Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations gkittelson on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Anything better than Nero? 3

Status
Not open for further replies.

dcloud

Technical User
Apr 11, 2005
148
US
About a year ago I bought Nero 6 Ultimate Edition online for burning DVDs for storage and converting my CD collection to mp3 format. Since then I had to reformat my computer and I lost my registration info. I have tried to contact Nero about this for almost three months now without one reply. To convert audio files off a CD you need a mp3 filter/plug-in and Nero charges for these plug-ins.

With my faith in Nero customer support rapidly disappearing I was wondering if anyone here had any previous experience with Nero (like me) and if anyone can recommend another burning/converting program (other than Nero)?

Thanks.

- dc
 
I should add when I open Nero SmartStart and looknat the Serial Numbers I see the following (twice):

PowerPack Lame MP3 Plug-ir (then my serial number)

Just thought I would mention this, in case it has any bearing on what's going on.

- dc
 
Thanks for that link. Since I have no idea what version I had when I bought the program (other than it was Nero 6) I just picked one (version 6.6.0.1). I uninstalled the other one and then ran EasyCleaner again, deleting all the reg entries. Rebooted. Installed the one I got from the site you linked me to, but when I went to run the program I got the following warning message:

Nero has detected an attempt at a non-licensed usage. Please purchase a license from us for full and unrestricted access of Nero and its components.

I tried entering the serial number and it would not accept it. Should I just try uninstalling and installing different versions until it works (if it works)?

Damn Nero for this. Arrrgh...

- dc
 
Nero has a SPECIAL Clean Utility for removing the remnants of a bad install...

See:

I suggest you use that... other than that the serial they gave you may just be for the PLUG-INs not for the MAIN program, in that case you may have to contact Ahead AG again...

now bear in mind, you may have an original Serial that came with an OEM install, ergo the software came with the drive you are using... which means that the SERIAL they gave you will not work with the DEMO/FULL version at all...

another tip:
I use EAC (Exact Audio Copy), prolly the best out there, and it is FREEWARE... see: you will need the Free LAME Encoder, found here:


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
 
Thanks, Ben. I ran the Nero Tools, but they didn't detect anything on my PC. I think you've hit the nail on the head - they sent me the serial number for the Powerpack Lame MP3 plugin. I know because I still have the old e-mail they sent telling me I could download and install this plugin free of charge for buying Nero 6.

I've already sent them another e-mail mentioning this. I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Thanks a lot :)

- dc
 
i dont know if this is of any use to someone who uses it heavily but my new PC came pre-installed with Sonic digital media home and its pretty damn good! made a direct copy of a 1000MP3 dvd in about 15 mins including making the image and transfering thats not too bad in my experiance
 
Did you ask them about compatibility with the XP Support Pack 2? What support packs do you have installed in XP? Did you run windows update? This might make a difference and it might not. Sometimes if you install software, it conflicts with other software. Often a program is set as the default for MP3 file extension files. So if you install some software it can try to take over certain file extensions.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
 
Ben, those Nero Tools worked great. Thanks again. Also, the Nero 6 program when installed says it is Nero 6 Enterprise Edition. I found this odd since I had originally purchased the Nero 6 Ultra Edition (for personal use).

Now I just have to wait for support to respond to my e-mail. In the meantime I got the "Enterprise" edition running. The only problem now is that when I go to convert audio files from a CD (to mp3s) the PowerPack Lame plugin does not appear in the drop down list for "Output file format" (like it says in the instructions). The only plugin that actually works is the mp3PRO, which I can only use four more times before purchasing it.

When I first installed this edition of Nero and converted a CD it was set to Nero Digital Audio [HE-AAC] [*.mp4] in the Ourput file format drop down. I just went ahead and converted the tracks using that plugin, but when I went to play those songs there was no sound, and on a couple of the songs when I clicked them to open and play in Winamp it closed down everything, including Winamp. Very odd.

Anyway, just waiting for Nero to respond. Thanks again for all your help.

- dc
 
ceh4702, I have all the updates for my OS, including Service Pack 2 (I have WinXP Home).

- dc
 
That site I gave you had nero ultra on it as well. Nero enterprise is there normal edition I believe. Got to be careful theres a few versions lol.
 
Lol, yeah, I see that. Like I said above, since I have no idea what version I had when I bought the program (other than it was Nero 6) I just picked one (version 6.6.0.1), but when I went to run the program I got the following warning message:

Nero has detected an attempt at a non-licensed usage. Please purchase a license from us for full and unrestricted access of Nero and its components.

And I had asked, "Should I just try uninstalling and installing different versions until it works (if it works)?"

I got no responses, so I thought of trying them all, but that seemed pretty dumb. So ... I got the Nero Enterprise version up and running with the PowerPack Lame MP3 plugin, but like I said to Ben:

"The only problem now is that when I go to convert audio files from a CD (to mp3s) the PowerPack Lame plugin does not appear in the drop down list for "Output file format" (like it says in the instructions). The only plugin that actually works is the mp3PRO, which I can only use four more times before purchasing it."

Anyway, so now I'm waiting for Nero Forever support to respond to my e-mails.

- dc
 
dcloud,

Unforunately, the only way to encode MP3 files in Nero will be to have the plugin licensed, which is one of the big issues you're having. You'll have to wait for that mess to get cleared up...

Outside of Nero, you have quite a few "free" options, some of which have been mentioned earlier in this thread. I suggest you try one or search on the net for other free MP3 encoders.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
I'm aware of that. The PowerPack MP3 plugin is licensed (that's the serial number they did send me). So it just seems odd that having entered that serial number that the MP3 plugin is not available when I go to convert audio tracks.

I appreciate the other posts and suggestions of free programs. I am checking into those as well, but personally I would like to use what I paid for.

- dc
 
You have tried everything that anyone who doesn't work for Ahead's tech support could possibly suggest within reason. BTW, I'm aware you're aware of my suggestion!
[wink]

Clearly, Nero's tech support has not given you what you need, which is a working serial and a copy of the old version (without relying on 3rd-party sites to give that to you). This site is a peer support environment, and it appears you have all the information you need to further research the problem and/or wait for contact from the manufacturer.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
cdogg, thanks. As far as overstating the obvious, you are Obi Wan, sir (lol ... I mean that in jest).

- dc
 
The force is strong with this one...
[lightsaber]

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
The next thing I would suggest is to update NERO now that it is up and running...

ergo download 6.6.1.4 and run it, it will tell you if the Serial in use can be used to update the version you have installed...

As I use EAC to convert my Audio Files to MP3 with the LAME Encoder, I cannot tell you anything further about the NERO Encoding of those files...

as mentioned before, the Enterprise Edition is the standard install, then there is ULTRA and PREMIUM... btw all are packaged in the same install, only the Serial will tell the Installer what version to install...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top