External drive

[Digital Guerrilla]

I use an external drive (CD-RW drive in an enclosure kit) to copy CDs, files, etc. I have had no problem using the drive then suddenly my computer will not recongize the drive as "CD-RW" only "CD" but in the hardware profile the device is working properly. I have searched for the driver of the device and installed it on the computer but nothing happened. The error that I recieve is that the drive is "unaccessible".  I have not installed any new programs on my computer or removed any programs. Does anyone have an ideas I am kinda of out of ideas.

[gryphon]

what is the type [ connectin type and brand model ] of your external drive ?

And which Windows version do you use combined with your burning software..

[Atomic Mitten]

I do.I presume your using Win XP ?

If so is the device USB, if so go to System,Hardware manager,scroll to the bottom where it says USB ports.

Then right click on each one and click on the power management tab,then uncheck the box,allow this computer to turn off this device to save power,do this for all USB devices including your modem.

The second option is that one of the win xp patches/hot fixes can cause this problem with older devices.How old is the external drive ?

Thirdly if you are using Nero Burning rom,there is a test program from Norton included,hit the start button,installed programmes then look for Nero,there you will find the Nero test prog.Run it and see if it comes up with a message MAPI.dll is corrupt.

If so let me know I will then tell you how to fix it.

[Digital Guerrilla]

Sorry guys I have been away.

4 Gryphon-The connection is USB and the OS is Win XP. The external drive is new, manufactured by Micro Plus.

4 Atomic-I am not using Nero. The external drive is new.

What you posted could be the problem Atomic but as I posted before the device was working then all of a sudden the device is not accessible. One question if my "system defaults" were changed by another program that could effect the device correct?

[Atomic Mitten]

If the device is new it could be faulty  ;)

[Digital Guerrilla]

I agree that could be correct but I think something in my system was altered, what it was at the moment I am not sure. I will continue to work on the problem or until I reach a point of rage that just consumes me and I have to stop. No thinking machine is going to out smart me.

[Digital Guerrilla]

I think I have found the gremlin in my hardware. My IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service was disabled, it was as I thought, I am glad that I kept searching and checking the computer's hardware.

[Atomic Mitten]

Well glad to hear you got it sorted,that was what I meant about the Nero test it would have reported that IMAPI wasn't working. :)

[Digital Guerrilla]

I have never used Nero, I have another program similuar to it from your description of it's usage but we were thinking along the same paths. ty Atomic