How to determine a cdrom drive is writable?

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Hello, guys
I use GetDriveType function to determine CD-ROM drives in a computer, but I want to detect the writable ones, using windows API, I searched DeviceIoControl function but the documentation was very comprehensive and I was unable to get my answer. Can anyone help me?
Thanks in advance
mr.abzadeh

EDIT: I found that the DEVICE_MEDIA_INFO structure contains a

C++

DWORD  MediaCharacteristics;

member that clearly specifies if the media is Writable, by I can not find which function returns it.

EDIT: I got the DEVICE_MEDIA_INFO structure for both CD-ROM and CD-RW and examined the MediaCharacteristics member, showing no difference, so DEVICE_MEDIA_INFO may not contain writable characteristic of a cd-rom drive.

Posted 22-Jan-13 0:34am

mr.abzadeh

Updated 22-Jan-13 3:19am

v5

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Comments

Richard MacCutchan 22-Jan-13 9:33am

Did you have a CD mounted in the drive at the time you ran the test?

mr.abzadeh 22-Jan-13 10:19am

Yes, there was a CD in the drive for both CD-ROM and CD-RW.

Richard MacCutchan 22-Jan-13 10:22am

See my Solution comments below.

2 solutions

Solution 2

I just tested this on my system and it shows the correct characteristics for the drive when a Writable CD/DVD is mounted. Note that the GET_MEDIA_TYPES[^] structure contains an array of DEVICE_MEDIA_INFO[^] entries, so you need to iterate the list for the correct entry.

Posted 22-Jan-13 3:47am

Richard MacCutchan

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mr.abzadeh 22-Jan-13 10:31am

I examined it for both CD-ROW and CD-RW, with CD mounted, and the value of MediaCharacteristics in the second item of array was MEDIA_READ_WRITE,
i.e. pMediaType->MediaInfo[1].DeviceSpecific.DiskInfo.MediaCharacteristics was 8. my code is as this:
/*-------------------------------------*/
static int uIsMediaWritable( const GET_MEDIA_TYPES * pMediaType )
{
unsigned uCount = pMediaType->MediaInfoCount;
for ( unsigned uIndex = 0 ; uIndex < uCount ; uIndex ++ )
{
DWORD dwMediaCharacteristics = pMediaType->MediaInfo[uIndex].DeviceSpecific.DiskInfo.MediaCharacteristics;
if ( dwMediaCharacteristics & MEDIA_READ_WRITE ) return TRUE;
if ( dwMediaCharacteristics & MEDIA_WRITE_ONCE ) return TRUE;
//if ( dwMediaCharacteristics & MEDIA_WRITE_PROTECTED ) return TRUE;
}
return FALSE;
}

Richard MacCutchan 22-Jan-13 10:42am

So that is good then?

mr.abzadeh 22-Jan-13 14:16pm

No, It reported that CD DRIVE is recordable for both CD-ROW and CD-RW drives, which is not correct.

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CPallini · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-22T03:34:00

Solution 1

Possibly you may use IMAPI, namely IDiscRecorder::QueryMediaType[^] method. See also CD Burning and Device Discovery with IMAPI[^]

Posted 22-Jan-13 3:34am

CPallini

Comments

mr.abzadeh 22-Jan-13 10:43am

I tested ICDBurn Interface, and It worked correctly, Thanks for your help.
If one day you found a way to detect recordable cd drives directly, without ICDBurn or IMAPI, please send it to me. Thanks again
mr.abzadeh

CPallini 22-Jan-13 12:44pm

You are welcome.