Drive not ready condition while DVD media inserted. Why does this happen?

Question

I have this code:

DriveInfo dr = new DriveInfo(@"E:\");

if (dr.IsReady == false)
{
  MessageBox.Show("Drive E: is not ready. Please insert a blank DVD medium.");
}

So, I insert a blank DVD in the drive and run the code. What am I missing?

Thanks a lot

What happens when you insert a DVD that has information on it? — Shai, Dec 14 '11 at 14:37
@Sparky - You do understand that DriveInfo will not provide you the means to burn a disk right? — Security Hound, Dec 14 '11 at 14:57

Josh · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-14T15:25:20.190

2

DriveInfo.IsReady on the blank DVD will return false.

If you need to distinguish if a blank disc is there, you'll need to use a different library. Here is a program that includes a interop wrapper around IMAPI2 (Window's Image Mastering API): http://www.codeproject.com/KB/miscctrl/imapi2.aspx

Use the interop wrapper and call

IDiscFormat2Data discFormatData = new MsftDiscFormat2Data();
if (discFormatData.CurrentMediaStatus == IMAPI_FORMAT2_DATA_MEDIA_STATE.IMAPI_FORMAT2_DATA_MEDIA_STATE_BLANK)
{
    ...
}

edited Dec 14 '11 at 15:25

answered Dec 14 '11 at 15:15

Josh

903
8
15

I only need to know that the media inserted in my drive is a DVD can i accomplish this without utilizing IMAPI? – sparky Dec 14 '11 at 16:24
Well apparently the drive is "ready" when there is a formatted/mounted (i.e. non-blank) disc in it that it can read... – Josh Dec 15 '11 at 08:15

Drive not ready condition while DVD media inserted. Why does this happen?

1 Answers1