Nero freezes when "checking discs" (audio cd-r burn)

I'm having this serious problem that is starting to bug me big time!
I have Windows XP and have successfully burned dozens of CDs with this very same hard- and software. The version was 5.1.1.0 and it worked fine until I re-installed Windows and ever since Nero quit working. I re-installed it, and even switched to version 6.3.1.0 but the same thing occured:

Creating the image works well, but when the burning phase starts, Nero freezes during the "checking discs" phase. Same thing with both versions.
So if anyone knows how to solve this I would be very happy to hear it! Thanks to everyone in advance.

I tried other media, and CloneCD 4.x.x.x worked fine, but it doesn't support compiling your own CD's (just 1:1 copies).
Easy CD creator 5.0 which worked fine before now quits on error in 97% (exactly).

Someone please solve this! It can't be this hard to burn some audio CDs!!! I've gone through 5 different software just to burn a few simple copies.

Feurio is better than Nero, and is great to make compilations.
Check if your drive is supported and see what happens when burning with it:
http://www.feurio.com/English/cd_writer.shtml

what's your drive?

The CD-RW drive is Mitsumi 4x. It's old and slow but has worked with everything that I've tried.

I find CloneCD very reliable and easy to use, also simple and it's almost enough for my needs. Almost.

I rather try to make Nero work than to go through all the software out there. One could easily drown in the number of software available. I just need one simple one that works of course =)

There are a lot of programs out there, of course, but the most reliable one and most informative about errors is Feurio!

Does Nero show an error message? a log?
Maybe Feurio shows something that can help you to trace the error. (By the way, Feurio installs no garbage, unlike Nero)

Finding why Nero fails can be really difficult. It's a monster program likely to have bugs.

Thank you Minix!
I've never even heard of Feurio! but as I'm going through their website, it seems like the right software for me. Maybe I'll give it a chance. The programs I've used before are mostly chosen by accident, so maybe Feurio! will make some sense to this.

It's the best program to make audio compilations based on WAV or MP3 files, and has the best burning engine, very useful with non-BurnProof drives like your Mitsumi or my Teac 4x.


You're using Windows XP. Feurio can use the native NT interface and doesn't need ASPI. You can choose the interface in Feurio CD-Writer -> Access mode. Maybe that makes a difference and the error is related to ASPI problems.

Nero uses its own ASPI layer (the WNASPI32.DLL file in Nero folder) or the system's ASPI layer (but only the Nero's ASPI is not available I guess).

Did you install an ASPI layer after reinstalling?
ASPI 4.7x versions are not recommended. If nothing works, I'd try ASPI 4.60.

Did you disable IMAPI burning service in XP?

I have not installed any ASPI layer, ever. At least not that I know of. Haven't heard about IMAPI either.
Programs have previously worked without concerning any of these.

Does Feurio have copy disc -funtion to make an exact copy of a CD? Also is it possible to drag mp3-files and burn them straight into wav (home stereo playable) using only Feurio? In other words, no separate convertion is needed?

Nero doesn't need it because it installs its own ASPI layer.
Feurio doesn't need it in NT/2K/XP because it uses the native interface of the O.S. (called "DeviceIoControl" or SPTI)

It's the burning service in XP.
It can cause conflicts sometimes.
You can disable that service with no problem.

Of course.
Open Feurio CD-Writer and the "CD-Copy" tab.
Up, you have the Source drive selection and down, the writer options.

Advantages over Nero: if your source drive can report C2 errors, you'll have that information after ripping the disc. If there's no error, you'll know you have a perfect copy. Disable the "index" options of the source drive if the drive doesn't support reading index marks.

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Last edited by minix; 24-01-2004 at 20:32.

Yes. Feurio only burns audio discs. No need to select DAO mode or 0 seconds pauses between tracks every time you burn a disc. It remembers your settings.
You can choose between decoding when dropping the tracks or "on the fly" while burning like Nero.
A message that you can disable is shown when you drop the MP3 files:

Unlike Nero, Feurio can detect corrupt MP3 files and will show a warning with the positions of the errors.
Nero usually cuts the track in the position of the error instead of trying to decode the rest of the track.
And it's faster decoding the MP3 files.

well, there's a small introduction here:
http://www.etree.org/feurio.html

OK, now I've installed Feurio and trying to burn a CD. Everything goes well until I try to actually burn. A pop-up is shown, where it says I need to install a new firmware. I go on with the installation to Mitsumi website. But for the CD-RW I have (Mitsumi 4802TE) they don't have the Firmware for Windows XP. This is quite annoying. i have burned CDs with Windows XP and this CD-RW drive before, and now it suddenly seems impossible. CloneCD works with these setting and this Firmware, why won't Feurio?
Feurio won't start to burn. It just states the Firmware problem and you must click Cancel. Any ideas?

