PC hardware forum: Help! DVD drive doesn't recognize music CDs anymore

I had a similar problem with the DVD drive in my Dell Inspiron. After a few tests with Dell support the problem was determined to be the hardware. Fortunately, my Inspiron was still under warranty. Replacing the drive was pretty straight forward. That solved the problem.

hi LEE KOO if your dvd drive does not recognize cd,it maen, 1,there dust in your drive lens.2,the drive lens is weak,3.thre maybe break in your IDE cable,4.there maybe moisture created on the drive lens

I had the same problem last year!!!
I thought the drive went bad!
I put another drive in and found out that it was not the drive problem! It was the software! After the computer received an update from Microsoft to the Media Player, it stated acting up like your problem.
I found out that I had to completely reinstall the media player again and the updates for the latest. After that everything started working normally again. The only answer that I could think about was I got a corrupted file in the automatic update from Microsoft in their download.
Larry Wright

I honestly believe that Microsoft have a lot to answer for. They are so obcessed with ensuring that we allways have the latest version of WGA (Windows Guarante of Authencity) that maybe some of their team of programmers could actually try and spend some time fixing up their other stuff ups.
I really feel that for such an important? company they treat too many of us as beta testers by default.
I agree that windows may be very complex but as the great designers they should hire some smart hackers to really see how bullet proof their software is. Do not let them make bullet proof vests for law makers, we would lose too many!

Ever wonder why only a small percentage of people have a problem after installing a MS update? After all, everybody gets the same exact data. Doesn't this mean it's a conflict with something that this tiny percentage of users already have on their computer? And probably something that they'd be better of without!

Hi,
Sorry to hear the DVD is giving you trouble. I found that many times it is that the lens is dirty in the drive. Most of the big box stores that sell electronics have CDROM drive cleaners. They cost around $7. You put them in the drive and they start the cleaning process using little brushes attached to the data side of the disk. The cleaning takes about 2 minutes. BTW, the ones for CDROM are the same as the ones for DVD. Do not pay extra for the DVD cleaner.

Woody

I am having the same problem. At first it wouldn't burn disks. I would get a sync error message. If I rebooted the computer. I could get away with burning a few disks before it would happen again. You never said how old your drive is or how often you had ripped and or burned cds or dvd's. I am guess it is time to look for a new drive. It is starting to go to the dvd heaven. I can't use my drive at all anymore. I put a blank disk in and nothing happens. I put a data or music cd in. Nothing happens. Sounds like you dvd drive is going that way.

You can always check to see if there is new firmware but I don't think that will solve your problem

Why not just reinstall Windows?

Well, for starters, depending on the amount of "stuff" on the hard drive, that can take tens of hours. And it won't even fix the problem if it's hardware. Reinstalling Windows would be something to consider ONLY after it had been conclusively determined that the problem was software.

Hardware or software? Hard to tell. The fact that you have no problems with data CDs suggests it's probably software. If I was in your situation, I'd like to try the drive on another computer, or try a different drive in your computer (optical drives are cheap, you can get some of the best drives (which are dual layer DVD burners) for $20 to $40 these days). Either a different drive in your computer or that drive in another computer should answer the question. Also, try the unreadable CDs in another drive and computer; it could be the discs, although that seems unlikely if the problem occurs with multiple CDs.

continued....
also try downloading the KLTE MEGA CODEC PACK...free from the net..and WINDOWS MEDIA SERIES 9 CODECS..free from microsoft..if all this fails to solve the problem the laser lens is probably damaged beyond repair..you can buy a new one online for as low as 22 now..or 30 from computer shop..it is easy to install yourself or get a 'computerwise friend to fit it..don't pay horrendous price to computer shop to do it!...before buying a new one though..save all your valuable files..data,photo's.music..etc onto dvd recordable disc and reinstall windows xp..then retry playing your discs...if they still don't play then you do need a new drive...best wishes..frank

I am also sailing in the same boat. Isn't there any application to know the exact problem with the DVD Drive as the drive is functioning instead of shooting blind shots?

As stated by other members. The most obvious problem is a hardware issue in respect of the CD laser diode having failed, however that would not explain CD data discs still being able to be read! If it was just a case of DVDs only being readable then, this would be due to only the DVD diode still being operational.

The quickest option would be to suggest trying an alternate rom drive is your PC, whether it's internal or external. If internal try on via alternate bus or connector type with different cables in case any of these are causing the problem and also ensure your media is scratch and mark free and several alternate discs are checked!

If still no resolution, then most likely software issue/ infection of system! Try booting into 'SAFE MODE' and see whether you can play your CDs ok. If you can then most likely a software or driver issue, which will most likely resolved by performing a clean boot, then process of elimination in 'MSCONFIG' of services, startups, etc.

If still no joy then ensure system is spyware and virus free and perform full (up to date) scans in SAFE MODE!

Finally, if your banging your head against the wall by now, then backup your critical data and perform complete, fresh install and IF issue still persists then you have a Gremlin in your motherboard!

Hope this helps!

Sound Advice Hackerness. My Lite-On DVD drive, started acting up shortly after I purchased my Dell. I was stupid to not do something while under warranty. Worst Drive I have ever had.

I believe I had/have the same drive. The first one just kinda crapped out one day, and I had no luck getting it to read anything. If you're running XP, it is probably not a software problem

Go through the checklist - make sure the drive has a tight power connection. Is it set right (slave or master?) - have you run a cleaning disk lately? They don't have to be run often, unless your computer is in a dusty area or on the floor. Matter of fact, when you check your power connection, take a look at the inside of the case. If it's all gunked up with dustballs, you have or are going to have mechanical problems.

I believe my drive went down because of the heat. I live in Arizona, and I was burning a lot of discs and little by little it became hotter and then got erratic in its performance. I got a new drive from the same place - Newegg, the best mail order house IMHO. You tell them your problem, they send you a RMA and you ship the product to them and they send you a new one. No questions asked.

My experience with those drives - they're fine until they're not. And then most likely it's time to replace them. I hope this helps. As I said, I had the same make and I believe the same model. They're good drives, and they're inexpensive. But I don't know how long you've had your drive. They don't last forever.

i agree with abd4evr,i had the same problem,the only way i could resolve it was to uninstall itunes and remove the driver and registry values associated with it,apparently there is a conflict with this driver,i have had no problems since,and i did not reinstall itunes.