Help needed PLEASE - Sony CDRWs are the WORST EVER on the planet!!!

[Memnoch]

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This is an absolute joke...I just spent $245 AUD on Sony's "new" 40x10x48x CR-RW CD Writer and the @#$% thing DOES NOT WORK. Here's my whinge list:

1. Sony's documentation on installation of the hardware is a DISGRACE. The product comes with about 20 different pieces of paper, which all effectively say the same thing except in 20 different languages, and the bit that actually explains how you install it takes up about 5 paragraphs and uses cryptic terminology like the following: "If the Primary IDE Connector is set as the Master then the Secondary must be set on the Slave Setting, unless this is to replace a drive which is already set in the CSEL Setting in which case the CSEL Setting should be retained." WTF does that mean, exactly? And seeing as I don't speak Dutch, German or Japanese I don't know if their instructions are maybe clearer.

This poor documentation seems to be a symptom common to any Sony product - you just roll the dice and take your chances. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to (physically) install the bloody thing (nevermind the software) and got it right after using a process of elimination: a) open up the PC; b) unplug all 50 cords from the back c) try that jumper setting; d) close everything up again; e) cross fingers and pray it works; f) oops didn't work; g) go back to step a). Do this enough times and eventually it will work.

2. Sony uses some primitive piece of @#$% called B's Recorder GOLD as its writing software which is an absolute waste of time because a) it is NOT userfriendly at all; b) the manual is in some complicated Adobe format which isn't displayable on most people's PCs and c) it doesn't @#$% work anyway!!! I spent 15 mins trying to work out how to actually drag the MP3s I wanted to record as .wav files - which I might have been excused for thinking that it would be fairly SIMPLE - but how to do it? Anyone's guess. I finally managed to get things where they looked like they were supposed to be (too many buttons on this @#$% B's Recorder GOLD interface made it confusing) and clicked on Record, waited about 15 mins at a speed of 4x (I wonder what happened to the 40x write speed it advertised on the BOX????) to record ONE MP3 and at the end of it I get a "Successfully Completed" message so I go WELL HURRAH!!! but guess what? There is zero, zip, zilch, NADA on the @#$% disc!!!

So I guess what I want to know, in a roundabout kind of way is what is going on???? Has anyone used Sony CDRWs before or this B's Recorder GOLD thing and how do you get the bastard to actually work? Please, someone tell me or shoot me now and put me out of my misery!!

[Morgan_Corbesant]

i say take it back and get something else. that will show em. call and complain too, let them KNOW that you got something else. maybe you arent the only one, and things can happen.

[adam warlock]

if you are still under warranty, call the company for a replacement or something else. or take a back
I'm satisfied with my HP CDWR and the company was helpful too

[K T Ong]

I presume it's an external CD writer, Memnoch?

[Memnoch]

One question...do you have to format blank CDRWs before you can actually record on them??

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Memnoch: One question...do you have to format blank CDRWs before you can actually record on them??

Nevermind...I answered my own question. Doesn't change the fact that this Sony thing is still a piece of $hit, but maybe that's the reason. I'll keep on plugging away...this is almost as bad as having a wisdom tooth extracted.

[adam warlock]

hm no not to according to my programs when recording mp3s and music

[Melusine]

Originally posted by Memnoch: One question...do you have to format blank CDRWs before you can actually record on them??

Not that I know of. I never have.
Sorry to hear about this Memsy - hope you can get a replacement or something like that! Maybe you could ask LoA to give Sony a few calls?

[adam warlock]

try removing that software that came with the drive...and reinstall again

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by K T Ong: I presume it's an external CD writer, Memnoch?

No...if it was external I'm pretty sure it would be easier. Costs more, though - I didn't want to pay an extra $300 for convenience, though if you ask me now I might have a different opinion.