow.also make sure Kdev isnt running do this hdparm /dev/cdrom (where /dev/cdrom is your cd burner drive )

also you want to make sure that KDE isnt running KDEV. I had problems with it with k3b.

you want to have CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDEDMA and CONFIG_IDEDMA_AUTO compiled into the kernel.

[crow2icedearth]

yeah it sounds like you dont have DMA enabled. TO make sure you have it enabled . run the command

hdparm /dev/cdburner(where /dev/cdburner the cdburner). look to see if using_dma is on or off. it its off you want it on. You must enable it in the kernel. you must have CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDEDMA and CONFIG_IDEDMA_AUTO compiled in.

you can also run the hdparm command with the -d1 flag to enable the Dma for the time being. I am asumming your cd burner is IDE device .

[crow2icedearth]

this is also why windows isnt burning correctly . you also want to make sure your bios has DMA enabled

[crow2icedearth]

yeah your k3b must of had a bug with the KDEV problem. it was fixed in later releases. i had the problem of k3b burning very slow and it was half the problem . glad to see problem is fixed

[jwolfe71]

I checked everything and all DMA's are enabled.
thanks for asking :)
For some reason.. the USB cooler as mentioned must be the issue.. maybe it's because I have like 6 USB devices on and 2 4-port hubs.
I am thinking the USB coolers is draining a lot of power from the laptop.
thanx..

[crow2icedearth]

that could be. i just thought i would ask about the DMA. I have seen that problem many times before. try ocnnecting only a few USB devices to see if it corrects the problem. good luck .