Please check if drive is playable...

fcoelho

Hello all,

I know it's a repeating subject, but haven't seen a real solution (actually no solution has been given).

Ever since the Decembre 2012, it's been happening since 8.1.XXX version has come about that it's been happening.

Have tried on several different computers (different brands and specs), but only on one computer it works.

Everytime I try to use the DVD drive with DVD FAB it tells me the "Check the driver is playble" and also tried DVD passkey which says "is not active for drive d", is there any real solution for these?

I've tried every solution you recommended on the other threads, but nothing works.

Tried to changed the I/O mode...
Tried the Enabled and disable of Hybrid disks...
Tried the Pathplayer...
etc...

On DVD Passkey only works if I have the Keep Protection tck on, then it rips the DVD to the HD, however DVDFAb gives the same error, so we're back on the same, since I can't do anything with movie...

Just to assure, that the DVD drive is working fine, since every other software reads the DVD.

Thank you in advanced,
P.S. I also contacted support email, the solution given was to try the beta version... Didn't work.

glenns

Look at the screen shots in Fab settings is your drive showing up with a check box next to it like my 2 drives are? (see screen shots) for Fab version 9 (9072)

Now check to see if windows see's your drive. (see screen shots)

Sometimes uninstalling the drive from the computer then reinstalling can reset things.

I would also check your drives firmware first to see if it's using the most updated version uninstalling and reinstalling the drive may do this for you as windows should look for a updated driver.Look for yourself first go to the drives internet sight and look to see if your driver is up to date.You can see the driver your using now in the drive section of Fab next to the drive id is driver version.

maineman

Agree with glenn's excellent advice:
"...Sometimes uninstalling the drive from the computer then reinstalling can reset things..."

Recommend you try this first. Just uninstall all the ODDs and reboot
You may have tried this, but I can't be certain.

What os are you running? Win 7, 8, XP...assorted?

Fab needs exclusive access. Too bad that the I/O tinkering didn't work...it does sometimes.
Still sounds like a basic I/O issue.

What are your bios configurations for your various ODDs?

Take a look in device manager...if you can find any patin-coffin entries, delete them. This won't screw anything up.
Look for VSO and click to expand your search.

glenns

Fcoelho:Check to see if your Fab copy programs license is registered by opening fab clicking the ? then license info.See screen shot.Are you using rewritable dvd's? Also post a internal log for a failed attempt as their will be a error code in it even if the disk didn't open. (see mine).

I have this same message (check to see if disk is playable message) come up when using a rewritable blu ray disk with a m2ts file on it.I burnt it with imgburn as my licence for dvd copy is expired.I do have dvd ripper so this should be able to open the disk with it or with the free version of fab to put the disk on the hard drive.Windows does open the disks file and I can drop it in Fab to get it on the hard drive that way.See the screen shot.I am not sure we have the same problem so here's my failed attempt.Also if I put the same m2ts file on a dvd with img burn the file will open and load into Fab.

DVDFab 9.0.7.2 (2013/10/27 17:27:05)

