HELP some dvds now won't play

[Kate11171]

Hi
I am trying to play some tutorial dvds that come with magazines. I have played them before without a problem but my computer shut down for some reason and now they won't play. I can play others but not the ones that come with a specific magazine and yes I know that sounds strange but I have done what the support says and have cleaned them and downloaded the latest quick time player but they still won't work. They just keep spinning in the drive. I have gone into the drive and gone to open but it en asks me what I want to burn? This makes me think the dvd may now have nothing on it. Not sure what the difference is between the discs that will play and the ones that won't.
I would be grateful for any help you can give me.
I have just tried to open it through my computer but it says my computer is not responding.Whe I go into task manager to end task it says that windows explorer is not responding and asks if I want to wait for it to respond or close. If I say wait it then comes up with what do I want to do with the blank disc?

Thanks

Kate11171

 

[TVeblen]

Kate, when you say it "will play others" are the other disks DVDs or are they CDs?

 

[Kate11171]

Hi

They are also DVDs?

 

[Kate11171]

I know that sounds strange and it makes me think it must be the dvd but I have played them previously without a problem.

 

[TVeblen]

Have you tried checking/changing your Autoplay settings?
Change AutoPlay settings

You might try changing the setting from ON to OFF and back to ON again with a computer restart between each to try and reset the system.

 

[TVeblen]

I know that sounds strange and it makes me think it must be the dvd but I have played them previously without a problem.

Can you try these DVDs in another computer?

 

[Kate11171]

Hi

I tried changing the autoplay settings as you said but there was no change. I have just tried it on another laptop and it plays on that one?

 

[TVeblen]

It sounds like the DVD drive is either dirty, or has failed.

The first thing to try is to clean the laser head. Open the tray and without a disk in it you will see the laser "bulb" near the center. You want to carefully clean this - by blowing air to remove any dust or fibers (a tiny fiber flicking across the lens can cause issues). If that does not work then you can try wiping the lens with a soft cloth - but you have to be very gentle because any misalignment will damage the drive.

The lasers in mass produced CD/DVD drives and considered disposable hardware. Frequently these lasers will fail, but sometimes not totally.

But basically if the drive works partially then the issue is either a dirty lens or a failed/failing laser. New drives are cheap enough to not justify trying to repair/replace the lasers on the old drive. If you can't get it to work by cleaning then you may need to replace the drive.

 

[Kate11171]

Hi

I have tried cleaning as you suggested. Unfortunately it didn't solve the problem. I can play others but not the ones from this mag.

Think I will try a new drive but can't understand why it works with everything else apart from these new ones.

Thanks for your help though.

Kay

 

[TVeblen]

The reason for my recommendation is due to your test of the problem DVDs on the other laptop. Because they play on that laptop we can rule out obviously bad or damaged DVDs.

But - the DVDs could have minor imperfections in their manufacture or damage that is not so significant that they can't be overcome by a perfectly calibrated optical drive, but on a drive that is just slightly out of whack the error can't be overcome.

 

[Kate11171]

Hi

I get it now.

thanks for that.

I will look for a new drive and see if that solves the problem.

Thanks again for your help

Kay