Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/05/29/easy_cd_creator_affecting_win9x/

Easy CD Creator affecting Win9x machines as well

What's left?

By Kieren McCarthy

Posted in Software, 29th May 2001 10:51 GMT

It gets worse. A number of people have been in touch to say that it's not just Win2K machines that are being affected out by the installation of Roxio's Easy CD Creator.

We've had four reports of the software affecting Windows 98. Most have pointed the finger at either the Take Two or Direct CD modules, although with Win2K at least, the removal of these modules does not guarantee success. Unlike Win2K however, it seems the software doesn't kill the machine.

Instead, people have reported trouble with the CD formatting - CDs ejected before finishing, unformatted disks, failed backups etc etc. The fix for Easy CD Creator 5 has also caused more problems than before it was installed, we have been told. Rebooting is the only option.

One reader reckons he has nailed the basic problem with the latest version. "The problem with this program is how it controls the hard drive controllers. Example: normal PC systems have two IDE buses. This program integrates with these components so it can have access to your CD-R burner. However if your CD-R drive is on a different bus you will not lose your system but only have problems with devices connected on that bus. In any case scenario you will have problems with this software.

"In my case, my system is all SCSI (two controllers) one for hard drives and the second for any other devices like CD-R and CD-ROM. As I tested I uninstalled the software (I had no problems when software was installed) and lost everything that was connected to this controller, CD-R, CD-ROM, and Scanner. After that, if the software is installed (Custom or Full) you will regain functionality of all devices on that controller. It seems that Roxio really need some programmers that know more hardware and less software GUI."

Not a bad explanation, you must admit. ®

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