0m 00.34s: Start preload dll...
0m 00.44s: Load dll successful.
0m 00.46s: Start load fabplay dll...
0m 00.64s: Load fabplay dll successful.
0m 00.65s: Transfer settings successful.
0m 00.65s: info: fabcheck logpath= C:\Users\Glenn\Documents\DVDFab9\Log\
0m 00.67s: fab_check_gpu is running ...
0m 02.77s: Profile Manager :: End Load Profile
0m 03.07s: fab_check_gpu run successful
0m 03.07s: info: recommand= 8248, Shrink= 1, cuda_cap= 1 , cpu_count= 2
0m 03.08s: GPUAccelerate: 12351
0m 03.08s: CUDA cap: 1
0m 03.08s: Support coreavc decode: 0
0m 03.08s: Graphics info: NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 : 6.0 : 2.1
0m 03.09s: Load config successful.
0m 03.09s: Windows os type is: 12.
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 1:1314749059
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 20:8263532095
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 21:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 22:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 70:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 50:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 11:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: OV:9072
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: BV:9072
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: S:8b459017e62651d0659cc4dc7ff2ef8d
0m 03.25s: Option check status: Local
0m 03.25s: option dvd2dvd 0 dvd2mobile 1 bluray2bluray 1 bd2mobile 1 bd23d 1 bd2dvd 1 file2dvd 1 file2bluray 1 file2mobile 1
0m 03.25s: Init GPU settings successful.
0m 03.25s: CommmandLine:
0m 03.25s: Start get sys number.
0m 03.26s: Serial number is: 00-21-97-4a-93-56
0m 03.26s: Reg URL link is:
0m 03.26s: Version is: 9072
0m 03.26s: Product is: 2
0m 03.26s: Connect type is: 0
0m 04.31s: Begin init preview play engine.
0m 04.32s: Init DirectShow engine successful.
0m 04.56s: Times of connecting error is: 0
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 1:1314749059
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 20:8263532095
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 21:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 22:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 70:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 50:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 11:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: OV:9072
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: BV:9072
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: S:9b8a09592f461490e9e65dd2a73cb60c
0m 04.56s: locale: en_US
lan: ENU
default font: ms shell dlg
use font: Arial
fonts: 8514oem,Aharoni,Andalus,Angsana New,AngsanaUPC,AR BERKLEY,AR BLANCA,AR BONNIE,AR CARTER,AR CENA,AR CHRISTY,AR DARLING,AR DECODE,AR DELANEY,AR DESTINE,AR ESSENCE,AR HERMANN,AR JULIAN,Arabic Typesetting,Arial,Arial Black,Arial Narrow,Batang,BatangChe,Blackadder ITC,Bradley Hand ITC,Browallia New,BrowalliaUPC,Calibri,Cambria,Cambria Math,Candara,Century Gothic,Comic Sans MS,Consolas,Constantia,Copperplate Gothic Bold,Copperplate Gothic Light,Corbel,Cordia New,CordiaUPC,Courier,Courier New,Curlz MT,DaunPenh,David,DFKai-SB,DilleniaUPC,DokChampa,Dotum,DotumChe,Edwardian Script ITC,Engravers MT,Eras Demi ITC,Eras Light ITC,Estrangelo Edessa,EucrosiaUPC,Euphemia,Eurostile,FangSong,Felix Titling,Fixedsys,Franklin Gothic Book,Franklin Gothic Demi,Franklin Gothic Demi Cond,Franklin Gothic Heavy,Franklin Gothic Medium,Franklin Gothic Medium Cond,FrankRuehl,FreesiaUPC,French Script MT,Gautami,Georgia,Gisha,Gulim,GulimChe,Gungsuh,GungsuhCh! 0m 04.59s: Option check status: NewWork
0m 04.59s: option dvd2dvd 0 dvd2mobile 1 bluray2bluray 1 bd2mobile 1 bd23d 1 bd2dvd 1 file2dvd 1 file2bluray 1 file2mobile 1
0m 13.01s: Init burn engine successful.
0m 15.21s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.21s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.31s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.35s: opening drive E
0m 15.35s: opened i/o
0m 15.36s: got media type 17
0m 17.13s: got max lba 12219391
0m 17.41s: got disc type 0
0m 17.43s: opening drive F
0m 17.61s: opened i/o
0m 17.65s: opening drive J
0m 17.84s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive G
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive H
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive I
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive K
0m 17.96s: opened i/o
0m 18.08s: internal path
0m 18.08s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
0m 18.08s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
0m 18.08s: failed to open 0
3m 49.51s: opening drive E
3m 49.52s: opened i/o
3m 49.54s: got media type 17
3m 49.57s: got max lba 12219391
3m 49.69s: got disc type 0
3m 49.74s: internal path
3m 49.74s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
3m 49.74s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
3m 49.75s: failed to open 0
6m 07.53s: opening drive E
6m 07.54s: opened i/o
6m 07.54s: got media type 17
6m 07.57s: got max lba 12219391
6m 07.67s: got disc type 0
6m 07.69s: internal path
6m 07.69s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
6m 07.69s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
6m 07.69s: failed to open 0
6m 52.62s: opening drive E
6m 52.63s: opened i/o
6m 52.64s: got media type 17
6m 52.85s: got max lba 12219391
6m 53.18s: got disc type 0
6m 53.22s: internal path
6m 53.22s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
6m 53.23s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
6m 53.23s: failed to open 0

glenns

Fcoelho:Check to see if your Fab copy programs license is registered by opening fab clicking the ? then license info.See screen shot.Are you using rewritable dvd's? Also post a internal log for a failed attempt as their will be a error code in it even if the disk didn't open. (see mine).

I have this same message (check to see if disk is playable message) come up when using a rewritable blu ray disk with a m2ts file on it.I burnt it with imgburn as my license for dvd copy is expired.I do have dvd ripper and video converter so this should be able to open the disk with it or with the free version of fab to put the disk on the hard drive.Windows does open the disks file and I can drop it in Fab to get it on the hard drive that way.See the screen shot.I am not sure we have the same problem so here's my failed attempt.

