Very Computer

I have a Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop with a Sony DVD/CD -RW drive.  This
drive works fine reading CD/DVD disks.  It however never recognizes a
blank CD-R (I would like to burn a CD of pictures).  When I insert a
blank CD-R, the drive scans it for several second then simply gives up
with no error (xcdroast claims there's no CD in the drive).  There are
also no entries in any syslogs.  Any suggestions?  I'd really like to
backup some data.

Turn off the automounting of the CD/DVD device, as root edit
the /etc/fstab file sample below;

/dev/cdrom     /media/cdrecorder    auto    noauto,user,ro  0 0

The output of the typed command 'cdrecord -prcap' sans the quotes will
tell you about the drive and the capabilities of the drive, sippet
below;

$ cdrecord -prcap
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2004 J?rg
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.
cdrecord: Cannot allocate memory. WARNING: Cannot do mlockall(2).
cdrecord: WARNING: This causes a high risk for buffer underruns.
cdrecord: Operation not permitted. WARNING: Cannot set RR-scheduler
cdrecord: Permission denied. WARNING: Cannot set priority using
setpriority().
cdrecord: WARNING: This causes a high risk for buffer underruns.
scsidev: '/dev/cdrom'
devname: '/dev/cdrom'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial libscg transport code version

1.83 04/05/20 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
Device type    : Removable CD-ROM
Version        : 0
Response Format: 2
Capabilities   :
Vendor_info    : 'TOSHIBA '
Identifikation : 'CD/DVDW SD-R6472'
Revision       : 'TU51'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.

Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A:

  Does read CD-R media
  Does write CD-R media
  Does read CD-RW media
  Does write CD-RW media
  Does read DVD-ROM media
  Does read DVD-R media
  Does write DVD-R media
  Does read DVD-RAM media
  Does not write DVD-RAM media
  Does support test writing

--
Contained within the Microsoft EULA;
This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the Product has resulted
from accident, abuse, misapplication, abnormal use or a virus.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 23:54:40 GMT, Lenard staggered into the Black Sun
and said:

Aye.  Automounting typically causes more problems than it solves IME.
xcdroast is also less than helpful when it comes to reporting errors.
k3b is, IMHO, a much better frontend to cdrecord/mkisofs.

Quote:> The output of the typed command 'cdrecord -prcap' sans the quotes will
> tell you about the drive and the capabilities of the drive

That's only true if the contents of /etc/default/cdrecord are correct.
If that file isn't correct, you'll have to pass the dev= option to
cdrecord to tell it which device to scan.  For distros running 2.6
kernels, you just need to pass it "dev=/dev/hdc" , since on 2.6, CD-R*
drives can be written to without ide-scsi emulation.  Laptop CD-R*
devices are practically always on /dev/hdc because of IDE brain damage.

There were reports of some old DVD-ROM drives that wouldn't read CD-R
media for some reason.  However, if this drive is a DVD/CD-RW, then it
should read and write CD-R media just fine.  Remember that it may take
the drive up to 15 seconds to recognize which medium type an inserted
medium is and adjust itself for that medium.  Until the drive finishes
doing that, you won't be able to read or write that medium.  HTH,

--
Matt G|There is no Darkness in Eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see
Brainbench MVP for Linux Admin /    mail: TRAP + SPAN don't belong
http://www.brainbench.com     /    "He is a rhythmic movement of the
-----------------------------/      penguins, is Tux." --MegaHAL

Aye, k3b is nice.

Quote:>> The output of the typed command 'cdrecord -prcap' sans the quotes
>> will tell you about the drive and the capabilities of the drive

> That's only true if the contents of /etc/default/cdrecord are correct.
> If that file isn't correct, you'll have to pass the dev= option to
> cdrecord to tell it which device to scan.  For distros running 2.6
> kernels, you just need to pass it "dev=/dev/hdc" , since on 2.6, CD-R*
> drives can be written to without ide-scsi emulation.  Laptop CD-R*
> devices are practically always on /dev/hdc because of IDE brain
> damage.

