DVD Drive doesnt read disks

whest said:

Check for a firmware upgrade FOR THE DVD/CD Rom or post backs its details and I will find the software.

Don't be flashing your DVD!

So many people here leap directly to "Flash this", "Update that"... when in all likelyhood it's nothing but a settings problem... Really... Flashing stuff is like the absolute last resort before it goes in the garbage can!

Ok it's an IDE drive... Is it master or slave?
Some IDE controllers won't list a slave if there's no master present...

Is the IDE controller enabled in your BIOS?

Are all cables and power leads connected and sound?
Hint: IDE cables are frail things, you can't tug on them, not even a little bit. Most are good for 2 or perhaps 3 disconnects before you're ripping wires out of the pinch connectors.

MadMaxData is on the right track ... and rather than heading off in 50 different directions I would strongly suggest you follow his guidance on this one...

commontater said:

don't be flashing your dvd!

so many people here leap directly to "flash this", "update that"... When in all likelyhood it's nothing but a settings problem... Really... Flashing stuff is like the absolute last resort before it goes in the garbage can!

I completely agree! I can't stress that enough.

I can't even begin to tell you how many optical drive problems I've fixed over the years by simply replacing the IDE ribbon cable.

You know, I've never once had to update firmware on anything.....ever.

MadMaxData said:

commontater said:

don't be flashing your dvd!

so many people here leap directly to "flash this", "update that"... When in all likelyhood it's nothing but a settings problem... Really... Flashing stuff is like the absolute last resort before it goes in the garbage can!

I completely agree! I can't stress that enough.

I can't even begin to tell you how many optical drive problems I've fixed over the years by simply replacing the IDE ribbon cable.

You know, I've never once had to update firmware on anything.....ever.

I did...once... on my HTPC machine... They very kindly added an option to disable the flashing power LED when the system was in standby... YEA! no more "bat signal" on the far wall... However, like you, I've never had to flash anything for perfomance or functionality reasons...

You and I are definately on the same page. We must be "old school" or something....LOL

There aint' NO WAY I would jump right into flashing firmware right from the get go. Like you said, it should be the last straw before the garbage can. I have to cringe when reading some posts here. I believe we should give advise as if the PC in question is our own. Don't you?

MadMaxData said:

You and I are definately on the same page. We must be "old school" or something....LOL

There aint' NO WAY I would jump right into flashing firmware right from the get go. Like you said, it should be the last straw before the garbage can. I have to cringe when reading some posts here. I believe we should give advise as if the PC in question is our own. Don't you?

Yes... Absolutely. Every one of my "customers" (friends of friends, really, but they do pay me) gets the same TLC as I would put into my own systems... I couldn't live with myself if I did any less.

The big concern --and it's all over the place, not just here-- is that people go out and find these articles (like the click of death thing, from 15 years ago), have never seen or solved the problem themselves and quote the thing like it's word from above. Man I couldn't do that... For a very long explaination I may cite an article that helped me with a given problem, but there's no way I'm going to go running around looking for links to fix a problem I have never personally encountered... once again, I couldn't live with myself if I did that. It's better to just read and learn than to try to teach from pure theory...

We suffer from the conscience thing. If my advise messed up someones "baby" no doubt I would have sleepless nights over it. That's just how I'm wired, Bro.

However, if I did actually advise someone to flash their firmware, it would be accompanied by bold print, with bells, whistles, and flashing lights, along with the disclaimer...."This could potentially trash your hardware, I take no responsibility...blah...blah...blah."

MadMaxData said:

We suffer from the conscience thing. If my advise messed up someones "baby" no doubt I would have sleepless nights over it. That's just how I'm wired, Bro.

However, if I did actually advise someone to flash their firmware, it would be accompanied by bold print, with bells, whistles, and flashing lights, along with the disclaimer...."This could potentially trash your hardware, I take no responsibility...blah...blah...blah."

Chicken!

Yeah me too... I really really hate the idea of trashing something... and any risky procedure needs a warning.

Hey guys before you burn me at the stake, aDuck posted he already has the latest firmware version - the site provides a version checker.

whest said:

Hey guys before you burn me at the stake, aDuck posted he already has the latest firmware version - the site provides a version checker.

Burning you at the stake was not my intention at all. I've seen you give really great advise on numerous occasions. I just strongly disagree with flashing firmware as a first solution. No offense.

whest said:

Hey guys before you burn me at the stake, aDuck posted he already has the latest firmware version - the site provides a version checker.

Nobody's trying to burn you at the stake... I'd rather teach.

The point is that flashing things, while made convenient by manufacturers, remains a deadly dangerous thing to do. You aren't playing with drivers or software installations where system restore gets you out of it... You risk rendering the hardware (your motherboard -- YIKES!) totally non-functional.

Think about it... Do you really want to tell some young family you just lost all their photos, music, financial records and personal data because this went wrong and they didn't have a backup? Believe me I've been there and it is NOT fun...

I think Max and I both agree this is not something to do as a routine procedure. It is a service/repair task that skilled technicians avoid like the plague. We know the dangers and don't want to risk trashing someone's machine.

If I may dare to suggest... in future you really should save that particular piece of advice for the message right after "OK so this is buggered, I'm gonna toss it..." and even then, you should advise firmware updates only within the framework of a stern warning about the possible negative outcomes....