DVDFab 9.0.7.2 (2013/10/27 17:27:05)

0m 00.34s: Start preload dll...
0m 00.44s: Load dll successful.
0m 00.46s: Start load fabplay dll...
0m 00.64s: Load fabplay dll successful.
0m 00.65s: Transfer settings successful.
0m 00.65s: info: fabcheck logpath= C:\Users\Glenn\Documents\DVDFab9\Log\
0m 00.67s: fab_check_gpu is running ...
0m 02.77s: Profile Manager :: End Load Profile
0m 03.07s: fab_check_gpu run successful
0m 03.07s: info: recommand= 8248, Shrink= 1, cuda_cap= 1 , cpu_count= 2
0m 03.08s: GPUAccelerate: 12351
0m 03.08s: CUDA cap: 1
0m 03.08s: Support coreavc decode: 0
0m 03.08s: Graphics info: NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 : 6.0 : 2.1
0m 03.09s: Load config successful.
0m 03.09s: Windows os type is: 12.
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 1:1314749059
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 20:8263532095
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 21:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 22:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 70:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 50:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: 11:8260762964
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: OV:9072
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: BV:9072
0m 03.24s: Parse string is: S:8b459017e62651d0659cc4dc7ff2ef8d
0m 03.25s: Option check status: Local
0m 03.25s: option dvd2dvd 0 dvd2mobile 1 bluray2bluray 1 bd2mobile 1 bd23d 1 bd2dvd 1 file2dvd 1 file2bluray 1 file2mobile 1
0m 03.25s: Init GPU settings successful.
0m 03.25s: CommmandLine:
0m 03.25s: Start get sys number.
0m 03.26s: Serial number is: 00-21-97-4a-93-56
0m 03.26s: Reg URL link is:
0m 03.26s: Version is: 9072
0m 03.26s: Product is: 2
0m 03.26s: Connect type is: 0
0m 04.31s: Begin init preview play engine.
0m 04.32s: Init DirectShow engine successful.
0m 04.56s: Times of connecting error is: 0
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 1:1314749059
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 20:8263532095
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 21:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 22:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 70:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 50:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: 11:8260762964
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: OV:9072
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: BV:9072
0m 04.56s: Parse string is: S:9b8a09592f461490e9e65dd2a73cb60c
0m 04.56s: locale: en_US
lan: ENU
default font: ms shell dlg
use font: Arial
fonts: 8514oem,Aharoni,Andalus,Angsana New,AngsanaUPC,AR BERKLEY,AR BLANCA,AR BONNIE,AR CARTER,AR CENA,AR CHRISTY,AR DARLING,AR DECODE,AR DELANEY,AR DESTINE,AR ESSENCE,AR HERMANN,AR JULIAN,Arabic Typesetting,Arial,Arial Black,Arial Narrow,Batang,BatangChe,Blackadder ITC,Bradley Hand ITC,Browallia New,BrowalliaUPC,Calibri,Cambria,Cambria Math,Candara,Century Gothic,Comic Sans MS,Consolas,Constantia,Copperplate Gothic Bold,Copperplate Gothic Light,Corbel,Cordia New,CordiaUPC,Courier,Courier New,Curlz MT,DaunPenh,David,DFKai-SB,DilleniaUPC,DokChampa,Dotum,DotumChe,Edwardian Script ITC,Engravers MT,Eras Demi ITC,Eras Light ITC,Estrangelo Edessa,EucrosiaUPC,Euphemia,Eurostile,FangSong,Felix Titling,Fixedsys,Franklin Gothic Book,Franklin Gothic Demi,Franklin Gothic Demi Cond,Franklin Gothic Heavy,Franklin Gothic Medium,Franklin Gothic Medium Cond,FrankRuehl,FreesiaUPC,French Script MT,Gautami,Georgia,Gisha,Gulim,GulimChe,Gungsuh,GungsuhCh! 0m 04.59s: Option check status: NewWork
0m 04.59s: option dvd2dvd 0 dvd2mobile 1 bluray2bluray 1 bd2mobile 1 bd23d 1 bd2dvd 1 file2dvd 1 file2bluray 1 file2mobile 1
0m 13.01s: Init burn engine successful.
0m 15.21s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.21s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.31s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.34s: Init driveX with I/O mode: 0
0m 15.35s: opening drive E
0m 15.35s: opened i/o
0m 15.36s: got media type 17
0m 17.13s: got max lba 12219391
0m 17.41s: got disc type 0
0m 17.43s: opening drive F
0m 17.61s: opened i/o
0m 17.65s: opening drive J
0m 17.84s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive G
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive H
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive I
0m 17.92s: opened i/o
0m 17.92s: opening drive K
0m 17.96s: opened i/o
0m 18.08s: internal path
0m 18.08s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
0m 18.08s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
0m 18.08s: failed to open 0
3m 49.51s: opening drive E
3m 49.52s: opened i/o
3m 49.54s: got media type 17
3m 49.57s: got max lba 12219391
3m 49.69s: got disc type 0
3m 49.74s: internal path
3m 49.74s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
3m 49.74s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
3m 49.75s: failed to open 0
6m 07.53s: opening drive E
6m 07.54s: opened i/o
6m 07.54s: got media type 17
6m 07.57s: got max lba 12219391
6m 07.67s: got disc type 0
6m 07.69s: internal path
6m 07.69s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
6m 07.69s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
6m 07.69s: failed to open 0
6m 52.62s: opening drive E
6m 52.63s: opened i/o
6m 52.64s: got media type 17
6m 52.85s: got max lba 12219391
6m 53.18s: got disc type 0
6m 53.22s: internal path
6m 53.22s: aacs 0 bd+ 0
6m 53.23s: exception when getting bdinfo 1000 100 186 index.bdmv
6m 53.23s: failed to open 0