> There were reports of some old DVD-ROM drives that wouldn't read CD-R
> media for some reason.  However, if this drive is a DVD/CD-RW, then it
> should read and write CD-R media just fine.  Remember that it may take
> the drive up to 15 seconds to recognize which medium type an inserted
> medium is and adjust itself for that medium.  Until the drive finishes
> doing that, you won't be able to read or write that medium.  HTH,

Have seen and heard of a couple (total of three, one personally) of
cases where Dell laptops were shipped with CD/DVD readers only when
they should have been CD-R/DVD drives.

--
Contained within the Microsoft EULA;
This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the Product has resulted
from accident, abuse, misapplication, abnormal use or a virus.

I have disabled automount by commenting out the /mnt/cdrecorder line
from /etc/fstab.  The problem still persists.  Whenever I put in a
blank cd-r the drive scans it for about 30 seconds (whirring and
clicking) and then does nothong.  Any application attempting to access
the drive says there's no media in the drive (xcdroast, Nautilus, or
k3b).  I've tried several different blank CD-R's without success.
Below is the results of cdrecord -prcap:

Cdrecord-Clone 2.01-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2004
J?rg 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.
scsidev: '/dev/cdrom'
devname: '/dev/cdrom'
scsibus: -2 target: -2 lun: -2
Linux sg driver version: 3.5.27
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
cdrecord: Warning: using inofficial libscg transport code version

1.83 04/05/20 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
Device type    : Removable CD-ROM
Version        : 0
Response Format: 2
Capabilities   :
Vendor_info    : 'SONY    '
Identifikation : 'DVD+-RW DW-D56A '
Revision       : 'PDS3'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.

Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A:

  Does read CD-R media
  Does write CD-R media
  Does read CD-RW media
  Does write CD-RW media
  Does read DVD-ROM media
  Does read DVD-R media
  Does write DVD-R media
  Does not read DVD-RAM media
  Does not write DVD-RAM media
  Does support test writing

  Does read Mode 2 Form 1 blocks
  Does read Mode 2 Form 2 blocks
  Does read digital audio blocks
  Does restart non-streamed digital audio reads accurately
  Does support Buffer-Underrun-Free recording
  Does read multi-session CDs
  Does read fixed-packet CD media using Method 2
  Does not read CD bar code
  Does read R-W subcode information
  Does not return R-W subcode de-interleaved and error-corrected
  Does read raw P-W subcode data from lead in
  Does return CD media catalog number
  Does return CD ISRC information
  Does support C2 error pointers
  Does not deliver composite A/V data

  Does play audio CDs
  Number of volume control levels: 256
  Does support individual volume control setting for each channel
  Does support independent mute setting for each channel
  Does not support digital output on port 1
  Does not support digital output on port 2

  Loading mechanism type: tray
  Does support ejection of CD via START/STOP command
  Does not lock media on power up via prevent jumper
  Does allow media to be locked in the drive via PREVENT/ALLOW command
  Is not currently in a media-locked state
  Does not support changing side of disk
  Does not have load-empty-slot-in-changer feature
  Does not support Individual Disk Present feature

  Maximum read  speed:  4234 kB/s (CD  24x, DVD  3x)
  Current read  speed:  4234 kB/s (CD  24x, DVD  3x)
  Maximum write speed:  4234 kB/s (CD  24x, DVD  3x)
  Current write speed:  4234 kB/s (CD  24x, DVD  3x)
  Rotational control selected: CLV/PCAV
  Buffer size in KB: 2048
  Copy management revision supported: 1
  Number of supported write speeds: 1
  Write speed # 0:  4234 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD  24x, DVD  3x)

I really appreciate the suggestions thus far (and really like k3b!!)
Thanks in advance...

No, do not comment out the line, modify it. You need the line for read
access to the media.

Quote:> blank cd-r the drive scans it for about 30 seconds (whirring and
> clicking) and then does nothong.  

This is normal.....

Quote:> Any application attempting to access
> the drive says there's no media in the drive (xcdroast, Nautilus, or
> k3b).  I've tried several different blank CD-R's without success.

