Not sure this qualifies to go under the "Hardware" section - but it's certainly a problem with a piece of hardware!

When attempting to write a CD-RW on my laptop (combo DVD Reader and CD Rewriter) using either K3B or xfburn, while the writing software is "setting up" to start writing, sometimes the program will just sit there not progressing (before it's even started), then the CD drive will start whirring away continually at full speed, but not actually writing anything.

I try to stop or exit the program, but it doesn't respond. I can go into System Monitor and End/Kill the process, but that doesn't stop the CD drive going manic, or release the disk. Trying to eject the disk doesn't work, either in Linux or by pressing the Eject button on the drive.

The only solution is to restart Linux, and as the system is closing down and terminating all processes, it of course releases the CD drive.

It sometimes behaves like this even when I'm trying to quick-erase a CD-RW prior to burning.

Since it happens with both programs, I can't imagine it's related to either xfburn or K3B itself. Can anyone suggest the process running in Linux that I can Kill after stopping xfburn/K3B, that will halt the CD drive and enable me to release the disk, without having to shut the whole system down?

This problem doesn't happen every time I try to write a disk, but certainly about 30% of the time.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Try "eject /dev/sr0"

I would try testing the burner with a Live CD of something long enough to have an adequate test. Since it happens with both programs, there's certainly a possibility that the drive itself might be the common denominator.

If it's an external, also try it with another computer.

>> Try "eject /dev/sr0"

Unfortunately, I then get "eject: unable to eject, last error: Inappropriate ioctl for device".

>> Try "eject /dev/sr0"

Unfortunately, I then get "eject: unable to eject, last error: Inappropriate ioctl for device".