Chambo

Hello everyone, Just wanted to say that I finally tested with DVD-rws, these didn't work. I then followed your advice to test the drive on another machine and erm, it is duff [:$]!! Feeling very silly now... Still don't know why my machine doesn't recognise blank DVDs but there you go... Anyway, currently bidding on a new one from ebay, hope my luck is better. Thank you everyone for your advice, it was really appreciated!

Hi Dick, No, not yet - going to get some in the morning - they're my last hope! Thank you!

Hello, thanks again for all your replies. It's driving me up the wall! I've done all your suggestions and still nothing works.. I even took Roxio off again, added the Express Burn programme recommended in an earlier post and it is still telling me that there is not a DVD in my Freecom F Drive. It's an uncanny coincidence that both the external drive and my D-drive both don't recognise blank DVDs. I've even tried 2 brands.. Could there be traces of Roxio left behind, even though I've deleted it? Is there a way of making sure it's all off the hard drive? I'll check out what directcd is and whether it's on the hard drive somewhere. Thanks so much for your time though, much appreciated.

Hi Ernie, thanks for that.. I tried the link download but it didn't find any problems with the drive. I'm not sure what Regedit is .. but it isn't just that my D drive and the external drive aren't recording onto DVDs, it's that they don't even 'see' the blank DVD in the first place. It keeps asking to insert a blank or recordable disc, when there IS one!! Thank you loads for your advice, though!

Tel - Thanks too.. That's interesting about Roxio.. I already de-installed the Roxio software though and have already downloaded 3 other ones, none of which work. My computer doesn't even recognise the blank discs, so I think it's some big generic problem rather than the software? Although, I can't be sure, I'm sure the machine used to recognise blank discs before I installed Roxio.. Is there a way to permanently delete ALL traces of it from the hard drive? Thank you!

Hello, thanks once again for your quick replies! Tim - hello. My system is all in French so might be slightly different but I can't find a 'recording tab' when I click on properties, just 'general', 'execution automatique', 'material' and 'partage'. If I click on 'material' (after right clicking on the 'd' dvd reader drive, then 'properties'..), it brings up a list of all the material that reads cds and dvds on my machine. One of these is the external dvd burner drive, freecom. One of them is also lite-on ltr - don't know that this is? Anyway, you can click on the properties of any of these and there is then a little check box to confirm the activation of cd and dvd reading, but nothing else. I had a look at the link and couldn't work out how to get past the 'run' bit... Thanks again for all of this!

Hello, Cheers loads for replying! Yep, definitely a DVD. I don't have a blank DVD-R to hand but that's one of things I thought maybe would work (after looking at reams of boring DVD information on google!).. Oh and Roxio definitely won't work. When it said insert new disc (and it did this on about 4 burn programes e.g.cheetah, though haven't tried Nero yet) I pressed the burn button anyway and it wouldn't work. Hmm, really wierd. If my DVD reader PC drive is knackered, it's wierd that the external burn device isn't picking up blank DVDs either? By the way, CDS and DVDs with stuff on, are recognised. Thank you again!

Hello, Cheers loads for replying! Yep, definitely a DVD. I don't have a blank DVD-R to hand but that's one of things I thought maybe would work (after looking at reams of boring DVD information on google!).. Oh and Roxio definitely won't work. When it said insert new disc (and it did this on about 4 burn programes e.g.cheetah, though haven't tried Nero yet) I pressed the burn button anyway and it wouldn't work. Hmm, really wierd. If my DVD reader PC drive is knackered, it's wierd that the external burn device isn't picking up blank DVDs either? By the way, CDS and DVDs with stuff on, are recognised. Thank you again!  

Hello, I got given a Freecom external DVD burner and tried to burn (using the attached burn software programme Roxio) from my hard drive onto the disc. I've tried DVD+RW and DVD+R but neither are recognised by the burner (just says, load disc, or something like it..). I then tried the discs in my DVD reader drive in the PC and they aren't recognised either.. It's really wierd and still doesn't work after I downloaded various free DVD burn programmes..., Any ideas would be much appreciated and thank you in advance!

I just wanted to recommend the Auberge in La Porcherie (Place de l'Eglise, junction 42 via St Germain les Belles or junction 43 Masseret junction A20).. They have a new owner, Michelle Wheeler, working with the original head chef and owner, Michel Chevalier. There are tasty traditional Limousin lunches and evening meals and also a traditional English menu is available on reservation. Oh, and you can ask for vegetarian options too! It's a really lovely place to eat and the bar also has a great atmosphere. Their numbers are: 0555 71 76 95 or Portable: 06 31 78 87 87

Hello, There is a brilliant kennel about 40 minutes away from the airport in St Germain les Belles, junction 42 from the A20. I don't know if it is too far away, but if you are interested, please let me know if you want their phone number. Failing that, I think the SPA (10 mins from the airport) has kennels,  

Hello, I just read this thread and know an excellent kennel/cattery in south Haute-Vienne, just outside St Germain les Belles, junction 42 of A20. I'm not sure if it is too far away but let me know if you would like a phone number, Cheers, Anna

Hello! Please could you let me know where you live, I might be interested... Thank you! Anna

Hello there, Do you mean St Germain Les Belles about 30 minutes south of Limoges? We've been here for nearly a couple of years and I was wondering where it was you were moving to (hope you don't think I'm being too nosey!) Anyway, thank you for your offer but OK for now, Good luck with the move, Anna

Hi There, I haven't heard of the website you mentioned but I do know a great French teacher who lives about 15 minutes from Chateauneuf-la-foret in Haute Vienne. Give me a shout if you'd like any contact details, Good luck, Anna