What do you mean by 'attempting to access the drive', are you selecting
the drive icon in the application??

The disc is blank, no need to access the drive in order to write to the
media.

Quote:> Below is the results of cdrecord -prcap:

<snip>

OK, cdrecord see the drive and reports that the drive can write media.

Quote:> I really appreciate the suggestions thus far (and really like k3b!!)

Place a known blank CD-R or CD-RW in the drive, let the drive check the
drive for the amount of time required. When ready, try starting k3b and
select 'New Data CD Project'. Navigate to where you have your pictures
stored. Select a number of them and drag them (down) to the K3b data
project area. When you are close to the size limit of the CD media
select the burning dialog and try burning the CD.

If you still have problems, post the error message word for word. Both
k3b and xcdroast will allow you to create a 'log file' to assist you in
this.

Visit; http://www.k3b.org/   ;Have a look at the Screenshots (link).

Also, k3b, Nautilus, xcdroast and others are just GUI interfaces to the
cdrtools (cdrdao, cdrecord and related packages). You might find this
to be helpful;

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-cdburn.html

--
Contained within the Microsoft EULA;
This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the Product has resulted
from accident, abuse, misapplication, abnormal use or a virus.

Made the changes to /etc/fstab and inserted a known good CD-R (checked
with XP machine).  I inserted the CD-R and it got scanned for about
30-40 seconds then nothing.  I started k3b and selectred new CD
project.  I chose the directory I wanted to burn and tried.  K3B errors
saying there's no media in the drive and the debug is as follows:

Devices
-----------------------
SONY DVD+-RW DW-D56A PDS3 (/dev/hdc, ) at /media/cdrecorder [CD-R;
CD-RW; CD-ROM; DVD-ROM; DVD-R; DVD-RW; DVD+R; DVD+RW] [Error] [SAO;
TAO; RAW; SAO/R16; RAW/R96P; RAW/R96R]

System
-----------------------
K3b Version: 0.11.23
KDE Version: 3.4.2-0.fc4.1 Red Hat
QT Version:  3.3.4
Kernel:      2.6.12-1.1420_FC4

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

1.83 04/05/20 Copyright 1997 J. Schilling').
SCSI buffer size: 64512
/usr/bin/cdrecord: Cannot load media with this drive!
/usr/bin/cdrecord: Try to load media by hand.
Cdrecord-Clone 2.01-dvd (i686-pc-linux-gnu) Copyright (C) 1995-2004
J?rg 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: 1 = CD-ROM
Using libscg version 'schily-0.8'.
Driveropts: 'burnfree'
atapi: 1
Device type    : Removable CD-ROM
Version        : 0
Response Format: 2
Capabilities   :
Vendor_info    : 'SONY    '
Identifikation : 'DVD+-RW DW-D56A '
Revision       : 'PDS3'
Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW.
Current: 0x0000
Profile: 0x002B
Profile: 0x001B
Profile: 0x001A
Profile: 0x0014
Profile: 0x0013
Profile: 0xFE12
Profile: 0x0011
Profile: 0x0010
Profile: 0x000A
Profile: 0x0009
Profile: 0x0008
Using generic SCSI-3/mmc   CD-R/CD-RW driver (mmc_cdr).
Driver flags   : MMC-3 SWABAUDIO BURNFREE
Supported modes: TAO PACKET SAO SAO/R96P SAO/R96R RAW/R16 RAW/R96P
RAW/R96R
FIFO size      : 4194304 = 4096 KB
/usr/bin/cdrecord: Cannot load media with this drive!
/usr/bin/cdrecord: Try to load media by hand.
/usr/bin/cdrecord: Cannot load media.
Track 01: data   297 MB
Total size:      342 MB (33:53.89) = 152542 sectors
Lout start:      342 MB (33:55/67) = 152542 sectors

cdrecord comand:
-----------------------
/usr/bin/cdrecord -v gracetime=2 dev=/dev/hdc speed=24 -dao
driveropts=burnfree -eject -data -tsize=152542s -

