LG WH10LS30 Plays BR's, CD's, but not DVD's

[djtnt]

Very odd problem.
I have an LG WH10LS30 multi drive that has been working well for 3 years. Suddenly, it no longer recognizes DVD ROMS or DVD-r media. It plays and burns BluRays, it plays and burns CD's, but will not even admit that there is a disc in the drive when a DVD-ROM or DVD+R is inserted.

I understand that different lasers are used for the BR vs DVD. But why would it still read/write CD's but not DVD's?

I have tried removing the device in Device Manager and rebooting to re-do the drivers, but that has not worked.
I opened up the drive, and cleaned the laser lens (both of them), no luck.
I also tried moving the drive to a different machine, and it exhibited the same symptoms.
LG does not believe it is the drive, but software, and said if I installed PowerDVD trial, it should work. I did, and it still does not recognize dvd's. Is it time to give up and buy a new burner?

 

[TVeblen]

Probably time for a new drive. They are cheap today, and as such, generally considered a throw away device.

It is usually recommended to not try and repair an optical drive. Without proper equipment there is not much the home tinkerer could do. But most likely the servo in the drive that focuses the laser on the disk is defective.

Like a camera, the laser moves in and out to focus on the disk at various depths - about 1mm for CD and 0.5mm for DVD. If the laser is unable to focus on the DVD layer that would explain your problem.

One possibility, and an easy fix, is that dust or dirt is physically interfering with the focusing mechanism. You could try blowing the drive out with compressed air.
Otherwise it is a mechanical defect.

 

[madcratebuilder]

He's dead Jim. Jim, he's dead! Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor not a brick mason! Your drive has passed on, drive a nail thru the eprom so it doesn't become a walking dead drive and come after you.

Seriously, it's time to buy a new drive. In my experience once a burner starts to act up it's just the beginning of a downward spiral. I've been running a ASUS BR burner for the past year, good warranty on them, I had a year old DVD act up and ASUS rma'd it without a bunch of jumping thru loops on my part. LG is also good.

 

[djtnt]

Thanks for the advice. I was afraid of that. So I guess it's a shopping I will go for a new burner.