DVD Drive doesnt read disks

[CommonTater]

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...

 

[MadMaxData]

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.

 

[CommonTater]

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...

 

[MadMaxData]

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?

 

[CommonTater]

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...

 

[MadMaxData]

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."

 

[CommonTater]

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.

 

[whest]

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

 

[MadMaxData]

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.

 

[CommonTater]

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....

 

[whest]

Yes I understand where your coming from, but I've fixed about 3 or more dvd drives with firmware updates that would of needed to be trashed with W7, or W7 itself, if I hadnt of suggested it, as they were working with XP. Also, when you go to install a firmware update it always warns you of the risks involved.

 

[CommonTater]

Yes I understand where your coming from, but I've fixed about 3 or more dvd drives with firmware updates that would of needed to be trashed with W7, or W7 itself, if I hadnt of suggested it, as they were working with XP. Also, when you go to install a firmware update it always warns you of the risks involved.

3 or more... add a couple of zeros on that and then we'll talk. Really, Ive been at this a long time, more than a quarter century and in all that time I've only twice seen firmware upgrades actually fix a problem. I kid you not this is far more dangerous than helpful.

 

[whest]

Its ok, Im prepared to say "use as a last resort, and do so at your own risk", if nothing else works - on this occasion it came up a little early, as there were insufficient specs available. Most of the other times I have warned people, but sometimes Im blustered or in a hurry, and forget. I respect your opinion, and sorry if you took mine the wrong way - it is true i've managed to fix a couple using compatibility mode, believe it or not, and I guess this would seem a little more than normal.
Cheers, have a good one, your opinions are in the spirit of this sites members well being, and I shall do my best to remember warnings etc, and only use a firmware update suggestion, as a last resort.

 

[Shutup]

First questions I would think of:

1. Is the drive visible in the bios?

2. Is it visible in the hardware section of windows? If not, is the IDE controller installed? No exclamations?

3. is it visible in the explorer?

Possible culprit could be an exotic IDE controller.

Or maybe a SATA drive set at Sata300, in which case some IDE controllers fail.

Setting a jumper on the SATA disk to set it to Sata150 could be a solution.

Or, possible case of murphy: Drive's laser just died by coincidence.

 

[aDuck]

WAA soo many suggestions... i'll do them in order and tell you which ones work.

I have windows XP on another hard drive, and i have been able to install from disks. This would probably rule out dirty lenses, too i guess.

Since the drive works in XP, i dont think its in the connections, and its on CS and is the only device connected on its cable.

As for Shutups qs, ill answer in number form (yaaay):

1. Yes, I also have the option to boot from CD, which is what i did to install XP after I installed 7

2. Yes. In device manager it sits there triumphantly, no worries.

3. Yes. When i put a disk in, it just spins the disk.

Might need a little explination about the sata jumpers... only ever had to fiddle around with IDE jumpers

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[Shutup]

WAA soo many suggestions... i'll do them in order and tell you which ones work.

I have windows XP on another hard drive, and i have been able to install from disks. This would probably rule out dirty lenses, too i guess.

Since the drive works in XP, i dont think its in the connections, and its on CS and is the only device connected on its cable.

As for Shutups qs, ill answer in number form (yaaay):

1. Yes, I also have the option to boot from CD, which is what i did to install XP after I installed 7

2. Yes. In device manager it sits there triumphantly, no worries.

3. Yes. When i put a disk in, it just spins the disk.

Might need a little explination about the sata jumpers... only ever had to fiddle around with IDE jumpers

Thanks for all your help guys.

Never mind the jumpers. You mentioned it works in XP, so it should work in W7 too.

One more question.

When you have inserted a disk, and you go to the explorer, when you doubleclick on it, does it open the disk's folder?

If yes, that means the associations are messed up, but that is solvable.

If no, I'm out of clues for now.

 

[aDuck]

WAA soo many suggestions... i'll do them in order and tell you which ones work.

I have windows XP on another hard drive, and i have been able to install from disks. This would probably rule out dirty lenses, too i guess.

Since the drive works in XP, i dont think its in the connections, and its on CS and is the only device connected on its cable.

As for Shutups qs, ill answer in number form (yaaay):

1. Yes, I also have the option to boot from CD, which is what i did to install XP after I installed 7

2. Yes. In device manager it sits there triumphantly, no worries.

3. Yes. When i put a disk in, it just spins the disk.

Might need a little explination about the sata jumpers... only ever had to fiddle around with IDE jumpers

Thanks for all your help guys.

Never mind the jumpers. You mentioned it works in XP, so it should work in W7 too.

One more question.

When you have inserted a disk, and you go to the explorer, when you doubleclick on it, does it open the disk's folder?

If yes, that means the associations are messed up, but that is solvable.

If no, I'm out of clues for now.

Unfortunately, no. When the disk keeps spinning, if i double click the drive, explorer locks up, and does absolutely nothing. I think after leaving it for 20 minutes or something, i can get into the files, but i cant open any of them. i just get a win32 error or something. Ill do it now to confirm

 

[Shutup]

WAA soo many suggestions... i'll do them in order and tell you which ones work.

I have windows XP on another hard drive, and i have been able to install from disks. This would probably rule out dirty lenses, too i guess.

Since the drive works in XP, i dont think its in the connections, and its on CS and is the only device connected on its cable.

As for Shutups qs, ill answer in number form (yaaay):

1. Yes, I also have the option to boot from CD, which is what i did to install XP after I installed 7

2. Yes. In device manager it sits there triumphantly, no worries.

3. Yes. When i put a disk in, it just spins the disk.

Might need a little explination about the sata jumpers... only ever had to fiddle around with IDE jumpers

Thanks for all your help guys.

Never mind the jumpers. You mentioned it works in XP, so it should work in W7 too.

One more question.

When you have inserted a disk, and you go to the explorer, when you doubleclick on it, does it open the disk's folder?

If yes, that means the associations are messed up, but that is solvable.

If no, I'm out of clues for now.

Unfortunately, no. When the disk keeps spinning, if i double click the drive, explorer locks up, and does absolutely nothing. I think after leaving it for 20 minutes or something, i can get into the files, but i cant open any of them. i just get a win32 error or something. Ill do it now to confirm

Write the win32 error here, maybe someone has a clue.

I have to go to bed now.

Good luck

 

[MadMaxData]

Cheers, have a good one, your opinions are in the spirit of this sites members well being....

Excellent attitude!!! Truly, this should be the spirit/attitude we all share at SevenForums. A willingness to work together to lend a helping hand to the less knowledgeable user. Also, I think we all have strong points in certain categories of knowledge, and lesser points of knowledge in others. Together we make a great team here, I think. I'm going to rep you for having such a good attitude when being critiqued, because you accepted it with grace, and tact. Well done my friend. Truly a rare quality in todays world.

And by the way, you DO give excellent advice in many areas. Keep it up, Bro! I also just added you to my friends list.


Max

 

[whest]

Cheers, have a good one, your opinions are in the spirit of this sites members well being....

Excellent attitude!!! Truly, this should be the spirit/attitude we all share at SevenForums. A willingness to work together to lend a helping hand to the less knowledgeable user. Also, I think we all have strong points in certain categories of knowledge, and lesser points of knowledge in others. Together we make a great team here, I think. I'm going to rep you for having such a good attitude when being critiqued, because you accepted it with grace, and tact. Well done my friend. Truly a rare quality in todays world.

And by the way, you DO give excellent advice in many areas. Keep it up, Bro! I also just added you to my friends list.


Max

Thanks Max .