Solved Live File System can't format DVDs

[CodeSmith]

I can’t format and write to blank DVD+R’s with the Live File System using my VAIO internal DVD drive, Vista keeps saying the DVDs are write protected. The same problem is apparently keeping me from using Vista backup utility which also says the blank DVDs are write protected. I can still read old backup DVDs on the same DVD drive, but I can’t read the latest backup DVD I made.

I can still format, write and read the blank DVD+R’s with the Mastered disc format but as far as I can tell the Vista backup utility needs the Live File System to operate.

I tested the DVD drive with Sony's DriveCheck utility and it checked out good. Microsoft's Fix It utility indicated that there was a read and write probem but didn't elaborate about whether it was the drive or a configuration issue.

Any ideas out there on why the Vista Live File System thinks the DVDs are write protected?

Are there any inexpensive and automated backup programs that work with the Mastered disc format?

It seems vaguely like I resolved this same problem a year or so ago but I can't seem to find the answer now. It also seem like the problem was a registry entry but I tried adding HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies and setting the key "WriteProtect" to 0 with no effect.

 

[CodeSmith]

I found the answer. What you have to do is reboot Vista in Safe Mode and use the Windows Device Manager to uninstall the DVD drive. Then reboot in Normal Mode and Vista will automatically reinstall the DVD drive and the Write Protected error message doesn't appear anymore when you format with the Live File System and Vista Backup.