BERT

This is interesting.I use 2 burners.load one with the movie and the other one with an empty disc.Sometimes before it all gets going this "Please check if drive is playable" pops up.Usually the one with the empty disc.I just ignore it by click OK.And everything just keeps on going fine.Never had any problems.;)

fcoelho

Hello,

Thank you for all the suggestions.

Tried to uninstall all of my drives and reboot. I've also tried to find the latest firmware, and they seem to be the latest firmware, for all the drives.

I have Windows 8 Pro (8.1), however this has been happening from Windows 7, so I don't think that's it. It worked for a while but then stopped. I've also tried on other computers and it doesn't, one of them, was in a fresh installed Windows 8 computer (it worked also for a while).

Also no Patin-cofin entries in Device Manager
I've also tried to remove every other device from the computer, restart and check... the same.

Do you think it might be some incompatibility with other software?

thanks again,

signals

Software conflicts are the 'usual suspects' with I/O, can't find drive and similar problems in DVDFab. Please install ImgBurn (free) if you don't have it already and from the Tools menu, select Filter Driver Load Order. Click the Copy to Clipboard button and paste the results here.

glenns

What security program are you using? What's different on the computer that it works on?
check to see your drivers are up to date https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=23106&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%208%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType=%0A%09%09%09%09%09%09%09Drivers%0A%09%09%09%09%09%09

maineman

glenns

.....Bitdefender Internet Security...

for some reason it interferes with fabcore.exe so that it keeps increasing in memory usage untill it caps at a certain level and then stalls....no need to uninstall Bitdefender though..... just go into settings/Exclusions/Excluded Processes and add dvdfab.exe and fabcore.exe

As you say it worked for awhile then stopped sounds like the above if not as a last resort go back in time with windows restore to the date where you first installed Fab then see as you add your programs back on after the Fab install you can see if its a program installed after Fab that stops it from working.You will have to reinstall any programs or files from that date on and make sure windows and security program is up to date.Then once you find it go forwards in time to present date with windows restore and everything should be back up to date and you will know the problem program is.Windows Restore causes no harm and is reversible.

fcoelho

[QUOTE=signals;150494]Software conflicts are the 'usual suspects' with I/O, can't find drive and similar problems in DVDFab. Please install ImgBurn (free) if you don't have it already and from the Tools menu, select Filter Driver Load Order. Click the Copy to Clipboard button and paste the results here.[/QUOTE]

Sorry forgot to copy it:

===============================================
Filter Driver Load Order - ImgBurn v2.5.8.0
===============================================

Upper Device Filter: [None Found]
Upper Class Filter: edevmon
Upper Class Filter: GEARAspiWDM
Device: CD/DVD-ROM Device
Lower Class Filter: dvdfab
Lower Class Filter: PxHlpa64
Lower Device Filter: [None Found]

Filter Name: edevmon
File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\edevmon.sys
File Version: 7.0.207.0
File Description: Devmon monitor
Product Name: ESET Smart Security
Product Version: 7.0.207.0
Company Name: ESET
Copyright: Copyright (c) ESET, spol. s r.o. 1992-2013. All rights reserved.