Are you sure that you can only click "Cancel"?
Your drive is supported and recommended by Feurio.
Check this:
http://www.feurio.com/English/Writer...mi_4802te.html
and it's said that you need certain firmware to burn CD-Text, but not for burning discs without CD-Text.

Perhaps you only need to disable CD-Text... try to unselect that box.


Firmwares are not for a certain O.S.
Firmware is code for the drive, O.S. makes no difference.

The problem is that the loader doesn't work in WinXP.
To install firmwares you usually have a binary image (.BIN) and executable that copies the image to the Flash-ROM of the drive.

The loader is what asks you DOS, Win98, or anything...

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Last edited by minix; 27-01-2004 at 00:24.

yes, there's a loader for DOS and another for Win95,98,Me,NT.
http://www.mitsumi.com/enduser/1_drivers.html

Updating firmware is dangerous.
If something goes wrong, your drive can become useless.

Extract fw210_02_a.exe to hard disk and two files will be created: the loader is called FLASH.EXE and the firmware is R21D_02.CIP .

You would need to start in DOS.
And updating firmware from unreliable diskettes isn't very good idea.
If you have FAT32 partitions I would do it from hard disk.


Anyway, I doubt you need to update to use Feurio. Try disabling CD-Text box.

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Last edited by minix; 27-01-2004 at 00:29.

Yes, I can only click cancel. Closing the box does the same thing: Nothing. This is what it says:

"The firmware of the CD-Writer G: [1, 0, 0] MITSUMI - CR-4802TE isn't up-to-date
Your CD-writer has firmware version: 1.4D.
You will need version 2.00 for correct working with this writer.

You can download the new firmware at the URL: http://www.mitsumi.com/enduser/1_drivers.html.
Further informations on the topic "firmware" you can find in the program help at"Firmware".
If you have problems with updating the firmware or have further questions about the update please contact the support of the vendor of the writer - we really can't know all details about updating the firmware for all writers."

I could not find any CD-text writing box selected.
I tried to update the firmware, but I would need to restart in MS DOS -mode, and WinXP doesn't allow that. I also don't have a disc-drive to make a boot disc.
This is starting to be quite a puzzle.

you can download a boot disk from internet if you search a little, but you should know how to work in DOS.
And preferably a DOS diskette from Win98 or ME, which supports FAT32 (if you don't use NTFS), because loading firmwares from diskettes is unrealiable (diskettes are unreliable). Check the diskette before trying it.

I would blame your chipset for this behavoiur.
If you have a Via chipset, there are chances that Feurio will work.

Have you tried to burn with Nero and DMA disabled?

You can also try other programs like Burnatonce.

I know the basic commands in DOS, the thing is I can't go to DOS-mode. I have FAT32 partitions. Chipset is a question mark for me, and so is DMA. What is that and how to disable it?

I have heard, Roxio can cause interferance with CD-R drives and other programs. I think I had Roxio basic 5 installed when Nero started getting problems. Maybe I should reinstall Nero now when Roxio is uninstalled. Maybe Nero couln't use the drives because os Roxio. I'll have to try everything all over again I guess.

What motherboard do you have?

They usually have Via chipsets if you're using a AMD processor and Intel or SiS you have an Intel CPU.

Depending on busmaster drivers, problems like yours can appear.
Does your problem only happen with audio discs? Does Nero stop when burning LeadIn?

DMA is Direct Memory Access.
A way to quickly access memory without CPU intervention.
This causes troubles many more times than desired.
DMA disabled only causes performance problems (you can't burn faster than 8x / 16x).

You should check the properties of IDE controllers in the Device Manager.


Might be, but... I'd say that's not the problem ?

I have the same Burner you do and I get the same problems. For now I am having to burng an image with NERO and then use Alcohol 120% to burn it.. it works if I do a DAO/RAW write..

Shitty problem to have though..


Sid32