Windows XP does not recognize a DVD-RW disc (818733)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a DVD-RW disc into the DVD drive of a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, Windows XP does not recognize the disc. For example, you do not see any files on the disc.

You may also experience this problem with DVD-RW discs that have been formatted as DVD-VR. Some consumer DVD recorders use the DVD-VR format.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because the Universal Disc Format driver, Udfs.sys, tries to read the DVD-RW disc by using a packet length of 32 blocks instead of by using a packet length of 16 blocks. CD-RW uses a packet length of 32 blocks, but DVD-RW uses a packet length of 16 blocks.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. After the fix is installed, this file will have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time     Version         Size    File name    SP Level
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   13-May-2003  01:42am  5.1.2600.114    64,000  Udfs.sys     Non SP
   13-May-2003  12:36am  5.1.2600.1222   64,000  Udfs.sys     SP1


MORE INFORMATION

If you continue to experience problems when your Windows XP-based system tries to read a DVD-RW disc, contact the manufacturer of your DVD recorder for any firmware updates that may be available.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/28/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbWinXPsp2fix kbQFE kbfix kbBug KB818733 kbAudEndUser kbAudDeveloper kbAudITPRO kbAudOEM
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