George--
The only way I know that you can practice preventive medicine as to these
filter values that show up not infrequently behind the scenes with Windows
is to check for them. Think of it is flossing your teeth in Windows.
Think of it as one of the many chores you have to do to keep windows
running correctly versus a Unix based system, and think of IE7 and Vista
as another era of hotfixes and continual maintainance. If there is a way
to stop them from showing up, I hope to see it here.
Just save the registry subkey location for this in your reg--and check it
every once in a while.
From:
CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install
Windows XP or Windows Vista Beta 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553/en-us
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
REG_MULTI_SZ data type UpperFilters
REG_MULTI_SZ data type LowerFilters
The MSKB should be rewritten to explain that burning software interference
can be expected in any number of ways at any point in the burning
process--including opening the software and closing it, and the actual
steps in burning--and that these filters are not dependent on "an
incorrect device driver" being installed.
1) This software will not damage your CD/DVD player or writer--they
impact the software not the hardware. They don't work on the optical
drives--they work on the burning software. They make you think they are
making your Plextor do this or that but they aren't. That Plextor works
with some burning software from somewhere. It can impact Nero, Plextool,
Sonic, Roxio, you name it and the filter values can mess with your
***burning software application..
2) They can interrupt any type of DVD ***software at any point in its
functioning--they are not interfering with your Plextor or any other
optical drives directly--they can stop the burning software from opening,
selecting an Iso for example or files to burn, and they can keep it from
closing.
4) I'm not following you here but again no software is immune from these.
You just have to save the location of the keys where these filter values
show up, and nuke 'em.
You said:
"At least if the software companies offer to install or not to install
this
painfull drivers. These are iTunes, Ulead, Pinnacle, Sonic and others."
I'm not sure what you mean by this George. These are not drivers. These
are registry modifications and those companies you named have no control
over this and they haven't chosen to do anything. Itunes made by Apple
does not involve burning in any fashion--although its mp3 collection can
be burned--and it is the way Ipod transfers music. I have seen Sonic and
Roxio do this for years.
The software companies don't have control over this--it's a function of
other software you introduce or install in your equation. They're well
aware of it--it's been happening as long as Windows, and if they could
have stopped this they would have by now.
MSFT and driver integrity is a whole other thing. They are well aware
Device Manager does not work,and have admitted it in Beta chats, and their
lust for mediocrity has prevented them from lifting a finger to fix driver
location--DM could assist people installing drivers far more efficiently,
and driver reliability in Device Manager.
5) Check with Plextor as to what the context of their firmware updates
are. It won't impact this but different companies have policies on when to
use them. Sony's policy is "if it works, leave the firmware alone" but I
added it and my burning knock on wood with Isos and other material has
been perfect.
6) One trick that has helped some people with problems burning .ISos and
burning in general in Windows is to do these steps which could help and
are rarely mentioned:
Get to Dev Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in run/win key + pause break or
Rt.
click My Computer>Prop>hardware tab>Device Manager if you like 5 steps
instead of one cmd. If you're set to PMI here change to DMO and if set to
DMO change to PMI:
a.. Click the + in front of IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
a.. Double Click the Secondary IDE Controller
a.. Click Advanced Settings
a.. Under Device 1 Next to Transfer Mode choose DMA (or vise versa)
a.. Click OK
a.. Reboot your System
7) I have been harping on the fact--ignored by all the Windows/MSFT
syncophants here who think the company can do no wrong (just wait until
they see SPP shut down their quad core 4GHx on the floor Vista computers
when it mistakenly targets them as pirated Windows users and they
aren't--that's bound to win a lot of friends in and out of the
enterprise)--that Device Manager does not in Vista or any OS including and
since Win 95 tell you if drivers work. Here's a prime example--when the
filter values are blocking your CD/DVD playing and writing Device Manager
can look perfect and tell you drivers are working. Drivers may be but
they don't get the chance to work.
The author and MVP of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are
making a fool of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they
are going to learn to back off when it hits them in the area they
worship--their money.
See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives to the author of one of the best selling major books on
their major Operating System software and others--one more example of
MSFT's perception of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for
the public who are their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on
the planet.
I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably Convergys of Ohio contracting:
From Ed Bott at
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84
"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep, I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and
why wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."
I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.
He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30 days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]
I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows
license) if I do not install every piece of software that they send it
updates.
That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:
As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to the program.
That's it. That's the entire response.
Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up
is the ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working
overtime to find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes
mandatory, would it mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working
if it determines - possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"?
That's a chilling possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity
to deny that that option is in its plans.
Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments. Here's a sampling:
a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b..
ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on
a RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall
and buy another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details without
a lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done
an exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask Adam Shostack.)
Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details available, and those that have been published are being tumbled
through the spin machine and spit out as press releases.
If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."
From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:
UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/
"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that
appears to be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible
inconvenience and potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to
spin the new program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and
the only thing being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."
Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495
Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84
Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/
October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148
Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments
WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476
Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84
Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx
Best and good luck,
CH
George Valkov said:
I am borred from all those programs that install upper or lower filter
driver for my DVD burner. How do I prevent this installation?
Thsese are always unsigned drivers, but windows will not display the
'Unsigned driver installation' warning.
These filters make my Plextor PX-760A dvd-recorder behave like a cheap
drive. Erasing a DVD+RW @4x takes more that 1 hour, performance is low,
1000 buffer underruns for 1.5 GB burn @4x while my harddisk can do 150
MB/s. Slow performance, long delays and so on.
Question:
Can these software damage my recorder? I don`t care about the wasted
medium, but the recorder is very expensive.
I have a second windows installation for testing software. If I really
need it, but it uses upper/lower filter, I will (backup, install, restore
the SYSTEM registry hive). I`m borred from this nightmare! And most of
these software offer me CD/DVD burning features that I will never use. I
can always burn the produced CD/DVD image file with PlexTool or Nero.
At least if the software companies offer to install or not to install
this painfull drivers. These are iTunes, Ulead, Pinnacle, Sonic and
others.
