Everytime k3b starts it shows a box that reads it is the first time using the cd/dvd-rw.
This is not so. It has been used for quite some time now.

When trying to write to the cd/dvd-rw, a box pops up reading there is no blank media in the cd/dvd-rw. There is a new blank cd inserted. I've tried several new blank cd's. Same thing.

The above happens as usr and as root, mounted or unmounted.

Any ideas on how to solve this?
dlw

The current /etc/fstab:
/dev/hdb1 / ext3 defaults 1 1
/dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom auto umask=0,user,iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,noauto,ro,exec,users 0 0
none /mnt/floppy supermount dev=/dev/fd0,fs=ext2:vfat,--,umask=0,iocharset=iso8859-1,sync,codepage=850 0 0
/dev/hda1 /mnt/windows vfat umask=0,iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hdb5 swap swap defaults 0 0

[root@localhost etc]# k3b
Creating link /root/.kde/socket-localhost.
Created link from "/root/.kde/socket-localhost" to "/tmp/ksocket-root"
/usr/X11R6/bin/iceauth: creating new authority file /root/.ICEauthority
QPixmap: Cannot create a QPixmap when no GUI is being used
QPixmap: Cannot create a QPixmap when no GUI is being used
Creating link /root/.kde/tmp-localhost.
Created link from "/root/.kde/tmp-localhost" to "/tmp/kde-root"
QPixmap: Cannot create a QPixmap when no GUI is being used
QPixmap: Cannot create a QPixmap when no GUI is being used
kbuildsycoca running...
Creating link /root/.kde/cache-localhost.
Created link from "/root/.kde/cache-localhost" to "/var/tmp/kdecache-root"
Invalid entry (missing '=') at /tmp/kde-root/kconf_updateTVb1Nb.tmp:1
k3b: WARNING: KGenericFactory: instance requested but no instance name passed to the constructor!
k3b: ERROR: (K3bSongManager) Can't open file /root/.kde/share/apps/k3b/songlist.xml
kdecore (KAction): WARNING: KActionCollection::KActionCollection( QObject *parent, const char *name, KInstance *instance )
Launched ok, pid = 8513
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:549snd_pcm_hw_start) SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_START failed: Broken pipe
[root@localhost etc]#

You really should run k3b as a user,
and use a burning group (eg. cdrom), where the writer
(eg. /dev/hdc or /dev/cdrom) is owned by that group.

Does this help?

lrwxr-xr-x 1 root cdrom 8 Feb 17 15:46 /dev/dvdrw -> /dev/hdc
brw-rw---- 1 root cdrom 22, 0 Mar 15 2002 /dev/hdc

from fstab:
/dev/dvdrw /media/dvdrw auto ro,user,noauto 0 0

from /etc/group:
cdrom:x:24:myuser

from k3b setup:
use burning group: cdrom
devices:
---/dev/hdc = 660 root.cdrom
external progs:
---cdrdao permissions = 0750 root.cdrom
---cdrecord permissions = 0750 root.cdrom