I feel like Robert Downey Jr at his 1st 12-step meeting: I have so many issues I don't know where to start. I'm using Win XP with roxio Easy CD & DVD Burner, version 6.2.0.130, on 8x CD/DVD hardware. I'm not techno-savvy but I can follow directions. I've been a travel photographer for 40 years & have many gigs of slides converted to JPG files. I'd like to archive these by putting on DVDs (new Sony DVD+RWs).

Here are my issues so far:
1. roxio has successfully burned discs about 20% of the time. It usually issues error messages having to do with corrupted fomats, track write errors, flush fails & command re-try failures. I've no clue what these "errors" are; if I did I'd surely apologize for them. Mea culpa!

2. When I go to the roxio web-site to research these errors, there is no info on them & they won't let me register, despite many attempts, or download their newest version of this software which, I assume, may patch some of these problems. I've sent them many requests for help ... all ignored. Their web-site seems geared to selling, not helping.

3. Recent attempts have yielded discs half-done in which some folders are "full" (o.k.) while others list the file without an image.

4. It will begin a burn, then stop part-way through and hang-up. Is it normal for 3 gigs to take hours at x4?

5. Software will not allow a "full erase" option so I'm not sure I'm starting from scratch with my attempts to begin anew.

I would take this back to Target & ask for my $ back but there are few things as demoralizing as the laughter of a box store retail clerk. What can I do? Am I in the right place to even ask for help with this?

1 - serious system setup issues
2 - serious burner problem (not as likley)
3 - using worlds worst media

Now you get to tell us everything about what you have and what you are using

3 gig should take something like just over 15 minutes

Ill bet on #3 with a little #1 thrown in

I disagree.

My strategy would be as follows:

1) Uninstall Roxio/adaptec EZCD
2) Light a fire.
3) Place the Roxio Installaton discs in the fire & Enjoy the moment.

4) Dowload nero, or a freeware burning proggie (BurnAtOnce[BAO], burn4free, CDBurnerXPpro, Deep burner) and live happily ever after

I recommend downloading nero, even if you don't decide to keep it. It's a good start & it also has handy utilities like the nero infotool & DC/DVDspeed, although I believe you can get these seperately.

Some advice is also to beware cheap media. Avoid anything made in china or HongKong.

Recommended are any media made in Japan (Taiyo Yuden (aka TY), Maxell or Mitsubishi.)
Generally you can trust the Verbatims Datalife PLUS or Pastel lines.

Roxio is not as bad as some members here think. I've used it for years without much problem.

We need to find out if it's Roxio's burning engine causing the problem or the hardware/media combination.

Are you using DirectCD/DragToDisk (can't remember just when the name changed) & formatting the DVD+RWs with that or are you creating a data disc on an RW?

Precisely what DVD burner do you have & was Roxio supplied with it?

Obtain Nero's CD-DVD Speed & get the Media ID of the Sony's. That'll be the Disc Info tab in this app.

Relying on RW media for a secure archive is really very dangerous. I've had serious failures in the past with CD-RW media & wouldn't risk it again. DVD+R/-R is much safer.

Also, if a disc is taking several hours to complete, then most likely the DMA is off for this drive.

Basic Dma speeds everything up by 6x. The current mode, UDMA2 should speeds things up by a factor of 12-20x over PIO4.

I to have used roxio software for years but now use it maybe once every two or three months. the info already provided to you might help but you can also go to there forum at this location and post there.

http://forums.support.roxio.com/