I’ve been using iTunes for quite a while to manage my music. Why and how I use it is the subject for an entire other post based on my disgust for the current crop of music players. Recently, I began using iTunes on Windows Vista. I’m running Vista in Boot Camp on my MacBook Pro. I’m also using Parallels 3.0 to run my Boot Camp installation in a window on my Macbook Pro. It’s good times since I have both environments at my fingertips whenever I want them. I have run into a few issues of late, including an error message of “Disc burner or software not found” when trying to burn a cd in iTunes.
My first thought was that the problem had to do with the Parallels virtualization, so:
- I checked to make sure that the Parallels Virtual disc had loaded the Mac SuperDrive device successfully. Still not working.
- I rebooted into Vista natively in Boot Camp and tried to burn a disc. Still not working.
Next, I started thinking the problem might have to do with my installation of Daemon Tools. Maybe the virtual drive software is confusing iTunes.
- I uninstalled Daemon Tools and rebooted. Still not working.
- I checked the Daemon Tools forums. Ah, hah. It seems the problem lies with the version of SPTD bundled with Daemon Tools.
When you first install Daemon Tools you are prompted to install SPTD 1.43, then reboot before continuing the installation. The description from Duplex Secure’s FAQ says:
Q: I see that my software application is using SCSI Pass Through Direct (SPTD) layer. What is this for? Can my software application work without it?
A: SPTD is a new method of access to storage devices that was developed by Duplex Secure Ltd.
Basically SPTD is similar to other access layers used by other programs (eg. ASPI from Adaptec, or standard SPTI from Microsoft) who provide access to storage devices but it has a lot more features that make this interface unique.
The key feature of SPTD is its ability to provide direct control of devices without risk of compromising it by some malicious 3rd party filter drivers or other “rootkit” applications that are common today - this is the main goal of SPTD development for organizations and applications where it currently used.
If SPTD is bundled with your application then most likely it will not work without SPTD (Please consult manufacturer of application for more detailed information).
SPTD is currently supported only on Microsoft OS Windows 2000 and above. SPTD (similar to other access layers) is by default not removed from your system after uninstallation of software application which used SPTD, in order not to disrupt other applications that may use it! This also allows user to avoid reboots in most cases for new installations if same SPTD version is already present on his system.
Version 1.43 apparently causes issues with the combination of iTunes and Vista. It is also not unintalled when you uninstall the client software (in case other programs are using it). I downloaded the newest version of SPTD (1.5), upgraded it on my machine and burned a disc with iTunes with no problems. I also reinstalled Daemon Tools to make sure it didn’t cause any further problems with disc burning. That disc burned as well. So, if you see the error “Disc Burner of Software Not Found”, try upgrading SPTD to the newest version.