Background Knowledge

I have Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 with the following optical media drives. The system is approximately one year old.

• Manufacture: LG
• Model: HL-DT-STDVD-ROM_GDRH20N
• Firmware version: 0D04

• Manufacture: LG
• Model: HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H73N
• Firmware version: B103

Problem

There are two issues I’m experiencing all resulting in the fact that windows explorer is not refreshing the drive contents and/or drive volume label. Both issues occur on CD/DVD reader and CD/DVD writer drives. As well I’ve tried multiple discs from ones I’ve burnt to discs that were commercial produced and these discs all work fine on other computer systems.

1. My Computer/Windows Explorer is not refreshing the CD/DVD drive contents.
2. My Computer/Windows Explorer is not refreshing the CD/DVD volume label.

Issue #1 – Drive Contents

One of two scenarios occur. One, at times if I’m taking a disc out of one of the drives and then put another one in the contents of the drive is not refreshed or Windows Explorer will prompt to format the disc even though the disc is not blank and has been fixated (closed disc).

Two, after burning a CD/DVD I am rarely ever am able to view the contents of the disc via Windows Explorer. Again I’m prompted with a dialog to format the disc even though the disc can not be blank. Oddly again both issues are gone when I view the contents of the drive via the command prompt.

If I eject the CD/DVD out of the drive using Windows Explorer not pressing the eject button on the drive itself then putting the disc back into the computer usually allows me to view the contents of the disc within Windows Explorer.

The only reliable way I’m able to see the current contents of a given CD/DVD is by using the command prompt.

Issue #2 – Volume Label

The CD/DVD volume label rarely appears correctly within windows explorer. If it does by chance, it is then stuck with that volume label until I reboot Windows Vista. Trying to refresh by pressing F5 does not help. Even if I eject the CD/DVD from the either drive by pressing the eject button on the drives themselves or clicking on eject with the mouse the drive label still shows/appears as if there is a CD/DVD in the drive.

The only reliable way I’m able to see the correct volume label at all times is by using the command prompt.

Solution

I’m not aware of any solution, only work a rounds is doing one of the following list below. However these work a rounds are not perfect nor practical/logical. Even using an alternative application to Windows Explorer I still found issues of the correct volume name of the disc. Even if a disc was not in the drive it would still show a volume name. Although at least if you accessed the drive it would refresh the contents of the disc.

• Only use “eject” button within Windows Explorer and not on the physical drive.
• Use the command prompt to view contents of the disc and volume name.
• Use an alternative application to Windows Explorer such as FreeCommander or Xenon File Manager.

I’ve anyone has a solution that works 100% and allows the use of Windows Explorer please feel free to post your solution under comments.