cannot copy files to cd

[ama]

I have Windows XP and although i can play cds and dvds my computer will not let me transfer data to a cd.  it shows that everything is functioning properly and that i have the best driver loaded for my system.  when i try to copy pics to cd it doens't even give me the option and when i try to copy straight to the drive it doesn't recognize that there is a cd inserted, i have tried multipe cds.

[contrex]

1. Are you using recordable CDs?
2. Your CD drive is a writer?

[ama]

yes to both.  i previously used it to back up all my photos, now it seems to have just stopped.

[contrex]

maybe drive has failed. Is it very old? What is the make and model?

[patio]

What burning program do you have ? ?

[ama]

the computer is a compaq presario and it's from 2005 - why would it allow me to play cds and dvds but not burn discs??
i don't user any program i just transfer them to cd from "my pictures" in windows.
i tried to do it through photoshop but that  did not work either.

[patio]

DLoad and install CDBurnerXP Pro...it's FREE.
Read some of the help files and in one day you will be burning anything to your heart's content...
It works far more efficiently than XP's built in burning capabilities.
Good Luck and let us know.

[ama]

thanks...i'll try it

[contrex]

why would it allow me to play cds and dvds but not burn discs??

Because CD and DVD writing drives have lasers for "burning" (writing to) disks that are separate from the ones used for reading from them. And they do burn out sometimes.

Unfortunately, not everything can be fixed by a software download... If it a desktop Presario, dvd writers (that also write CDs) are quite cheap nowadays, and even if it is a laptop, they aren't all that expensive.

[contrex]

in one day you will be burning anything to your heart's content...

Can it fix laser diodes? 

[ama]

thank you thank you thank you!!  loaded the program and just burned two cds!!!! 

[contrex]

thank you thank you thank you!!  loaded the program and just burned two cds!!!! 

That rules out the laser then... 

[Kurtiskain]

Hey there...I realize this has been solved but one small detail was left unchecked
Right click the driver under "My Computer" and select properties, then select the recording tab and make sure "enable recording for this drive" is ticked

mine turned it self odd sometime nd it took me weeks to get it right

Kurtis