Filter Name: GEARAspiWDM
File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\GEARAspiWDM.sys
File Version: 2.02.03.00 [2.2.3.0]
File Description: CD DVD Filter
Product Name: CD DVD Filter
Product Version: 2.02.03.00 [2.2.3.0]
Company Name: GEAR Software Inc.
Copyright: Copyright (C) GEAR Software Inc. 1997-2012

Filter Name: dvdfab
File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\dvdfab.sys
File Version: 8.0.3.6
File Description: DVDFab Passkey Driver - x64
Product Name: Passkey
Product Version: 8.0.3.6
Company Name: Fengtao Software Inc.
Copyright: Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Fengtao Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Filter Name: PxHlpa64
File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\PxHlpa64.sys
File Version: 3.01.01.0 [3.1.1.0]
File Description: Px Engine Device Driver for 64-bit (x86-64) Windows
Product Name: PxHlpa64
Product Version: [3.1.1.0]
Company Name: Corel Corporation
Copyright: Copyright Â© Corel Corporation or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

signals

The GEARAspi filter should not be a problem. The Corel-provided filter and the edevmon upper filter from ESET may be contributing to this, I am not familiar with them. You can try removing them one at a time using the control in the ImgBurn filter tools option, then retry DVDFab. Note that you may want to set a restore point first or you may need to reinstall both programs if removing their filters doesnt help.

glenns

Passkey version 8036 is very old from 8-2011 new version is 8104

Filter Name: dvdfab
File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\dvdfab.sys
File Version: 8.0.3.6
File Description: DVDFab Passkey Driver - x64
Product Name: Passkey
Product Version: 8.0.3.6
Company Name: Fengtao Software Inc.
Copyright: Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Fengtao Software Inc. All rights reserved.

maineman

Agree with my pal signals again...I know, it's shocking...lol
I'm not familiar either, but I peeked around a bit and found this...

"devmon is a configuration-less bash daemon script which automounts optical discs and removable drives. It can also selectively autostart apps or execute commands after mounting, ignore specified devices and volume labels, and manually mount and unmount devices.

devmon 1.1.0 and later is distributed with and uses udevil for device monitoring and mounting, removing all dependencies on udisks, policykit, consolekit, gvfs, etc. devmon can also be used with udisks v1, or some combinations of udevil, udisks v2, and pmount (see table)."

Now you're running Windoz, not Linux.
So this could be some sort of camouflaged malware, but honestly I really have no idea.

Something like this is probably interfering with Fab in some manner.
Hopefully, you'll get lucky early on, but you may have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.

For many years I have kept a recently, cloned bkup system hdd...a lesson learned after many wasted and painful hours trying to dig myself out of a hole of my own making.

To quote Will Rogers:
"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging"...:eek::D

I swear, sometimes this stuff is like voodoo.

glenns

I just wonder why did it work for awhile then stop and whats different on the 1 machine that does work?

regnad kcin

error...sorry

maineman

[QUOTE=glenns;150617]I just wonder why did it work for awhile then stop and whats different on the 1 machine that does work?[/QUOTE]

Yup, excellent question...me too

glenns

I would look at the filters on the machine that is working then comparing the filters on the 2 different machines.

Scoop

[QUOTE=maineman;150616]Agree with my pal signals again...I know, it's shocking...lol
I'm not familiar either, but I peeked around a bit and found this...

"devmon is a configuration-less bash daemon script which automounts optical discs and removable drives. It can also selectively autostart apps or execute commands after mounting, ignore specified devices and volume labels, and manually mount and unmount devices.

devmon 1.1.0 and later is distributed with and uses udevil for device monitoring and mounting, removing all dependencies on udisks, policykit, consolekit, gvfs, etc. devmon can also be used with udisks v1, or some combinations of udevil, udisks v2, and pmount (see table)."

Now you're running Windoz, not Linux.
So this could be some sort of camouflaged malware, but honestly I really have no idea.

Something like this is probably interfering with Fab in some manner.
Hopefully, you'll get lucky early on, but you may have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.

For many years I have kept a recently, cloned bkup system hdd...a lesson learned after many wasted and painful hours trying to dig myself out of a hole of my own making.

To quote Will Rogers:
"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging"...:eek::D

I swear, sometimes this stuff is like voodoo.[/QUOTE]

I do the same and it's paid off several times, mainly to recover from a malware or virus intrusion. Routine cloning or imaging protects from the big-headache scenarios, HDD failures, infections, and user errors.

Another thing that's good about it is, it removes any apprehension about downloading something that probably is ok but one can't be 100% sure about it.

Also, making changes to the OS, Registry, anything that may dig a hole, as you said, can be easily reversed with a cloned HDD on the shelf that's ready to go.