mkisofs
-----------------------
152542
INFO: UTF-8 character encoding detected by locale settings.
 Assuming UTF-8 encoded filenames on source filesystem,
 use -input-charset to override.
/usr/bin/mkisofs: Connection reset by peer. cannot fwrite 6144*1

mkisofs comand:
-----------------------
/usr/bin/mkisofs -gui -graft-points -volid K3b data project -volset
-appid K3B THE CD KREATOR VERSION 0.11.23 (C) 2003 SEBASTIAN TRUEG AND
THE K3B TEAM -publisher  -preparer K3b - Version 0.11.23 -sysid LINUX
-volset-size 1 -volset-seqno 1 -sort /tmp/kde-greg/k3blIrdKb.tmp
-rational-rock -hide-list /tmp/kde-greg/k3bH4z6rb.tmp
-full-iso9660-filenames -iso-level 2 -path-list
/tmp/kde-greg/k3biHC4eb.tmp
/home/greg/.kde/share/apps/k3b/temp/dummydir0/

Also, if I insert a normal CD 9non burned) it comes up fine within
several seconds, if I insert a known good CD-R like old CD's I've made
they take several minutes to come up.  I really appreciate all your
help!!

<snip>

Quote:> 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().

OK, you might have a problem with SELinux policies and/or cdrecord
permissions;

$ ls -l /usr/bin/cdrecord
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root 352416 Apr  6 13:03 /usr/bin/cdrecord

As root do;

chmod 755 /usr/bin/cdrecord
chmod 755 /usr/bin/cdrdao  
(they both should already set to this, but jic)

And temporally disable SELinux then try burning again. I suggest that
you modify the /etc/sysconfig/selinux as shown here, and restart the
system;

http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/selinux-faq-fc3/index.html#using-s-c-se...

--
Contained within the Microsoft EULA;
This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the Product has resulted
from accident, abuse, misapplication, abnormal use or a virus.

On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:53:00 GMT, Lenard staggered into the Black Sun
and said:

These warnings are normal when you use cdrecord.  I get them as well
and I haven't enabled SELinux.

Quote:> -rwxr-xr-x  1 root root 352416 Apr  6 13:03 /usr/bin/cdrecord

Yeah, now you if you have cdrecord SUID, it won't work.  *sigh*.

Quote:> And temporally disable SELinux then try burning again.

Yes.  It might do something.  Maybe.  However, based on the other bits
you reported about how the drive takes minutes to recognize a burned
CD-R, it might be a hardware problem.  (Now that ide-scsi is deprecated,
though, it's a real PITA to get coherent and useful error messages from
ATAPI devices.  It's always something.)

--
Matt G|There is no Darkness in Eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see
Brainbench MVP for Linux Admin /    mail: TRAP + SPAN don't belong
http://www.brainbench.com     /    "He is a rhythmic movement of the
-----------------------------/      penguins, is Tux." --MegaHAL

I've put into our desktop department to get me a new DVD/CD burner put
into the laptop (under warranty).  Hopefully I get the NEC and not the
Sony  (as Dell's message board seems filled with people having issues
with the Sony one).  I've since flashed the drive with the latest
firmware from Dell (using a USB bootable drve to run WinXP, as Dell now
only offers firmware/BIOS updates ala .exe's to be run from Windows,
thanks Dell!!... but I won''t even get started...).  Since then, I've
noticed that the drive not only has problems recognizing already burnt
older CD-R's (from a year or two ago), it will not ever mount a newly
burnt CD-R (I just made one on another machine and it refuses to
mount).  Any reason why older CD-R's will mount but not new ones that
are fine on other machines?  Also since the flash I see error messages
in log whenever I insert a CD-R (below is the syslog from a disk I made
on another computer containing pictures):

Aug 25 13:58:59 penguin kernel: cdrom: This disc doesn't have any
tracks I recognize!
Aug 25 13:59:59 penguin kernel: hdc: irq timeout: status=0xd0 { Busy }
Aug 25 13:59:59 penguin kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Aug 25 13:59:59 penguin kernel: hdc: ATAPI reset complete