Spyware Warrior

[suzi]

Something happened with my DVD RW -- it no longer reads a cd or dvd in the drive. It's like it doesn't see them. Device manager says it's working properly. I tried uninstalling the driver and restarting to re-install the driver, but that didn't help. I suspect it's a mechanical problem, not a software problem. The darn thing seemed flakey from the beginning -- it was noisy and I always wondered if it was going to work or not.

Anyone have ideas for what to check?
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[goldengreek]

Happened to one of my computers about a year ago, suzi. I checked out the device manager and it had a bunch of yellow quesion marks next to the cd/dvd rom. To make sure it wasn't mechanical I did a system restore back to when it worked. That cured it, been working fine since.

[suzi]

Interesting. Device manager says mine is working properly, so that's no help. I don't use it all that much -- I first noticed that it would not burn CDs. It would just hang. That was a few months ago.
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Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
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[roger_m]

Suzi can you boot from a DVD or CD (e.g. an XP or Vista CD/DVD)?

If you can then it's a Windoze problem, otherwise it sounds like you need a new burner.

[suzi]

Good question. I'll check that out. Thanks.
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Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
Please do not PM or Email me for personal support. Post in the Forums instead and we will all learn.

[Gary R]

Do you hear a clicking sound when you've inserted a CD/DVD, if so it could be the laser isn't focussing properly. The clicking sound is the laser mechanism hitting its stops as it moves up and down to focus.

This is usually caused by dust on the lens system. Give it a quick blast from an air can and it'll usually resolve things.

If you can actually access the lens, then wipe it gently with a soft lint free cloth.
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[suzi]

Seems like it's always been noisy. I blasted it with the air and put in a DVD and lo... it played the DVD without problem. So I was all excited and put in a cd, but no joy. It's as if it doesn't see a cd. I tried with WMP, iTunes and another program, as well as explorer and it just does not recognize a cd. I tried booting from the XP cd in the DVD drive and again, it does not seem to see the cd there. In iTunes, I clicked burn playlist, put in a blank cd and it acts like it's trying to read the cd, says checking media, and after a bit it says place cd in drive.

Seems odd it would work with a DVD and not a CD. I had not actually tried a dvd since it started acting up. Later I'll see if it will burn to a blank dvd.
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Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
Please do not PM or Email me for personal support. Post in the Forums instead and we will all learn.

[wawadave]

well here are a few things to try

remove the drive from the device manager reboot.

look at this link may help
http://www.compukiss.com/happycomputing/index.php/topic,602.0.html

might try reseating cables to the drive.
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[suzi]

Thanks for the tips. I'll check them out.
_________________
Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
Please do not PM or Email me for personal support. Post in the Forums instead and we will all learn.