Computer help needed!

[Turaj]

Just noticed that the DVD drive on my wife's computer is not working and I hope someone can point me to the right direction!

The computer is a Dell Dimension 3100, running windows XP (SP2) version 2002. When I look under Windows Explorer, it points to this DVD - RW drive but then it asks for a disk even if there is a disk already in there! (I have tried CD / music CD / DVD). If I just open the drive and put a CD with auto run in there, the light on the drive bay flashes a few times as if it is reading it but then nothing happens!

I have already looked at Control Panel and it is telling me that the device is working properly (which I know it is not) and the trouble shooting is not giving any answers. This drive was used late January to install new MS Office but even then I had to open and close the drive a few times for it to read the disk. To my knowledge no other changes has been made since then.

I can change and install a new DVD but before that I need to somehow figure out if this is a Hardware or a Software problem. Is there any kind of test that I can do to locate the source of the problem?

Any help is greatly appreciated

[LarryG]

Almost certainly a hardware problem; specifically, Your Drive, He Be Dead. I've had a number of CD/DVD-ROM drives fail with those exact same symptoms, particularly during the last few years as prices have plummeted to the bottom -- clearly taking build quality with them.
A new $15-20 drive from New Egg and five minutes under the hood should put you right back in business.

[phi1l]

First, I would check to make sure drivers are up to date. I doubt that will fix it but it's free & worth a try.

Second, I would get CD/DVD cleaning disk & run through a cleaning cycle. There is a decent chance that will fix it, from the description of the symptoms. If that doesn't fix it, you probably need a new drive.

[LCHIEN]

sounds like a dead drive to me.
Basically the interface electronics are talking to the computer, and the motor drive and head stepping are working. However there seems to be a problem probably with the laser or the optical pickup - its not seeing a signal so it keeps asking for a disk.

[LinuxRandal]

Two options:

1 Dead drive or drive that has had its laser knocked out of alignment (effectively dead).
2 (this could be checked before replacing the drive), loose connector at the drive (cable came loose if you were moving it around).

[Turaj]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. Did not know that the lasers can die like that. Also did not know that they were so inexpensive these days (checked on line and can pick up a Sony or Samsung drive for $C27. My project for tomorrow morning!

Thanks again for the help (and people think this is a woodworking forum!).

[herb fellows]

If you were putting it in a few times to get it to read, I would definitely look towards cleaning the lens.

[cgallery]

First step in cases like this is to grab a bootable O/S disk (Windows XP and beyond, most Linux distros, etc.) and try booting it. If it boots, then you probably have a software problem. If it doesn't boot, then you probably have a hardware problem.

[August86]

The drivers for CD/DVD Rom drives are built into XP and later 0S's, all you can really do software-wise is go into the device properties and un-install the device. The computer will then reinstall the device. If it now works-cool. I agree with the above consensus, the drive is toast.

Mike D

First step in cases like this is to grab a bootable O/S disk (Windows XP and beyond, most Linux distros, etc.) and try booting it. If it boots, then you probably have a software problem. If it doesn't boot, then you probably have a hardware problem.

[cgallery]

The drivers for CD/DVD Rom drives are built into XP and later 0S's, all you can really do software-wise is go into the device properties and un-install the device. The computer will then reinstall the device. If it now works-cool. I agree with the above consensus, the drive is toast.

Mike D

Some software installs filter drivers. For example, packet-writing software. Or, software to disable DVD copy protection.

These filter drivers can sometimes interfere with the proper operation of the CD/DVD.

And deleting/re-detecting the device often doesn't help, you have to delete some keys in the registry (specifically, UpperFilters and LowerFilters in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}).

But before doing this, I always suggest testing the drive by just trying to boot a disk. If it will read before Windows starts, but not after, then you can go look at the filters.

[August86]

Ok, if the computer is being used to break DRM on commercial disks/software then you may have some worries. You may also have a bootable disk if you've added a hard drive that came with a setup disk (western Digital or Maxtor).


Mike D

Some software installs filter drivers. For example, packet-writing software. Or, software to disable DVD copy protection.

These filter drivers can sometimes interfere with the proper operation of the CD/DVD.

And deleting/re-detecting the device often doesn't help, you have to delete some keys in the registry (specifically, UpperFilters and LowerFilters in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}).

But before doing this, I always suggest testing the drive by just trying to boot a disk. If it will read before Windows starts, but not after, then you can go look at the filters.

[LinuxRandal]

Ok, if the computer is being used to break DRM on commercial disks/software then you may have some worries. You may also have a bootable disk if you've added a hard drive that came with a setup disk (western Digital or Maxtor).


Mike D

I COMPLETELY forgot about that. There is DRM/HDMI/Display issues, that could cause the drive to work but the program wouldn't display on the screen.